The Secret of the "Club" Where Office Workers and Fathers with Children Dance [Sunday Japanese Culture]

'Ekinaka Friday'
JR East Turns New Station into Outdoor Club
A Creative Solution Before Commercial District Opens

It's already Sunday. How was your week? Personally, I prefer Fridays over Sundays, as Sundays come with the pressure of knowing that the workweek starts again tomorrow. In Japan, there is an intriguing event called "Burning Friday," where a subway station transforms into a club stage. Office workers in suits on their way home, fathers holding their children's hands?everyone gathers to relieve stress and have fun together. Let me introduce "Ekinaka Friday," a club held at JR East's Takanawa Gateway Station in Japan.

People enjoying the club opened at Takanawa Gateway Station. Takanawa Gateway Instagram.

The central terrace of the south exit passage at JR Takanawa Gateway Station in Tokyo transforms into a dance floor every other Friday. DJs play music, and lights are installed on the ceiling to create a genuine outdoor club atmosphere. People can be seen dancing in the open spaces near the ticket gates, while others take photos, fascinated by the unusual scene. Since this is an outdoor performance held in a public space, there is no admission fee, and people of all ages can join in the fun. Some even visit with their children. DJs are specially selected by JR East, and they deliberately play songs that are familiar to people of all ages.

How did this subway station become a club? The first reason is the station's unique structure. The central passage is very wide, and the walls, ceiling, and floor are all open. As a result, even when loud club music is played, there is little echo or reverberation. This means that even with music playing, all the station announcements can still be heard clearly.

A view from the passage where the Takanawa Gateway Club is held. Takanawa Gateway website.

This station was actually created as part of an urban regeneration project. JR East launched a large-scale redevelopment project with a total investment of 600 billion yen (564.79 billion won), aiming to transform this area into a "laboratory for a prosperous life 100 years from now." The plan involved building Takanawa Gateway Station and developing the surrounding shops and buildings to create Takanawa Gateway City. However, since people have not yet fully settled in the neighborhood, the annual number of passengers is only about 11,100. Despite being a station on the Yamanote Line, which circles central Tokyo, it has the lowest usage rate. The nearby office district is also not yet fully occupied, giving the area a rather deserted feeling. Commercial facilities are not expected to be fully completed until September.

Because of this, representatives from JR East and Gateway City discussed, "What should we do before the city is fully established?" The station already had few people, and it would become even more deserted at night. With such a large investment, they could not afford to let the space go unused, so they began to consider alternative uses for it.

DJ list released at Ekinaka Friday. Ekinaka Friday homepage.

At first, they considered opening a restaurant, but installing ventilation systems in the station posed significant risks. Instead, they thought about installing sound equipment and displaying artworks in the spacious area, while offering snacks and drinks. This led to the creation of the in-station club "Ekinaka Friday," held on Friday nights.

Thanks to this, they are enjoying both increased sales and promotional effects. According to Yomiuri, they initially expected weekend sales to be 1 million yen (940,000 won), but they easily surpassed 3 million yen (2.84 million won). With more people visiting, it is expected that once the commercial district officially opens next year, the station will see an average annual usage of 130,000 people.

However, this club is also scheduled to end around July, coinciding with the opening of the commercial district. For this reason, it is being promoted as a "space you can enjoy for only 120 days," attracting many visitors. In fact, there are constant inquiries about using the space for other purposes. For JR East, this has become an innovative promotional project. Transforming a station that people usually pass by without a thought, or that is criticized for being underutilized, into a vibrant and creative space is a truly novel idea for space utilization.