When we think we’ve seen it all, Japan surprises us. This time in Tokyo, there is a building called Pasona O2, which is actually an underground farm located in the Otemachi district of Chiyoda. The first notable thing about this building is the branches and leaves that come out of the window. This farm building has about 4,000 square meters dedicated to green space where more than 200 different types of plants, vegetables, fruits, and others are cultivated.
Pasona is a group that has a traditional farm in Ogata, but with the intention of expanding its business, it created this building in Tokyo to train young people and offer job opportunities in the agricultural world. This Pasona building was created in 2010 with the help of Kono Designs, the building has 9 floors and allows employees to plant and harvest their own food.
In the absence of sunlight, the plants are supported by artificial light from diodes, light emitters, metal halide lamps, and sodium vapor lamps. The temperature of the place is controlled by computer and the vegetables are cultivated with a pesticide. Some plants are grown in water and almost no soil is used in a method called hydroponics. With this method, it is believed that it is possible to make a plant grow 30 to 50% faster.
Getting to know the farm building – Pasona O2
Upon arriving at the site, you find more than 50 different types of roses being cultivated, in addition to several other flowers grown under white LEDs. This underground farm produces 100 different types of fruits and vegetables. To save space, the seeds are germinated in trays, tomatoes are grown hydroponically, and the plants crawl along the ceilings. In another room, you find a rice field on shelves, being cultivated with metal halide and high-pressure sodium lamps. Lettuce is grown with fluorescent lamps.
- Room 1 – Flower Field;
- Room 2 – Herb Field;
- Room 3 – Rice Field;
- Room 4 – Fruits and Vegetables;
- Room 5 – Vegetable Field;
- Room 6 – Seed Room;
It is important to note that this is not just a simple building with plants growing on the walls. It was fully designed with this in mind, where flowers and orange trees are planted on the balconies. We should think of this building as a large plantation used for educational workshops and agricultural community members.
The place is open to the public and has a café where you can have a great view of the farm while enjoying a coffee. All food is harvested in the building and served in the café. If you are near Tokyo Station, be sure to visit the site. What did you think? Did you know this place? We appreciate comments and shares.
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