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Tsukuba Moves to Attract New Data Center Near Ken-O Expressway Interchange

November 4, 2026 at 17:12 EST

Infra & Chips

Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, is seeking to attract a new data center to a site near the Tsukuba-Nishi Smart Interchange on the Metropolitan Inter-City Expressway, aiming to build up its industrial base and increase tax revenue.

Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture · Data center proposal

Tsukuba Courts a New Data Center Along the Metropolitan Expressway

The city wants to build its industrial base and widen its tax base by attracting a facility near the Tsukuba-Nishi Smart Interchange, extending the momentum of one of Japan's largest data center projects already underway locally.

From proposal to signed project

Whether the proposal proceeds depends on the steps below.

STEP 1

Site selection

Land near the expressway interchange is identified.

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STEP 2

Developer negotiations

Terms are discussed with potential operators.

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STEP 3

Project signed

Only at this point does the facility move forward.

Why the city is interested

Concentrates industry in the area
Broadens the municipal tax base
Builds on an existing data center cluster
Benefits from road access for logistics and business facilities

Open questions for residents

Electricity consumption
Water use
Land-use planning
How many permanent jobs the facility will create

Still unconfirmed

Key project details have not been disclosed.

Prospective operator

Planned investment size

Facility capacity

Approval and construction timeline

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