Local community and City cooperate for landscape conservation! Declaration to deter disorderly development around the [Tomei] Toyohashi Shinshiro Smart IC

The Tomei Expressway "Toyohashi Shinshiro Smart Interchange (IC)" is currently under construction in the northern part of Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture.

On Friday, March 27, 2026, Toyohashi City and local residents issued a joint declaration to deter disorderly development and conducted a patrol activity to protect the lush landscape and living environment around the construction site.

The Toyohashi Shinshiro Smart IC is being constructed by Toyohashi City, Shinshiro City, and Central Nippon Expressway Company Limited between the Tomei Toyokawa IC and Mikkabi IC. Only vehicles equipped with ETC can pass through 24 hours a day. The smart IC is located in Ishimakihagihiracho, Toyohashi City for the down line, and Tomioka, Shinshiro City for the up line.

Passing down the Jiro persimmon production area and natural environment to the next generation; joint monitoring by residents and the city

The area around the smart IC under construction is a major production area for Jiro persimmons, which supports the highest production volume in Japan, and is a place rich in nature with expansive greenery. The city is promoting community development aimed at regional revitalization while striving for harmony with the natural environment.

The opening of the smart IC is expected to have many positive effects, including improved access to corporate industrial parks, job creation, industrial promotion, increased visitors due to better access to tourist destinations, and regional revitalization utilizing local industries. Furthermore, significant benefits are anticipated in terms of improved survival rates due to shorter transport times to medical institutions and enhanced disaster prevention functions.

On the other hand, the possibility of disorganized corporate location and undesirable land use cannot be denied.

Unplanned, disorderly, piecemeal land development causes the destruction of agricultural land and nature, deterioration of the landscape, and may affect the living environment and future city planning.

Therefore, the city, the local Saigo school district neighborhood association, and the Toyohashi City Northern Region Revitalization Committee have decided to cooperate in activities such as awareness-raising and monitoring to deter disorderly development.

The joint declaration ceremony was held at the Hagihiracho Community Center in Ishimakihagihiracho. In front of about 50 people gathered, Mayor Naoto Nagasaka, the chairman of the Saigo school district neighborhood association, and the chairman of the Toyohashi City Northern Region Revitalization Committee signed the joint declaration.

Mayor Nagasaka greeted the audience, saying, "City development triggered by the smart IC will bring immense benefits not only to the revitalization of the surrounding areas but also to Toyohashi City. We will continue to push forward with city planning together with the local community, and at the same time, we will work to deter disorderly development to protect the wonderful assets of this region."

Next, the chairman of the Saigo school district neighborhood association said, "We will strive to preserve agricultural land and landscapes, maintain the living environment, and engage in awareness-raising and monitoring activities. We will absolutely protect the many unique characteristics of our school district."

The chairman of the Toyohashi City Northern Region Revitalization Committee spoke powerfully, "I believe it is important to communicate to people both inside and outside the region that this is an area sensitive to landscape protection and environmental conservation. For that reason, I believe our future efforts will be put to the test. As the revitalization committee, we will stand at the forefront of local residents and work closely with the administration."

Going forward, the area around the smart IC in the Saigo school district and the newly constructed bypass road will be designated as a priority deterrence area, aiming to deter actions that adversely affect the landscape and living environment, such as improperly managed materials, leftover soil, waste material storage yards, and the installation of solar power generation facilities.

In addition, the "Toyohashi City Development Review Board Standards" have been revised to regulate the location of distribution business facilities, such as facilities for loading and unloading cargo and truck terminals, along existing roads so that they do not proliferate (effective on the day the smart IC opens for use). Furthermore, from the perspective of landscape conservation, the area within 100 meters from major roads expected to see an increase in traffic volume after opening, as well as roads along them, will be added to the prohibited area for outdoor advertising objects, restricting the installation of general advertisements.

After the declaration ceremony, city officials and local residents split into two groups and patrolled the area. While walking around the site, they deepened their understanding of monitoring points and precautions.

Joint Declaration and Content

The name of the smart interchange (IC) that Toyohashi City has been developing with Central Nippon Expressway Company Limited and Shinshiro City has been decided as "Toyohashi Shinshiro Smart IC" and was recently announced.

With the opening of Toyohashi City's first Tomei Expressway IC, transportation convenience will significantly improve, and the need for corporate locations is expected to increase dramatically around the smart IC.

In order to revitalize the region while making the most of this opportunity, Toyohashi City, in cooperation with local residents, is promoting city planning around the smart IC that is in harmony with agricultural lands such as persimmon orchards and rich natural environments like Mt. Kichijo and the Yumihari Mountains. In March 2024, the "Toyohashi Shinshiro Smart IC (tentative name) Surrounding Land Use Concept" was formulated, and in July 2025, the "Toyohashi Shinshiro Smart IC (tentative name) Surrounding Land Use Plan" was established.

The opening of the smart IC carries the undeniable possibility of inviting disorderly corporate locations and undesirable land use, causing concerns about adverse effects on the preservation of agricultural land and landscapes, the maintenance of the living environment, and the realization of our city planning goals.

Therefore, to realize the vision of the town we aim for, we will protect the production areas of Jiro persimmons and the Satoyama landscape, which are valuable resources of the region.