Mitsui Fudosan to Launch Underground Data Hub Using Shipping Containers in Kobe

Mitsui Fudosan, a Japanese real estate firm, has unveiled plans to turn an old tunnel into a high‑tech data center. The project will sit inside the Suma Belt Conveyor passage in Kobe. The site will house a cluster of repurposed shipping containers packed with servers.

The construction will use more than ten of these metal boxes as server rooms. Each container will hold its own computing gear, creating a modular data hub. The abandoned tunnel provides a ready‑made space for the setup.

According to Nikkei Asia, the company is also looking at building similar underground facilities elsewhere. The firm seems interested in expanding the concept beyond this single location. The goal appears to be a network of subterranean data centers.

This move highlights a growing trend of repurposing unused infrastructure for modern tech needs. By using existing tunnels, the project aims to reduce surface impact and lower construction costs. The initiative is still in the planning stage, but the vision is clear.