The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has announced plans to use an underground facility near Tokyo Station as a shelter for residents and tourists in the event of a ballistic missile attack. The move is part of efforts to enhance safety in the city center against increasingly complex security threats.
According to the plan, the underground facility, located near Japan's busiest railway hub, will be renovated to accommodate people seeking refuge once a missile warning is issued. The choice of a site close to Tokyo Station is considered practical, as the area is among the most crowded in the city, hosting numerous office buildings, shopping centers, and tourist destinations.
The initiative comes as Japan steps up its civil defense measures, including the construction and equipping of shelters in major cities, to be ready for security emergencies. Tokyo officials said they will continue to refine the plan and release further details about the timeline and operational procedures for the new shelter in the coming months.
Having an underground refuge in the central district is expected to reduce risks for people who might otherwise have to travel farther in an emergency, while also boosting the city's overall emergency response capacity to potential threats.
