News in Easy English: Tokyo business area, office workers, keep cool in mini-forests

Tokyo's business districts are often referred to as "concrete jungles" due to their abundance of roads and tall buildings. These structures can contribute to the "heat island effect," making the city hotter. However, in Otemachi, a neighborhood near Tokyo Station, trees are being planted to create cooler microenvironments. Otemachi Tower, owned by Tokyo Tatemono Co., features around 200 trees and other vegetation, forming a small forest in central Tokyo.

A survey conducted by Tokyo Tatemono Co. and the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute in August 2025 revealed that the temperature within the forest was 32.5 degrees Celsius during noon, while a nearby crossing was 35.8 degrees Celsius. The ground temperature in the forest was a more moderate 31.9 degrees Celsius, compared to 47.3 degrees Celsius at the crossing, and 32.7 degrees Celsius on the designated walking path near the forest.

A company worker suggested that the forest may cool the area more effectively than traditional street trees. Completed in 2014, Otemachi Tower accounts for about one-third of its 10,000-square-meter site as green space, which includes a variety of evergreen and deciduous trees. The property boasts 208 plant species, 129 insect species, and 13 bird species.

The company estimates that caring for the forest costs about twice as much as maintaining a conventional open space, which involves regular tree maintenance and leaf cleanup. Many businesses appreciate the green space as it positively impacts employees' physical, mental, and social well-being. The company aims to expand green spaces in future developments.

Another forest, Otemachi One, was established by Mitsui & Co. and Mitsui Fudosan Co. in 2020. This larger green space, covering 6,000 square meters, features approximately 300 medium and tall trees and around 6,600 shrubs. It can absorb and store up to 11 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. These green areas are not only aesthetically pleasing but also serve as meeting spaces where people can collaborate, share ideas, and foster innovation beyond traditional office settings.