Residents in Japan’s densely populated urban areas are increasingly voicing opposition to the construction of large data centres, driven by concerns over environmental impact, safety, and quality of life. The debate has intensified around a planned facility in Hino, a suburb on the outskirts of Tokyo, where construction of three data centre buildings has elicited local unease.

Yoriko Kitagawa, a 94-year-old resident living near the site, described the plan as “terrible.” Nearby campaigners, including 69-year-old Yasuo Yamazaki, have expressed fears over potential fire hazards linked to the large quantities of batteries stored at the facility. Additional worries include heat emissions, noise pollution, and the risk of an explosion due to a stockpile of fuel for backup generators.

In response, developer Mitsui Fudosan has taken steps to address some concerns by reducing the height of two of the planned buildings by approximately 20%, bringing them to 63.5 meters (208 feet). The company also proposes a “green buffer zone” extending up to 78 meters, featuring trees and a stream aimed at mitigating noise, heat, and the sense of visual dominance, according to project manager Toshitsugu Jozuka. Mitsui Fudosan has engaged in regular meetings with residents to foster dialogue, acknowledging challenges in achieving full consensus.

Japan’s situation highlights a broader global challenge as data centres expand to meet surging demands driven by artificial intelligence (AI) development and the exponential growth of digital data measured in zettabytes—equivalent to trillions of gigabytes. Similar debates are underway in locations such as New York and Australia, where authorities have introduced new regulations. In the United States, opponents have organized a “national day of protest” to call attention to impacts on local communities and living standards.

With approximately 80% of Japan’s land covered by mountains, suitable large-scale sites near high-demand urban areas like greater Tokyo and Osaka are scarce. This geographical constraint complicates efforts to build facilities close enough to end-users to provide the low-latency and high-speed connectivity critical for financial trading, streaming, and gaming.

Japan is seeking to become a global leader in AI, aiming for 10 million AI robots by 2040 and striving to develop sovereign AI models and infrastructure to reduce dependence on industry giants in the United States and China. To support the substantial increase in electricity demand expected from AI-related activities, Japan is also moving to revive its nuclear power sector, more than 15 years after the Fukushima disaster.

However, experts emphasize that Japan faces “important constraints” due to limited land availability and outdated regulations. Legal challenges in towns like Inzai, which already hosts multiple data centres including one operated by Google, underscore local resistance. Residents there have filed lawsuits citing violations of rights to sunlight, noise disturbances, visual landscape degradation, and safety concerns related to traffic and construction.

Critics argue that current Japanese building codes, which often classify data centres as office spaces rather than industrial facilities, have not evolved to reflect the realities of modern data infrastructure. Lawyer Satoshi Oikawa, representing Inzai residents, remarked that the law “is not catching up with the situation.”

Industry analysts note that future successful data centre locations may prioritize reliable, affordable, and low-carbon electricity availability alongside proximity to users. Coordinated planning addressing power, grid capacity, cooling, land use, fiber connectivity, regulation, and community engagement is considered essential for sustainable development of this critical infrastructure.