TOKYO - Running around the Imperial Palace has become one of Tokyo's most popular fitness activities, but growing numbers of runners and pedestrians sharing narrow sidewalks are raising safety concerns and prompting calls for stronger rules and better infrastructure.
The roughly 5-kilometer route around the Imperial Palace is popular because it has no traffic lights, offers greenery and views of central Tokyo, and includes gentle changes in elevation that make it suitable for both casual runners and people training for races.
However, parts of the route become significantly narrower, particularly near subway entrances and curved sections around areas such as Sakuradamon, creating points where runners and pedestrians can come into close contact.
Observers on the route reported seeing runners nearly collide with groups of tourists, while some people were also running in the opposite direction from the recommended flow.
Many runners were moving at relatively high speeds, with some apparently timing their laps, increasing concerns that accidents could occur when they encounter slower pedestrians, elderly people or tourists unfamiliar with the route.
The problem is said to become more noticeable on weekends, when runner numbers increase sharply.
There have also been cases in which large running groups have moved through narrow sections without forming a single line. One runner familiar with the area said groups of 20 to 30 people sometimes run together while measuring their times, creating potentially dangerous situations.
Runner numbers also tend to increase before major marathon events, adding further pressure to already crowded sidewalks.
Concerns have spread to social media, where some users have argued that running around the Imperial Palace has become excessive and even suggested that the activity should eventually be prohibited.
Chiyoda Ward, which includes the Imperial Palace, has responded by emphasizing existing etiquette rules and promising further improvements.
The ward's guidelines state that pedestrians must be given priority, runners should not block sidewalks, they should form a single line on narrow sections and they should run counterclockwise around the route.
The rules were introduced in 2013, but some are now questioning whether they need to be revised because the way people use the course has changed, particularly with the growth of organized group running.
The current guidelines do not specifically prohibit running in groups.
Chiyoda Mayor has said the ward will work to strengthen compliance with rules and etiquette while improving the environment around the route.
Some improvements have already been made, including widening certain sections of sidewalk and creating separated routes for bicycles.
However, further changes are complicated by the fact that roads around the Imperial Palace include both national and Tokyo metropolitan roads.
That means Chiyoda Ward cannot independently redesign all sections of the route, even if it wants to separate pedestrian and running lanes.
The ward plans to approach the national government and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government following the recent increase in concern.
Some runners and pedestrians argue that banning the activity would be an excessive response and that better behavior by all users should be enough to reduce the risks.
They say runners can slow down or move into single file when passing crowded sections, while pedestrians can also avoid spreading across the full width of the sidewalk.
Others have pointed to overseas examples where running and cycling routes are more clearly separated, allowing different users to share public spaces more safely.
Despite the concerns, the Imperial Palace route remains attractive to runners because of its central location, scenic surroundings and convenient 5-kilometer distance, which makes it easy to measure training runs.
The challenge for local authorities is now to preserve that appeal while ensuring that increasing numbers of runners do not make the route unsafe for the pedestrians who share it.
Source: KTV NEWS
