Chapter 1 Section 4 Land Use and the Development of Beautiful and Attractive Regions

1.	Effective Land Use from the Viewpoint of Landscape Protection

In situations where the development of social assets is pursued in quantity, there is an enhanced need to attach importance to qualitative elements - such as harmony between each development and the surrounding environment. In town planning and land use, therefore, it has become important to consider quality-related issues.

2.	Land-Use Issues in Local Areas

(Central Built Up Areas) Central built up areas are the so called "face" of the city". Such places represent the vibrancy and individuality of cities, and therefore the renaissance of such places is important. In order to rejuvenate central built up areas, it is important to relocate facilities (including retail space, medical facilities and social welfare facilities) to central districts and through re-population, to increase the number of inhabitants in these areas, and to do this from the viewpoint of land-use conversion and the effective use of existing stock. In local cities also, there is demand for residential property in central areas where a variety of facilities are already developed.

＜Case study＞

Ube City, Yamaguchi Prefecture (downtown revitalization through re-population of the residential community)

The area concerned is 3 Chome Chuo-chou (1.2 ha). It contains the busiest downtown street in Ube City. It was once proud of its crowd of visitors, but has since suffered shop closures and a declining residential population. In order to revitalize this area, the City Government promoted the development of infrastructure through land-readjustment projects together with downtown revitalization schemes which attach importance to recovery of the residential population. This is achieved by constructing buildings in which the ground floor is designated as retail space, and upper floors are for residential use. The profitability of these projects is also being increased by promoting the combination of several property units into one building, by utilizing "development projects to construct excellent buildings" (Yuryo Kenchikubutu tou Seibi Jigyou) and by leasing private-homes for use as public housing provided by the city government.
Also, out of consideration for the townscape, approaches to harmonizing the townscape are being promoted in a compilation of design guidelines for the reconstruction of current buildings under "town planning agreements" (Machi Zukuri Kyotei).

(Suburban Areas: Terraced Paddy-fields and Suburban Forests)
As for farmland and forests, although abandoned farmland and forests with inadequate management arrangements are increasing due to the aging population and the declining number of employees in agriculture and forestry, various players such as public administrations, local residents, urban residents and NPOs are preparing their approaches towards the utilization and conservation of local resources, including terraced paddy-fields and suburban forests at various locations.