Abstract

In Japan, local cities experience a number of problems related to deterioration of residential environment, quality of public service, and vitalization of commercial land. Specifically, the presence of large vacant lots behind sizable stores, office buildings, hospitals, and factories devitalize urban activity and its landscape. Many local cities are seeking to actualize a sustainable compact city with an integrated population, commerce, traffic and other public services in ways that promote a low carbon and energy-conserving society. Against the backdrop of these issues, this study examines the occurrence of large vacant lots and their utilization by local governments in Japan based on a questionnaire and field survey. It highlights several cases in which a large vacant lot is used to forward the development of a compact city by a local government.

Abstract

The world population is continually increasing, but the Japanese population is decreasing. By 2050, the Japanese population is calculated to be close to 100 million people, and by 2060, 40% of the Japanese are estimated to be aged 65 years or more. Data show an increase in the declining birth and aging rates of the population. The development of high-concentration urban structures will be needed to solve such problems. However, a detailed vision of the future is yet to be clarified and in the process of consideration. In this study, we developed an instrument called “Population Migration Tool, ” which is based on plural planning and policy, after we formed a future population distribution model. In addition, We also established a high-concentration urban structure model with this tool with the aim of considering the kind of urban structure local cities should target in the future.