ABSTRACT
Contemporary Japanese railway stations, besides their transport function, concentrate a large number of commercial and entertainment facilities and have developed as the principal public spaces of the Japanese urban environment. As a result, Japanese stations transgress their transit character and become places of destination. Contemporary Japanese stations are large territories within which numerous railway companies offer multi-functional services. Since the late 19th century, private railway companies have offered commercial facilities, hotels and real-estate businesses in addition to transport services. Since the Edo period Japanese cities have been characterized by a polycentral urban fabric and a multiplicity of 'sub-centres'. The anthropological character of contemporary Japanese stations can be described through the concept of sakariba. The formation of sakariba is also a legacy of the Edo period's urban character. During this period, as the feudal system got weaker the borders between the classes became looser and public spaces were visited by a diversity of social groups.
