City Overview

Chronology of Tsukuba Science City

1961
Sept.
  • The Cabinet decides to consider the mass transfer of government offices that do not need to be located within Tokyo city proper to operate, in order to prevent overcrowding
1962
July.
  • Science and Technology Conference report on the necessity of mass transfer of national experimental research institutions
1963
Sept.
  • The Cabinet agrees to the construction of a science city in the Tsukuba region, and to allowing the Japan Housing Corporation to buy and organize the land
1964
Dec.
  • The Cabinet decides on the establishment and composition of the Science City Construction Promotion Headquarters (hereafter Promotion Headquarters), whose head is also the head of the Metropolitan Amenity Committee, inside the prime minister's office
1966
Dec.
  • Land acquisition begins (completed in Oct., 1973)
1967
Sept.
  • The Cabinet agrees on the science city basic construction policy and the 36 institutions selected to be transferred
1968
Oct.
  • Work begins on the construction of an experiments center for the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention, the first institutional transfer
1969
June.
  • The Cabinet decides to conduct the construction of the institutions projected to move to Tsukuba over a period of 10 years, broken up into two 5 year periods
Nov.
  • Groundbreaking ceremony for the Tsukuba Science City Development Project
1970
May.
  • Establishment and announcement of the Tsukuba Science City Construction Law
June.
  • Determination of expansion of Joban Expressway (55km from Misato, Saitama, to Chiyoda, Ibaraki)
1971
Feb.
  • The Promotion Headquarters announces the Tsukuba Science City Construction Plan Framework and the Tsukuba Science City Public Event Plan Overview
1972
Jan.
  • The first residents enter the civil servant housing built in the Science Zone (Hanamuro)
Mar.
  • The National Institute of Materials Science is the first institution to complete its transfer
May.
  • The Cabinet decides on 42 research and educational institutions to transfer
1973
Apr.
  • The Promotion Headquarters revises the Tsukuba Science City Construction Plan Framework and the Tsukuba Science City Public Event Plan Overview, and announces the Tsukuba Science City Transfer Institutions Transfer Plan Overview, adding one institution to the research and educational institutions being transferred/built for a total of 43
Sept.
  • The Tsukuba New City Development Corporation is formed
Oct.
  • The University of Tsukuba opens
Dec.
  • Dr. Leo Ezaki (current Chairman of the Science and Technology Promotion Foundation of Ibaraki) wins the Nobel Prize for Physics
1974
Apr.
  • The first preschool, elementary school, and junior high school are opened in the Science Zone (Takezono-Higashi Preschool, Takezono-Higashi Elementary School, Takezono-Higashi Junior High)
June.
  • MLIT proposes that the MLIT Major City Area Amenity Office take charge of the overall organization of Science City, and creates the Tsukuba Science City Construction Promotion Office
1975
Mar.
  • The Cabinet decides the period for the near completion of all institutional transfer will now be from 1975 to 1979
May.
  • The Promotion Headquarters establishes the Tsukuba Science City Municipality Financial Responsibility Special Provisions Overview
1976
May.
  • Completion ceremony for MatsumiPark, the Tsukuba New City Memorial Hall (DohoPark), Oshimizu Park, and the green walkways is held
1977
Feb.
  • The Tsukuba Science City Research Exchange Promotion Association is formed from universities and industrial/academic/governmental experimental research institutions
Aug.
  • The Tsukuba Science City Association is formed from Japan Housing Corporation, Ibaraki Prefecture, 6 local municipalities, and national experimental research and educational institutions
1978
Feb.
  • The Shipbuilding Research Center of Japan opens, becoming the first private research facility in the Science Zone Opening of the Tsukuba Center for Institutes
1979
Oct.
  • The University of Library and Information Science opens (current University of Tsukuba)
1980
Mar.
  • The transfer of all 43 institutions is completed (Science City is nearly complete)
Sept.
  • The Prime Minister approves the Science City Construction Plan (publicized 9/25) The Tsukuba Science City Research Exchange Promotion Association is dissolved and reformed into the Tsukuba Network 2 more research and educational institutions are selected to be transferred/build, for a total of 45
1981
Apr.
  • The International Exposition (Expo’ 85) is approved
Aug.
  • Ibaraki Prefecture determines the Surrounding Region Development Plan
Oct.
  • The Japan Housing Corporation and Residential Land Development Corporation merge to form the Housing and City Development Corporation
1982
July.
  • Tokodai Research Park is completed
Sept.
  • 1 more research and educational institution is selected to be transferred/built, for a total of 46
1983
June.
  • Construction is completed on the Tsukuba Center Building
July.
  • Ibaraki Prefecture sets up the Tsukuba Information Center (closed in Dec., 2008) within the Tsukuba Center Building
1985
Jan.
  • The Joban Expressway directly connects to Tokyo
  • The New Tsukuba Colloquium is formed as the MLIT Director’s personal advisory committee
Mar.
  • The Tsukuba Expo Center is completed
  • The Creo Shopping Center opens
  • The Tsukuba Center transportation plaza is built
  • Expo ‘85 opens (held from 3/17~9/16, 20,330,000 attendees)
  • The Transportation Policy Commission releases its report on the construction of new Joban Line routes
1987
Apr.
  • Highway bus route opens between Tokyo and Tsukuba Center
June.
  • Tsuchiura and Tsukuba Science City are selected as a International Tourism Model Region
Oct.
  • 1 more research and educational institution is selected to be transferred/built, for a total of 47
Nov.
  • Tsukuba City is formed from the merging of Oho, Toyosato, Sakura-mura, and Yatabe
1988
Jan.
  • Tsukuba City and Tsukuba-machi merge
Feb.
  • The Tsukuba Center, Inc. is established
Mar.
  • The Joban Expressway between Misato and Iwaki Chuo is fully opened
June.
  • The Tsukuba Urban Transportation Center is established
Aug.
  • The Tsukuba Western Parking Lot is opened
Sept.
  • Celebration of the 25th anniversary of the construction of Tsukuba Science City
1989
Apr.
  • The National Institutional Transfer Committee decides on the transfer of the Institute for Materials Science
  • The Ibaraki Prefectural Tsukuba School of Nursing opens
May.
  • MLIT decides on the New Tsukuba Plan
July.
  • Ibaraki Prefecture opens the Tsukuba Office (closed Mar., 2009) inside the Tsukuba Information Center
1990
Apr.
  • The Tsukuba Mitsui Building opens
  • Ibaraki Prefecture decides on the Greater Tsukuba Plan
  • The Tokyo Kasei-Gakuin Tsukuba Junior College opens (current Japan International University)
June.
  • Tsukuba Junior College of Technology opens (current Tsukuba University of Technology)
  • The Tsukuba Cuitural Center Arus opens
1991
Mar.
  • The Metropolitan Inter-city Railway Company is formed
  • The Tsukuba Cultural Foundation is formed
July.
  • The Tsukuba heliport opens
Oct.
  • The national government approves the fundamental plan for new routes on the Joban Line
1992
Jan.
  • The license for the new Joban Line routes is given to the Metropolitan Inter-city Railway Company by MLIT
May.
  • The Tsukuba International Cargo Terminal is established
Nov.
  • Tsukuba’s population reaches 150,000
1993
Jan.
  • Due to institutional reforms, the number of national research and educational institutions reduces from 47 to 46
Feb.
  • Ibaraki Prefecture decides on the Tsuchiura/Tsukuba/Ushiku Central Administration Cities Plan
Oct.
  • Memorial symposium held for the 30th anniversary of Tsukuba Science City’s construction
  • The new MOG commercial building is completed
1994
Apr.
  • The Total Health Evaluation Center Tsukuba is opened within the Tsukuba Medical Center
  • The Tsukuba South 1 Parking Lot opens
May.
  • The University of Tsukuba opens the Center for Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA)
July.
  • A direct bus link between Tsukuba and Narita Airport begins
  • The three parties (Ibaraki Prefecture, Tsukuba, and the landowners) agree on the devvelopment around the new Joban routes
Oct.
  • Groundbreaking ceremony for the new Joban routes (in front of Akihabara Station)
1995
Nov.
  • The Fundamental Legislation on Science and Technology is determined and announced
1996
Apr.
  • The Tokyo Kasei-Gakuin Tsukuba Women’s University opens (current Japan International University)
  • Due to institutional reforms, the number of national research and educational institutions reduces from 46 to 45
July.
  • The Tsukuba Capio Community Center opens
1997
Sept.
  • The Tsuchiura/Tsukuba Convention Bureau is established (current Tsukuba Tourism and Convention Association)
1998
Mar.
  • The Joban Line Hitachino-Ushiku Station opens
Apr.
  • The Science City Construction Plan (MLIT) and Surrounding Region Development Plan (Ibaraki) are revised
Oct.
  • 1 more research and educational institution is selected to be transferred/built, for a total of 46
1999
June.
  • The Tsukuba International Congress Center (Epochal Tsukuba) opens
July.
  • Tsuchiura and Tsukuba are selected as International Conference and Tourism cities
Oct.
  • Due to institutional reforms, the Housing and City Development Corporation becomes the City Foundation Development Corporation
2000
Dec.
  • Dr. Hideki Shirakawa(current Professor Emeritus of the University of Tsukuba) wins the Nobel Prize for Chemistry
2001
Feb.
  • The new Joban route is named the Tsukuba Express
Apr.
  • Due to institutional reforms resulting from the creation of the Independent Administrative Institution, the number of national research and educational institutions reduces from 45 to 34
2002
Apr.
  • Tsukuba’s Nori-nori social welfare loop bus is introduced
Oct.
  • The University of Library and Information Sciences merges with the University of Tsukuba (the number of national research and educational institutions reduces from 34 to 33)
Nov.
  • Kukizaki-machi merges with Tsukuba City
2003
Apr.
  • The Tsukuba Start-up Plaza business development facility is established
Sept.
  • The Tsukuba Community Tsuku-tsuku bus is introduced
  • Tsukuba City and the University of Tsukuba conclude a collaboration agreement
Oct.
  • 5 institutes , includeing The National Space Development Association of Japan and RIKEN, become Independent Administrative Institutions
2004
Apr.
  • The University of Tsukuba and Tsukuba Junior College of Technology (current Tsukuba University of Technology) become national universities, and the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization becomes a joing university institution
June.
  • The Tsukuba Network and the Tsukuba Science City Association merge to become the new Tsukuba Network
July.
  • The City Foundation Development Corporation merges with the Regional Promotion Development Corporation’s Regional City Development
  • Department and becomes the Urban Renaissance Agency Tsukuba New City Development, Tsukuba Energy Service, and Southern Ibaraki New City Development merge to become the Tsukuba Urban Development Co.(consolidated with New Urban Life Holdings in Jan 2024)
2005
Mar.
  • The Q’t Shopping Center opens
Aug.
  • The Tsukuba Express begins operating
Dec.
  • Tsukuba’s population reaches 200,000
2006
Apr.
  • Tsukuba’s new community bus, the Tsukubus, begins operating (Nori-nori and Tsuku-tsuku end operations)
    Due to institutional reforms, the National Agriculture and Food Reserch Organization is formed and the number of national research and educational institutions reduces from 33 to 31
Oct.
  • The Science and Technology Promotion Organization establishes the JST Innovation Satellite Ibaraki
2007
Feb.
  • First Tsukuba license plates
Apr.
  • Tsukuba becomes a Special City
2008
June.
  • The Tsukuba Passport Office opens
Dec.
  • Dr. Makoto Kobayashi (current Professor Emeritus at the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization) wins the Nobel Prize for Physics
2009
June.
  • Joint industrial/academic/government announcement of the Promotion of Tsukuba as a Nanotechnology Base
2010
Jan.
  • Creation of the Grand Design for a New Tsukuba
May.
  • Opening of the new Tsukuba City Hall
Dec.
  • Opening of the Lifestyle Support Robot Safety Verification Center
2011
Mar.
  • With the addition of the Yokohama Plant Protection Station Tsukuba Field, the number of national research and educational institutions increases to 32
  • Approval of the Tsukuba Mobility Robot Special Experimental Zone
Dec.
  • Designation of the Tsukuba International Strategic Zone
2013
Sept.
  • 50th year since the Cabinet approval of the construction of Tsukuba Science City
Nov.
  • Celebration of the 50th anniversary of the construction of Tsukuba Science City
2016
Apr.
  • National Center for Seeds and Seeding, National Institute of Agribiological Sciences, and National Institute for Agro-Environmental Services merges with the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (the number of national research and educational institutions reduces from 32 to 29)
May.
  • G7 Science & Technology Ministers’ Meeting in Tsukuba, Ibaraki was held in the International Congress Center
2018
Oct.
  • In regards to the Tsukuba International Congress Center, the 17th World Lake Conference (Lake Kasumigaura, Ibaraki, Japan,2018) was held.
2019
Mar.
  • Mr. ISOZAKI Arata(designer of the Tsukuba Center Building) received the Pritzker Architecture Prize
June.
  • The G20 Ministerial Meeting on Trade and Digital Economy in Tsukuba, Ibaraki was held at the Tsukuba International Congress Center
Oct.
  • Opening of the renovated Tsukuba Startup Park (Tsukuba industries revitalization center)
Dec.
  • The “Tsukuba Start-up Office by Ibaraki Pref.(Tsukuba Start-up Plaza Annex)” opened
2020
Feb.
  • The Tsukuba Startup Ecosystem Consortium is established
July.
  • The Startup Ecosystem Tokyo Consortium in which Tsukuba City and Ibaraki Prefecture take part in, was selected as a base city for a global startup ecosystem
2021
May.
  • Reopening of “tonarie TSUKUBA SQUARE” shopping center
2022
Apr.
  • Designation as a ‘Super City National Strategic Special Zone’
May.
  • Renewal of the Tsukuba Center Building. As part of this, a base ‘co-en’ was opened to support diverse working styles and activities.
2023
Dec.
  • “Tsukuba Station Citizen Services Office” opens
2024
Feb.
  • “Corridoio”, a citizens’ activity hub, opens in Tsukuba Center
May.
  • Development and Announcement of “Future Vision for Tsukuba Startup Ecosystem”

Source:
Ibaraki Prefecture (2025). TSUKUBA SCIENCE CITY (PR Brochure). Regional Development Division, Ibaraki Prefecture Department of Policy Planning.