City and Regional Development Bureau - Current status of provision of city parks in Japan

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

City and Regional Development Bureau

Current status of provision of city parks in Japan

Types of city parks

Types	Classification	Description
Basic Parks for Community Use	City Block parks	Those which are to be placed for the use of most nearby residents; their standard area is 0.25 ha per park, and each will be intended to be used by residents who live within a certain area with radius of 250m.
	Neighborhood parks	Those which are to be placed for use by residents who live in the neighborhood; one neighborhood park will be provided in each neighborhood unit. Their standard area is 2 ha par park, and each will be intended for use by residents who live within a certain catchments area with radius of 500 m.
	Community parks	Those which are to be placed for use by those who live within walking distance; their standard is 4ha or more for specific district parks (Specified community parks) in certain municipalities that are not covered in urban planning areas.
Basic Parks for City Wide Use	Comprehensive parks	Those which are to be placed for use by all residents in a city for various purposes, including rest, walking, playing and sport; their standard area range from 10 to 50 ha according to the size of the city.
Basic Parks for City Wide Use	Sport parks	Those which are to be placed for use by all residents in a city mainly for athletic activities; their standard area range from 15 to 75 ha according to the size of the city.
Large Scaled Parks	Regional Parks	Those which are placed for the purpose of satisfying area-wide weekend recreation needs of residents of more than one municipality. Their standard area is at least 50 ha and their recreational facilities are placed organically.
Large Scaled Parks	Recreation Cities	Areas where a variety of recreation facilities are provided mainly in a large-scale urban park; these cities aim at meeting area-wide recreation needs of residents of large cities or other cities, which are constructed in accordance with a comprehensive city plan. Total area will be 1,000 ha.
National Government Parks		Large-scaled parks established by the government for use by residents of more than one prefecture; their standard area is at least 300 ha per park; in case these parks are constructed as the government’s commemorative project, they should have facilities suitable for their objectives.
Buffer Green Belts	Specific Parks	Special parks, such as scenic parks, zoos and botanical parks, historical parks, cemeteries, etc. are set up in accordance with their objectives.
	Buffer Green Belts	Green belts intended to help prevent or reduce pollutions like air contamination, noises, vibrations and bad odors, or to prevent disasters in industrial complexes, etc. They are provided at locations where areas with sources of pollution or disasters and residential or commercial areas must be separated.
	Ornamental Green Spaces	Green Space provided to maintain and improve natural environment of a city and to better urban landscape, and their standard area is at least 0.1 ha per lot; when in an established city area there are existing woods, etc., or when green belts are provided to expand green belts by planting trees for a better urban environment, the standard area is 0.05 ha or more.
	Greenways	Green belts which are mainly composed of passages with tree plantings, pedestrian ways or cycling courses. They aim to secure escape roads in an emergency case. They naturally connect parks to houses, schools, shopping centers, etc.

Note: Residential neighborhood unit = residence unit of about 1km square (surface area of 100ha) surrounded by arterial streets

Surface area such as city park

Trends in city park surface area

Trends in city park surface area

Steady progress is being made. The total amount (stock) nationwide of city parks* at the end of FY in terms of surface area was about 106,370ha, an increase of about 2,500ha (about 2%) from about 103,865ha at the end of FY 2004. In terms of number of sites, there were 89,216 sites, an increase of about 2,300 sites from 86,899 sites. City park surface area per person amounted to about 8.9m2 per person, up from about 8.7m2. However, infrastructure levels such as city parks are still low in comparison to major cities in Europe and North America. Efforts are being made to encourage more parks while addressing various governmental policy issues such as ongoing responses to disaster prevention and environmental problems.

*(Note): City parks refers to city parks established by the national government or local government bodies under the City Park Law or to parks conforming to city park standards established by municipalities that does not have urban planning districts.

Current status of provision of city parks by classification

As of 31 March 2005

No. of sites	Surface area (ha)	Remarks
Basic Parks for Community Use	78,154	29,598
City Block parks	71,612	12,101
Neighborhood parks	4,969	8,850
Community parks	1,573	8,647	Including Specified community parks
(169)	(1,266)	The figure within parentheses ( ) indicates Specified community parks
Basic Parks for City Wide Use	1,973	34,350
Comprehensive parks	1,219	22,812
Sport parks	754	11,538
Large Scaled Parks	190	12,420
Regional Parks	184	11,897
Recreation Cities	6	523
Buffer Green Belts	8,883	27,644
Specific Parks	1,235	12,938
Buffer Green Belts	177	1,563
Ornamental Green Spaces	6,467	11,721
Urban grove parks	83	300
Square parks	242	307
Greenways	679	815
National Government Parks	16	2,358
Total	89,216	106,370	Infrastructure preparation level: 8.9m2/person

Role of government-operated parks

There are two legal classification of Japanese parks, natural parks and urban parks. Urban parks are created by central government or local bodies who acquire a certain area of land, and open it for public use.
However, Natural Parks remain the property of various private individuals, and the natural landscape beauty is maintained by legislation restricting land use.
The National Government Parks are large-scaled urban parks provided and maintained by the Government.

Nationwide map of locations of National Government Parks

List of National Government Parks (as of the end of July 2008)

Park name	Location	URL of website	Contact for enquiries		Features
Park name	Location	URL of website	Tel	Fax	Features
Musashi Kyuryo National Governemt Park	Saitama: Namegawamachi, Hiki-gun, Kumagaya City	http://www.shinrin-koen.go.jp/	0493-57-2115	0493-56-5377	Set up in 1967 as part of a project to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Meiji Restoration, this was the first national government park in Japan.
Asuka Historical National Government Park	Asukamura, Takaichi-gun, Nara	http://www.asuka -park.go.jp/	0744-54-2662	0744-54-2772	Set up on the theme of the "homeland of the Japanese heart," this was the first national government historical park in Japan.
Yodogawa Riverside Park	Osaka: Osaka City, Neyagawa City, Hirakata City, Moriguchi City, Takatsuki City, Settsu City Shimamotocho; Kyoto: Yawata City, Oyamazakicho	http://www2.kasen.or.jp/	072-843-2861	072-844-5461	Addressing the wide-area recreation needs of the Kinki area (Osaka), this is a national government park that is a center for contact with nature taking advantage of large waterside spaces.
Uminonakamichi Seaside National Government Park	Fukuoka City, Fukuoka	http://www.uminaka.go.jp/	092-603-1111	092-603-1114	Addressing the wide-area recreation needs of the Kyushu area, this is a national government park that takes advantage of its environment surrounded by the Gulf of Hakata in the Sea of Genkai.
Okinawa Commemorative National Government Park	Okinawa: Motobucho, Kunigami-gun, Naha City	http://oki-park.jp./en/	0980-48-3140	0980-48-3793	Commemorating the Okinawa Ocean Exposition and Okinawa Revival, this is a center for tourism and Okinawa culture that takes advantage of the natural, cultural, and historical legacies of Okinawa.
Showa Kinen National Government Park	Tokyo: Tachikawa City, Akishima City	http://www.showapark.jp /english/index.htm	042-524-1516	042-526-1466	This commemorates 50 years of the reign of the Showa Emperor on the theme of "Recovering greenery and Enhancing Human Nature."
Takino Suzuran Kyuryou National Government Park	Sapporo City, Hokkaido	http://www.takinopark.com/11_FOREIGN/index_e.html	011-594-2100	011-594-2120	Addressing the wide-area recreation needs of Hokkaido, this is a national government park that takes advantage of typical Hokkaido scenery highlighting Hokkaido's image centered on greenery, water, and snow.
Hitachi Seaside National Government Park	Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki	http://www.ktr.mlit.go.jp/kaihin/	029-265-9411	029-265-5378	Addressing the wide-area recreation needs of a metropolitan area, this is a national government park forming the core of Hitachinaka International Port Park City.
Kiso Sansen National Government Park	Aichi: Ichinomiya City, Konan City, Inuyama City, Inazawa City, Aisai City, Yatomi City, Fusocho Gifu: Kakamigahara City, Hashima City, Kasamatsucho, Ginancho, Yanaidzu City, Kaizu City Mie: Kuwana City, Kisosakicho	http://www.kisosan senkoen.go.jp /e/index.html	0594-24-5719 058-251-1379	0594-24-5726 058-251-1564	Addressing the wide-area recreation needs of the Chubu area, this is a city-operated park that takes advantage of the natural, historical, and cultural legacies of a three-river area: the Kiso, the Nagara, and the Ibi Rivers.
Michinoku Lakeside National Government Park	Kawasakimachi, Shibata-gun, Miyagi	http://www.thr.mlit.go.jp /m-park/	0224-84-6211	0224-84-6214	Addressing the wide-area recreation needs of the Tohoku area, this is a national government park centered on the theme of "Recovery and Enhancement of Human Nature" that puts people in contact with the customs and culture of the Tohoku region.
Bihoku Kyuryo National Government Park	Shobara City, Hiroshima	http://www.bihoku -park.go.jp/	0824-72-5000	0824-72-7532	Addressing the wide-area recreation needs of the Chugoku area, this is a national government park that takes advantage of the scenery and customs of the area to serve as a center to put people in touch with local history and traditional culture.
Sanuki Mannou National Government Park	Mannoucho, Nakatado-gun, Kagawa	http://www.mannou kouen.go.jp/	0877-79-2933	0877-79-3247	Addressing the wide-area recreation needs of the Shikoku area, this is a national government park serving as a center of a regional tourism network focused on the new era of Shikoku.
Echigo Hillside National Government Park	Nagaoka City, Niigata	http://www.hrr.mlit.go.jp /echigo/	0258-47-1471	0258-47-1472	This is the first national government park on the Honshu side of the Sea of Japan to address the wide-area recreation needs of the Hokuriku area.
Alps Azumino National Government Park	Oomachi City, Matsukawa-mura, Azumino City, Nagano	http://www.azumino.go.jp/	0263-83-8671	0263-83-8675	Progress is being made in creating parks that take advantage of the nature and rural culture of Azumino and the mountain scenery of Japan's Northern Alps.
Yohinogari Historical National Government Park	Higashi-Sefurison, Mitagawacho, Kanzakimachi, Kanzaki-gun, Saga	http://www.yoshinogari.jp/en/	0952-53-3902	0952-53-3910	This is a national government historical park that preserves and highlights the Yoshinogari ruins, letting visitors experience the world related in the "Report on Japanese" in the Chinese history of the Wei Dynasty.
Akashi Kaikyo National Government Park	Kobe City, Awaji city, Hyogo	http://www.kkr.mlit.go.jp/akashi/	078-252-3301	078-252-3303	Taking advantage of the presence of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, the goals are "the co-existence of people and nature" and "exchange between people."
Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention National Government Park Not yet in service	Koto-ku, Tokyo	03-3529-2171	03-3529-2173	This is Japan's first a national government disaster prevention park. It is located in the "Ariake Hills District," which is a core wide-area disaster prevention center, in the Tokyo Bay littoral region (Rinkai), which was the scene of the first decision on urban renewal project.

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