Toyama becomes a model for a new program created after the Landscape Act amendment
Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced on August 6 that Toyama City had been selected as a model city for the Landscape Area Renovation Project. The program was created following amendments to the Landscape Act promulgated on May 27, 2026 and is designed to regenerate an area comprehensively rather than focus only on individual buildings. Toyama was selected from applicants nationwide and will receive government support as a leading case. The target is the area around Minami-Toyama Station, where the project will consider both improvements to the everyday landscape and conversion of buildings to uses that take advantage of the station area's role as a local hub.
The next stage is to identify private partners and turn the concept into projects
Toyama will look for private businesses capable of participating in collaborative projects and will study how public-private cooperation should be structured. This is significant because the program goes beyond a conventional public-space beautification project. It also considers how existing buildings and land can be used differently to strengthen the local center. The ministry plans to share the project's progress with municipalities and private businesses across Japan and may add further model cities. If workable business models emerge, the Toyama project could provide a reference for other regional cities seeking to regenerate station districts by reusing existing property stock rather than relying only on new construction.
For property investors, selection is only the beginning
Being named a national model can attract attention to a district, but it does not guarantee higher land prices or rents. The Minami-Toyama project is still at the stage of identifying private partners and designing public-private implementation. Investors should therefore examine the actual project boundary, station accessibility, existing building uses, demographics and local commercial and residential demand as concrete proposals emerge. For overseas buyers looking at regional Japanese real estate, the crucial issue is not the label attached to a government program but whether new building uses and improved public space ultimately create sustainable demand for the specific asset being considered.