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An initiative is underway to connect Ishikari in Hokkaido with Otemachi in Tokyo using NTT’s next-generation communication network, IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network). Hokkaido has long attracted attention as a key hub for regional data center decentralization due to its vast land, cool climate, and access to renewable energy. However, network latency caused by the physical distance from major metropolitan areas like Tokyo has remained a key operational hurdle.

The deployment of IOWN is drawing significant interest as a breakthrough that lowers this “distance barrier,” opening up new possibilities for Hokkaido’s data centers to integrate seamlessly with urban IT infrastructure.

Why Ishikari, Hokkaido, Is a Prime Data Center Location

 
Ishikari has established itself as a pioneer in green hosting, led by SAKURA internet’s flagship data center and Tokyu Land Corporation’s renewable-energy-powered facilities. Hokkaido offers natural advantages for data centers: ample land, reduced cooling loads thanks to lower ambient temperatures, and ready access to clean power.

However, as AI adoption drives an explosion in data volume, processing power alone is no longer enough. The speed and latency of the networks connecting these facilities have become equally critical. This is where IOWN comes in.

Linking Ishikari to Otemachi with IOWN

 
Tokyu Land Corporation has announced plans to connect its “Ishikari Renewable Energy Data Center No. 1” to Otemachi, Tokyo, using NTT East’s IOWN All-Photonics Network (APN). Targeted for deployment in August 2026, this project marks a milestone implementation of IOWN between Hokkaido and Tokyo’s central financial district.

In a parallel effort, NTT East, SAKURA internet, and Equinix Japan are collaborating to connect Ishikari and Tokyo via IOWN APN to test and validate distributed AI infrastructure environments.

While these are separate initiatives, both share a common core vision: connecting regional compute resources with urban network hubs through high-speed, ultra-low-latency links. As IOWN enhances network performance, operating models where compute workloads reside in Hokkaido while serving real-time applications in Tokyo become highly practical.

Network Infrastructure Driving Regional Data Center Decentralization

 
The Ishikari–Otemachi link does more than just boost the property value of Hokkaido data centers; it serves as a powerful catalyst for national data center decentralization. As IOWN network coverage expands across Hokkaido, it will likely unlock new opportunities in emerging hubs beyond Ishikari, such as Tomakomai and Chitose.

Data center decentralization is evolving from simply “relocating facilities to the countryside” to strategically “positioning compute resources regionally and linking them via ultra-high-speed networks to cities.” As the foundational compute layer for the AI era takes shape, the ongoing rollout of IOWN between Hokkaido and Tokyo will be a major trend to watch.