Japan's zoning is extremely permissive, permitting almost any development with a maximum level of "disruption" (utilities, traffic, noise, blocking light) for that zone.
I think the problem is cars; if it takes roughly the same amount of time to drive to and find parking at a destination 300 feet vs 13 miles away, there's little incentive to buy a house (or an allyway between 2 houses) and put in a tiny convenient shop or restaurant without parking; making better use of the limited land available.
https://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001050453.pdf
It helps a little bit that most of Japan's housing is built so cheaply they become worthless in 20 years.
Houston doesn't have zoning and it is an utter disaster area. You can put a strip club right next to a school.
This bothers me way less than putting a refinery right next to a school tbh
Japan's zoning is extremely permissive, permitting almost any development with a maximum level of "disruption" (utilities, traffic, noise, blocking light) for that zone.
I think the problem is cars; if it takes roughly the same amount of time to drive to and find parking at a destination 300 feet vs 13 miles away, there's little incentive to buy a house (or an allyway between 2 houses) and put in a tiny convenient shop or restaurant without parking; making better use of the limited land available.
https://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001050453.pdf
It helps a little bit that most of Japan's housing is built so cheaply they become worthless in 20 years.