
On Going: Noborito
[日本語]
There’s something about this stretch of Amazonian River that feels like a fringe in Tokyo- where underdeveloped lots and wide open fields meet the explorational bicyclists of Setagaya. And an area that fringe people come to hang out. They are not going into the centers like Shibuya and Shinjuku, following the blind crowd, they are moving outward to the perimeter.
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The site and area I have been thinking about is Noborito, adjacent to the Tama River, at the cross between the Odakyu and JR Nambu Railways.
[日本語]
There’s something about this stretch of Amazonian River that feels like a fringe in Tokyo- where underdeveloped lots and wide open fields meet the explorational bicyclists of Setagaya. And an area that fringe people come to hang out. They are not going into the centers like Shibuya and Shinjuku, following the blind crowd, they are moving outward to the perimeter.

The site and area I have been thinking about is Noborito, adjacent to the Tama River, at the cross between the Odakyu and JR Nambu Railways.
Edition: 1
Case Study
Case Study
Site
Noborito (20km W.of Tokyo Station)
Noborito (20km W.of Tokyo Station)
Date First Posted
August 2025
August 2025


Observation: 11/15
Case Study
Case Study
Outer Tokyo is early on in this development, and remains as it is in the Japanese indie films, empty, under designed, almost abandoned and melancholic.
This is the aesthetic that I like about this area. That you can be a city so dense with people, and yet go out to the river and find this serene and empty landscape. It is not manicured, but shows the true nature of a lonely Tokyo aesthetic.
This is the aesthetic that I like about this area. That you can be a city so dense with people, and yet go out to the river and find this serene and empty landscape. It is not manicured, but shows the true nature of a lonely Tokyo aesthetic.
Site:

Area Use
:
Areas of public gathering placed on a flood zone. An abandoned blue shed stands, which was formerly used as a local oden restaraunt, currently used as small storage facility for boats and other river activities.
The concrete flood banks are used as informal seating, and a concrete pad is used as a DIY skatepark. Several barbeque areas exist, however a popular area is directly under the bridge of the Odakyu train line.
The river is often used for local fishing, and the surrounding land areas are used for sports fields. On certain occasions, the dark asphalt area is used as a flea market, and on other occasions there are youth events happening in the dirt area.
:
Areas of public gathering placed on a flood zone. An abandoned blue shed stands, which was formerly used as a local oden restaraunt, currently used as small storage facility for boats and other river activities.
The concrete flood banks are used as informal seating, and a concrete pad is used as a DIY skatepark. Several barbeque areas exist, however a popular area is directly under the bridge of the Odakyu train line.
The river is often used for local fishing, and the surrounding land areas are used for sports fields. On certain occasions, the dark asphalt area is used as a flea market, and on other occasions there are youth events happening in the dirt area.