Toyota Motor Corporation has built a demonstration city called “Woven City” in Shizuoka. Six months after the city’s opening, a new base has been unveiled.

Woven City was established in September last year in Susono City, Shizuoka Prefecture.

The entire city serves as a site for demonstration experiments.

It is not yet open to the general public, with about 50 households, or roughly 100 people, living there to cooperate in the experiments.

The new stage this time is the “Inventor Garage.”

This location once housed the Higashi Fuji plant of Toyota Motor East Japan.

Inside, signs reading “Safety First” and large machinery remain, preserving the atmosphere of the factory.

This facility serves as a base for “inventors” to develop products and services.

From the looms created by Sakichi Toyoda, who laid the foundation for the Toyota Group, to the e-Palette serving as a mobile store, it features both old and cutting-edge technologies.

What Toyota aims to achieve here at Woven City is—

“What we aim to create at Woven City is ‘Kakezan.’ Kakezan cannot happen with just one company. It requires at least two companies,” said Akio Toyoda, Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation.

On the 22nd, not only Toyota but about 20 companies showcased their pride-worthy technologies and services.

They highlighted their strengths and specialties to explore what kind of “Kakezan” could emerge.

Among them, one thing drew particular attention—

Q: May I ask a question?
“Of course, I don’t mind being asked questions.”

The reporter spoke to Akio Toyoda AI.

Chairman Toyoda himself is said to be participating in the development as an “inventor.”

We immediately asked—

Q: How about building a Woven City in Aichi Prefecture?
“I think building one in Aichi is an interesting idea. But you know, the current Woven City wasn’t just built by choosing a location. When we decided to close the Higashi Fuji plant, we started with a vow, inspired by the feelings of our colleagues who worked there, to make this place a sacred site contributing to the creation of future mobility. On the other hand, I hope that the new formulas and hints for future living born at Woven City will spread to various places in Japan. I think there is room to demonstrate the future in a way that suits Aichi,” said Akio Toyoda AI.

Surprisingly, it seems there is a possibility of creating a new demonstration site in Aichi as well!

This AI was trained on over a decade of Chairman Toyoda’s statements.

It is said that the use of this AI will expand beyond Woven City, aiming to help Toyota’s leaders understand Chairman Toyoda’s “philosophy.”

Daisuke Toyoda, Chairman Akio Toyoda’s eldest son and leader of the Woven City project, reflected on the past six months and reiterated his resolve.

“We are working to expand the strengths cultivated at Toyota not only to vehicles but also to the city, creating a place of ‘Kakezan’ where technology and people intersect. It is not yet a completed form. That is precisely why there is room here to create the future. We hope you can experience that first step with us, right here,” said Daisuke Toyoda, Senior Vice President of Woven by Toyota.

Woven City

Woven City is a futuristic, sustainable city being built by Toyota at the base of Mount Fuji in Japan. Designed as a “living laboratory,” it will serve as a testing ground for advanced technologies like autonomous vehicles, robotics, and AI, with a focus on human-centered design. Construction began in 2021, and the city aims to create a fully connected, eco-friendly community that reimagines urban living for the future.

Shizuoka

Shizuoka is a prefecture in Japan best known for its iconic views of Mount Fuji, as well as its production of green tea and seafood. Historically, it was the domain of the Tokugawa shogunate during the Edo period, with Shizuoka City serving as a key post town on the Tokaido road. The area also features Sunpu Castle, the former residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate.

Susono City

Susono City is located in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, at the foot of Mount Fuji. Historically, it developed as a post town along the Tokaido road during the Edo period and later became known for its agricultural products, particularly green tea and strawberries. Today, it is also home to the Suzuki Motor Corporation’s headquarters and serves as a gateway for visitors exploring the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

Higashi Fuji plant

The Higashi Fuji plant is a geothermal power station located at the base of Mount Fuji in Japan, operated by the Toden Energy Corporation. It began commercial operations in 2017, utilizing hot water and steam from underground reservoirs to generate renewable electricity. The facility plays a key role in Japan’s efforts to expand clean energy sources while being situated near one of the country’s most iconic natural landmarks.

Toyota Motor East Japan

Toyota Motor East Japan is a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation, established in 2012 through the merger of three former Toyota affiliates in the Tohoku region. It specializes in the production of compact cars, such as the Toyota Yaris, and manufacturing engines, with a focus on leveraging local expertise and advanced technology. The company plays a key role in Toyota’s recovery efforts in the region following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, helping to revitalize the local economy.

Sakichi Toyoda

Sakichi Toyoda was a Japanese inventor and industrialist, often called the “Father of the Japanese Industrial Revolution.” He founded Toyota Industries in 1926, initially developing automatic looms that revolutionized the textile industry. His innovations and principles later inspired his son, Kiichiro Toyoda, to establish the Toyota Motor Corporation, laying the foundation for one of the world’s largest automotive manufacturers.

e-Palette

The e-Palette is a concept vehicle developed by Toyota, first unveiled at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show. It is an electric, autonomous, and modular platform designed for various mobility services, such as ride-sharing, delivery, and mobile retail. Rather than a traditional cultural site, it represents a modern innovation in transportation, aiming to shape the future of urban mobility and logistics.

Aichi Prefecture

Aichi Prefecture, located in central Japan, is historically significant as the heartland of the powerful Oda and Tokugawa clans during the Sengoku and Edo periods. Its capital, Nagoya, is home to Nagoya Castle, a symbol of the region’s samurai heritage, and the Atsuta Shrine, one of Shinto’s most important shrines. Today, Aichi is a major industrial and cultural hub, known for its automotive industry (notably Toyota) and traditional crafts like pottery and textiles.