Townscape of Tokyo

When you look at the view of Tokyo from the Tokyo Sky Tree,  you will see that Tokyo is gigantic, but the townscape is so messy.  

 Many people live in a tiny plot of land in a crowded neighborhood in central Tokyo, which is home to about 13 million people and is congested.  

 After WWII, the Japanese government implemented policies designed to prioritize economic growth at the expense of the landscape.  Tokyo is a chaotic patchwork-like urban commercial area. 

 The flow of people into Tokyo is increasing, with 64,000 (+2,695 YoY) in 2014.  More young couples and families choose to dwell in a small household or a flat near the city center than a bigger suburban home. 

 Thus, the townscape differs from Western cities, where the town looks pretty and uniform. The uptown area in Tokyo is well organized and cute, but Tokyo as a whole is messy. Despite the size and congestion, everything goes quite efficiently, and some like a messy downtown area in Tokyo.  

 Reconstruction projects are underway to prepare the city for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. At least we would expect that utility poles will be placed underground and all the advertising signs removed.