A village-defining new project aims to create a vibrant cosmopolitan tiered avenue that will link Upper Hirafu to Lower Hirafu.
Aruku-zaka (Walk Street) will include 80 shops, restaurants and bars as well as an ice skating rink in winter and other activities year round.
It will run for about 280m along one side of Middle Hirafu and downhill towards Lower Hirafu.
The site area is 29,000sqm (about the size of five football fields) and the gross floor area once completed will be more than 50,000sqm.
It will be developed in three phases, with Phase 1 expected to be finished Q4 2021 and full project completion expected by Q1 2023.