Jiyugaoka Night Walk Review
2018/04/16 Mikine Yamamoto + Noriko Higashi
Jiyugaoka is a popular town, even in Tokyo. It was totally worth the hype. It was bustling with many people during our Night Walk Survey. This time, with “style” as our theme, did each team manage to discover a stylish street?
24 people met on the second floor of LPA for a Night Walk Survey review
We reviewed the Jiyugaoka Night Walk Survey that was held on April 6. The theme of the survey was “Find the Stylish Street.” Was Jiyugaoka’s night scene as stylish as we had imagined? We announced the best stylish street chosen by each team, from A to D, who were separated for the Night Walk.
Highlights from a Presentation 
A presentation of the compiled impressions and opinions from the Night Walk Survey by each team 
The presentation materials show great ingenuity 
It was a pleasant gathering while having light meals
The cobblestone and brick-style streets, which are often seen in Jiyugaoka, look stylish and create a fashionable atmosphere without any extra effort compared to streets paved with asphalt. We heard comments that the streetlights on these streets used shades that directed light only downwards, which was likely done to prevent glare and light pollution, showing consideration for pedestrians.
In general, Jiyugaoka’s streetlights have a high color temperature, while the light spilling from the shops is often low in color temperature. Although there was a difference in color temperature, many members felt that the brightness was comfortable for walking at night. However, some also felt that the lighting in residential areas and on major streets was still too bright and glaring, ruining the atmosphere.
Jiyugaoka has the impression of a place where new shops constantly open to set trends, but surprisingly, there is also a wide presence of older streets, like the long-standing Jiyugaoka Department Store, Hikari-gai, and small alleys reminiscent of the Showa-era red lantern streets. We heard opinions that Jiyugaoka’s charm lies in its human-scale environment, with few tall buildings and a mix of unique shopping streets, alleys, parks, and quiet residential areas. We also heard that the small cluster of lights—from the signs placed in front of shops to the soft light spilling from the storefronts—creates a sense of comfort.
It seems that on streets where the center is a promenade with street trees and benches, and is well-maintained, the space becomes a comfortable place to enjoy a takeout meal outside, even at night.
There was also an opinion that the town is a borderless mix of stylish, new shops and old shops and residences that have been around since the Showa era. Chief Mende commented that when Jiyugaoka was first developed, it was a town filled with new things and a townscape that actively incorporated things like Western-style cobblestone streets. But now that those have gotten old, it gives the impression of a “town that used to be stylish.”
The final conclusion was that rather than giving the impression of being stylish, the town as a whole felt like a “good town” with a number of comfortable streets and spaces where people could enjoy spending time outside at night. Each salon is a place where Night Walk Survey team leaders can actively share their thoughts and opinions and where we can have lively discussions about what worked well and what could be improved. We feel the materials that have been compiled are also excellent, so we plan to actively publish them on our website. (Noriko Higashi)
■Reflections on Participating in the Salon
This was my first time participating in a report session (salon) after joining a Lighting Detectives Night Walk Survey for the first time in 10 years. This salon was a report session for the Jiyugaoka Night Walk Survey, with presentations on survey findings and reflections from four teams.
The atmosphere of the places we saw during the Night Walk Survey came across clearly, as they carefully explained the characteristics of the streets, and the heroes and villains, with photos and comments. The members’ perspectives and comments on the town were also diverse, ranging from unique to professional. Also, since suggestions for improving the town came up, it was a very stimulating and substantive report session. (Mikine Yamamoto)
