Tokyo launches inclusive Universal Walking 2026 project

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has announced the ‘TOKYO Universal Walking 2026’ project, a 5th-anniversary initiative celebrating the legacy of the Tokyo 2020 Games. The program aims to promote walking for people of all ages and abilities through barrier-free courses and specialized technology.

Key components include a walking event and wearable device experience scheduled for November 15, 2026, at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. The event will feature guest talk shows and demonstrations of assistive technologies, such as Eye Navi for walking support, Ashirase for vibration-based navigation, and AiLENS smart glasses.

Additionally, an app-based walking campaign will launch on September 1, offering goal-setting challenges and course completion rewards. The project utilizes 15 specially supervised barrier-free courses, designed to accommodate wheelchair users and those with visual impairments through features like voice guidance and movement-to-step conversion.