Future-proofing the third space in Tokyo

This month, the commercial viability of an air-conditioned bench developed by Daikin, Kajima Corporation and Ilya Corporation will be tested during the Marunouchi Street Park 2026 Summer event.

The Street Park concept is a social experiment to explore the future use of Marunouchi-Nakadori Avenue in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, according to event organisers. The event runs from July 24 to August 23, 2026.

The street’s theme is “Playful Chill Street – Cooling Day/Neon Night” with installations aiming to create a comfortable environment even on high heat days. Mist, shade, scent, wind, sound and fixtures including greening and seating are planned.

The air-conditioned bench blends timber and technology, creating what Daikin describes as a “pleasant breeze” via airflow from the back and sides.

Initial prototypes showed it reduces perceived temperature by 5°C compared to normal conditions.

The benches are made using timber offcuts and Daikin has contributed to both the design of the internal structure and the installed HVAC system. Kajima Corporation is providing evaluation technology and conducting verification and analysis of human thermal comfort perceptions during the trial.

Ilya has contributed to the design and engineering in the context of ensuring the benches harmonise with the urban landscape, while Point 0 Committee is engaging in the venture from the perspective of the pursuit of comfort in the “outdoor third place”.

During the experiment, surveys and other methods will help collect data on usage patterns and provide insight to help assess the potential for scaling up deployment of the benches.

Call it “suffering”

It’s part of a broader research and development effort Daikin has been engaged in, alongside other members of Japan’s Point 0 Committee. Founded in 2019, Point 0 is an open innovation consortium of companies and educational institutions collaborating to develop, test and scale products and design approaches for the workplace of the future. This is now extending beyond the walls to the outdoors, as climate impacts become more lethal.

The toll of heat is increasing in Japan, with the Japan Meteorological Agency recently introducing an “extreme heat” designation for days over 40°C.

According to UNSW reporting, when the LMA surveyed the public to ask what it should name these kinds of heat days, answers included “suffering” and “scorching”.

According to the UNSW researchers, the 40°C threshold is not arbitrary.

“It marks real physiological boundaries: wet-bulb temperature limits for outdoor labour, sharply elevated heat stroke risk for the elderly, and infrastructure stress points including rail deformation, grid overload, and asphalt softening,” they write.

Last summer, at least 123 people died in Tokyo from heat-related illness, and the researchers say the nation is a particularly vulnerable climate “hotspot” due to factors including regional amplification making it warm faster than other areas and a heat-vulnerable, ageing population.

Tokyo Cool Project

Another climate adaptation initiative is the Tokyo Cool Project launched by Daikin and real estate company Mitsui Fudosan. The aim is to examine urban heat mitigation measures and improve human comfort.

Two of Daikin’s OUTER TOWER outdoor air conditioners have been installed at Tokyo Midtown Yaesu’s first-floor Galleria and will operate until the end of September.

The units deliver cool air in four directions, creating a comfort zone of up to 3m in diameter around the unit, according to Daikin.

Powered by a single phase 200V power supply, and supporting both cooling and ventilation modes, the integrated indoor and outdoor components eliminate the need for refrigerant piping.

“In recent years, the number of extremely hot days in urban areas has been increasing due to the effects of climate change and other factors,” Daikin says in its media announcement.

“As a result, addressing heat-related illness and creating environments where visitors can spend time comfortably in outdoor spaces have become important social issues.

“Tokyo Midtown Yaesu holds various events and creates opportunities for social interaction throughout the year. Creating environments where visitors can spend time comfortably even in the summer is an important theme for its outdoor spaces, which are used by many visitors.

“Mitsui Fudosan and Daikin will apply the knowledge they gain through this initiative to explore new approaches to heat mitigation in urban areas and examine the potential for future expansion to other facilities and areas.”

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