Japan's Toyama Prefecture to Host Multi-Gigawatt Data Center Campus

Japan's Toyama Prefecture to Host Multi-Gigawatt Data Center Campus

January 9, 2026

A major new data center development in central Japan signals a strategic shift in the country's digital infrastructure landscape, aiming to address growing power and space constraints in traditional hubs like Tokyo and Osaka. The planned multi-gigawatt campus underscores the industry's push towards regional decentralization to support the escalating demands of artificial intelligence and cloud computing.

The Nanto City Council in Toyama Prefecture has approved the sale of approximately 13.1 hectares of city-owned land to data center developer GigaStream Toyama K.K. for the first phase of a large-scale cluster known as the Nanto Campus. Announced in late 2025, the project is a partnership between the city and the newly founded developer. Upon full build-out, the campus is designed to support up to 3.1 gigawatts of IT load capacity, positioning it among the largest planned data center developments in the Asia-Pacific region.

The initial phase, slated for construction starting in spring 2026, will deliver around 400 megawatts of capacity across two buildings, with operations targeted to commence in 2028. GigaStream Toyama, established just last year, specializes in developing industrial parks for data centers and will offer development-ready land to operators through sale or lease agreements. This project marks the firm's debut venture.

Local officials have emphasized the project's potential economic benefits. Nanto City Mayor Mikio Tanaka stated, "We will work with full commitment toward the success of this project so that it contributes to the further development of our city by creating new industrial and employment opportunities." The city aims to transform the region into a significant hub for next-generation digital infrastructure.

Daniel Cox, founder and representative director of GigaStream Toyama, framed the project as a solution to a long-standing industry challenge. "The decentralization of data centers has been an issue for more than ten years, and we are honored to be able to present the answer today through our cooperation with the people of Nanto City," Cox said. He added that the 3.1GW cluster would create a new industry in Toyama Prefecture with local companies in leading roles, aiming to provide new employment opportunities and attract global technology firms.

The development's implications for Japan's data center market are substantial. By establishing a gigawatt-scale campus in a region with available land and power resources, the project could alleviate pressure on oversubscribed grids in metropolitan areas and provide a blueprint for future large-scale, AI-ready infrastructure outside major urban centers. It reflects a broader global trend where secondary markets are gaining prominence for hyperscale and wholesale data center development due to their scalability and potential for sustainable power sourcing.

Source: datacenterdynamics