City Planning and Climate Change Adaptation in Japan for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage

This article critically analyses Japan’s evolving legal and regulatory framework for climate change adaptation, with a particular focus on land-use planning and the protection of cultural heritage. It argues that while Japan has made substantial progress in integrating climate risk into national and local governance, significant gaps remain in aligning regulatory mechanisms with region-specific vulnerabilities. Drawing on a legal and policy-oriented analysis of statutes, regulatory instruments, and recent legislative amendments, the study examines how local governments employ hazard maps to visualise disaster risks and guide land-use decisions in areas increasingly affected by climate-induced natural hazards. The findings show that national assessments often lack the spatial and contextual precision required for effective local adaptation, leaving municipalities to develop their own risk governance mechanisms. In response to the rising frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters, legal reforms have strengthened the statutory basis for integrating disaster prevention with cultural heritage protection. The case of Kyoto, with its concentration of World Heritage sites, illustrates how local authorities have combined zoning regulations, heritage preservation laws, and disaster risk management frameworks to enhance climate resilience. By evaluating the transferability of Kyoto’s model to other regions, the study contributes to the literature on climate law and governance by demonstrating how decentralised legal innovation can inform national adaptation strategies. It concludes that Japan’s experience underscores the importance of multi-level legal coherence, context-sensitive regulation, and cultural heritage protection as integral dimensions of climate adaptation policy.