Provision of Allotment Gardens and Its Influencing Factors: A Case Study of Tokyo, Japan

Abstract

Allotment gardens (AGs) are widely used in metropolitan areas around the world to offer agricultural opportunities to urban residents. However, there are not enough individual plots for residents to rent for urban gardening, and research on AGs from a city-wide perspective is ongoing. In addition, AGs have a long history in Tokyo, yet few international studies on the current situation of AGs have addressed Asian cities. Thus, this study intends to analyze the provision of AGs and its influencing factors in Tokyo. Using ArcGIS combined the 472-points dataset created by geo-coordinate mapping with urban GIS data to reveal spatial characteristics in four dimensions. Results demonstrate that most AGs are in the urbanization promotion area; most municipalities have AGs; AGs are concentrated within 20 to 30 km from the center of Tokyo; the AGs’ clusters are located at the municipal boundaries. We conducted multiple regressions to determine the influencing factors at the municipal level, with the provision that AGs are related to population density, land price, and the ratio of productive green space. The policy implication of this study is that policymakers need to consider the siting strategy of AGs based on spatial characteristics of AGs.

Geospatial characteristics of allotment garden provision in Tokyo

“…This finding reflects the fact that 84% of AGs are owned by municipalities. The zoning system under the City Planning Act was determined by the municipalities (Zheng et al, 2022). Therefore, municipal boundaries are potential determinants of AG provision; however, a municipality-level analysis is beyond the scope of this study, which focuses on residents’ access to AGs.…”

“…Many AGs provide facilities for agricultural equipment storage and rest, as well as instructors to facilitate learning activities. The harvest belongs to the tenants, who are not allowed to stay at the AG overnight, except for stay-type AGs (known as kleingartens) (Takano and Akita, 2016; Zheng et al, 2022). In addition, some AG managers employ local farmers or other managers as part-time instructors to teach users how to grow vegetables.…”

“…This finding reflects the fact that 84% of AGs are owned by municipalities. The zoning system under the City Planning Act was determined by the municipalities (Zheng et al, 2022).…”

“…In Taipei (Taiwan), AGs are 2–4 km from the railway stations (Hsiao, 2022). More recently, researchers reported that the distribution of AGs in Tokyo (Japan) is associated with population density, land price, and other factors (Zheng et al, 2022). Respectively, based on the supply- and demand-side constraints of urbanization and residents’ characteristics, these studies reveal that AGs are widely dispersed in cities and their provision patterns are quite diverse.…”

Study of residents’ willingness to construct community gardens in the post-epidemic era

“…Early in the history of urban civilization, the courtyard spaces of private houses often had vegetable gardens (Zheng, Akita et al, 2022). In the context of China's rapid urbanization and the increasing density of living spaces, it is difficult for urban dwellers to have their vegetable gardens, and there is less and less outdoor space for family gardening.…”