Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer is leading a city delegation in Japan this week to learn more about downtowns and high-speed rail.

City councilmembers Nelson Esparza, Tyler Maxwell, and Luis Chavez are joining the mayor this week.

“(The delegation) are in Tokyo for a fact-finding mission where they will be learning how Japan has developed and redeveloped its downtowns around its high-speed railways. The contingent’s interaction with international experts on this topic is critical to learning how to successfully integrate an HSR station into a downtown area. The knowledge gained from this trip will be used to help ensure that HSR infrastructure is implemented seamlessly in Downtown Fresno – giving the residents of Fresno the downtown they deserve,” city spokesperson Sontaya Rose said.

Dyer even mixed in a visit with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel.

Privileged to have a private meeting with US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel at the US Embassy in Tokyo. Grateful for his time and insights into transit, Shinkansen, and high-speed rail despite his busy schedule. #USJapanRelations #TransitExpertise pic.twitter.com/In76JsW9mM

— Mayor Jerry Dyer (@MayorJerryDyer) March 26, 2024

“With high speed rail (downtown/Chinatown) station, city core revitalization and the $200 million plus investment occurring in our city (downtown) of infrastructure, we hope to learn best practices from the country that has perfected their multimodal transportation system and rarely if ever has trains late for arrival or departure,” Chavez said.

He also seeks to learn about neighborhood planning in a downtown/train station area, calling Tokyo “a model we hope to replicate in our city’s core and downtown region in the near future.”

Last year, Dyer led a delegation to Münster, Germany, touring businesses there and learning about housing plans. Chavez and Councilmember Mike Karbassi also made that trip.