A rendering of the Sakuragi PPJ (tentative name), a large-scale complex under construction on the site of the former municipal Sakuragi parking lot at the west exit of Omiya Station, which is expected to become a new landmark building complex a short distance away from JR Omiya Station.
Construction of "Sakuragi PPJ (tentative name)," a large-scale development project utilizing the former site of the municipal "Sakuragi Parking Lot" in the west exit area of JR Omiya Station, began on April 15, 2025. The project is a large-scale complex with a total floor area of over 31,800m2 equipped with commercial, business, and exchange functions, and consists of five buildings: a commercial building, an office building, a parking lot building, a fitness center building, and a MICE wedding hall building. The site is a 10-minute walk from the west exit of Omiya Station, on city-owned land with a total site area of approximately 18,000 m2, and is scheduled to be completed and open in the spring of 2027. Saitama City plans to position this development site as a center where people, goods, and information gather to create and disseminate new value, and to introduce functions that will contribute to the formation of a "convection hub for East Japan.
Ltd. (Daiwa House Group), a major developer, and East Japan Railway Company (JR East), a railroad operator. (JR East), a railway operator, and Brass Corporation, a company that plans to operate a wedding hall building, as joint venturers. In October 2023, the consortium mentioned above was selected as the preferred bidder, and in March 2024, a basic agreement was signed with the city. The project is positioned as a public-private partnership between the government and the private sector, and the city of Saitama and the operator are working together from the urban planning stage.
The planned site is approximately 18,043m2 in Sakuragi-cho 3-chome, Omiya-ku, and consists of five buildings ranging from two to five stories above ground. This large-scale development with a total floor area of approximately 31,859 m2 consists of five buildings: a commercial building (retail and service facilities), an office building (business facilities), a parking building (automobile parking facilities), a fitness building (exercise and health facilities), and a MICE and wedding hall (hall and event facilities). The buildings are all low-rise steel-framed structures, with the tallest office building being only about five stories above ground. Daiwa House Industry is in charge of design and construction, and a groundbreaking ceremony was held in late March 2025. A plaza and pedestrian space are also provided on the site, and the layout is designed to harmonize with the surrounding streetscape and to facilitate circulation.
The project concept is "Omiya Well-being Station. The project aims to pursue wellbeing from the perspectives of health, culture, and community, and to enhance the attractiveness of the Omiya Station West Exit area. Specifically, facility functions will be enhanced under the following three themes
Living and working "Well-being LIFE " - A supermarket and clinic mall will be set up in the commercial building to contribute to the health of local residents, and shared offices and community exchange space will be provided in the office building. The plan is to enhance daily convenience as well as to create new businesses and revitalize the community.
Well-being CULTURE " - A new "Train Plaza" will be built on the site to display rolling stock, symbolizing "Omiya, the City of Railroads. The "Train Plaza" will be open to the public. It will be a space where local residents and visitors can gather and enjoy various events such as railroad events and food market. In addition, taking advantage of the fact that Omiya Station is a Shinkansen station, JR East's Shinkansen luggage transportation service "Hakobun" will be used to connect food cultures from various parts of East Japan.
Connecting "Well-being COMMUNITY " - Centered on a multi-purpose wedding hall, the building will provide a venue to support local life events (weddings, funerals, etc.). Furthermore, in the event of a disaster, the parking building will be opened as a temporary evacuation site for people who have difficulty returning home, and will function as a disaster prevention center by providing emergency toilets and kamado benches. In cooperation with the tenants in the facility, food will be provided in the event of a disaster, thereby contributing to the safety and security of the community.
With the development of Sakuragi PPJ, the Omiya Station West Exit area will have a variety of new functions, from a convenient facility for daily life to a business center and a place for community interaction. Local residents can expect direct benefits such as an improved shopping environment, medical services, and places to work, as well as the creation of a lively atmosphere through an event plaza and sports facilities. The exhibition of rolling stock and the holding of various events will promote the transmission of Omiya's unique local culture and strengthen the identity of Omiya as a railroad town. In addition, the project will contribute to the creation of a safe and secure community by strengthening the community's safety network in the event of a disaster through the development of disaster prevention functions. Overall, this project will have a significant economic ripple effect on the West Exit area and improve the living environment, and citizens have high expectations for the birth of a new landmark.
The following is the main schedule for the future, from the start of the project to the completion of construction.
January 2023 - Saitama City conducts a public call for proposals for the Sakuragi parking lot site utilization project (call for project proposals begins).
October 2023 - As a result of the proposal review, a consortium of Daiwa House Group and JR East Group is selected as the preferred bidder.
March 2024 - A basic agreement is signed between Saitama City and the consortium of operators (agreement to commercialize the project).
April 2025 - Construction work begins, with groundbreaking (start of construction) on April 15.
Spring 2027 - All facilities are scheduled to be completed and open for business. After completion, the facilities will be put into service in phases.
As construction progresses, the project is expected to attract tenants, determine the specific name of the facility, and hold discussions with the local community. Public relations events and community information meetings are also expected to be held in preparation for the opening, drawing attention to the city's renewal.
In recent years, many redevelopment projects and urban infrastructure improvements have been underway in the area west of Omiya Station. In front of the station, public and commercial facilities such as "Omiya Sakura Square" (District 3-B Redevelopment Project) have already been completed, and a large supermarket and administrative facilities are now in service. Although the planned Sakuragi PPJ site is located approximately 500m away from the station square, the "No. 4 Land Readjustment Project" (scheduled for completion at the end of FY2028), which includes road improvements, is underway in the surrounding area to improve access and the streetscape of the entire west exit area. In addition, the city of Saitama is working on the "Omiya Station Grand Central Station Concept," which calls for advanced use of the area around the station, enhanced transportation functions, and integrated urban development. The Sakuragi PPJ project is positioned as part of this broad-based urban development concept, and the completion of the new facility is expected to further enhance the urban hub of Omiya. The new facility will be a new landmark unique to Omiya, a city of railroads, as it will be in harmony with the adjacent JR East Omiya General Rolling Stock Center (rolling stock depot) and will also have synergistic effects.