Innovative Land Bank Models for Addressing Vacant Properties in Japan: A Case Study of Six Approaches

In Japan, vacant houses are widely recognized as a significant societal challenge. At the same time, the problems associated with vacant lots and land with unknown ownership are escalating and are expected to worsen in the future. In response, community organizations such as NPOs (nonprofit organizations), neighborhood associations, and government agencies have been central in increasing efforts toward effectively utilizing and managing these vacant properties. This study analyzed six cases supported by the MLIT (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) under the Land Bank initiative, with two cases involving land readjustment and four involving temporary use. A detailed examination of these pilot efforts and their application methods clearly highlights the necessity of integrating land management with urban planning. Furthermore, it has been found that there are several challenges in the Land Bank initiative, including difficulties in assessing market value, ownership issues, and the need for broad coordination. These findings provide important implications for improving Japan’s management of vacant land and houses.