There are many historic spaces with alleys in central Kyoto. In the process of urban development, many of these spaces naturally developed as living space for people. Kyoto's historical townscape with alleys has commonly been considered its special charm. However, in recent years, such townscape is steadily disappearing. Against such a development, measures to protect these alleys are being initiated in Kyoto city.
With the central area of Kyoto, known as Tanoji area, as the subject, this paper aims to analyze and discuss the disappearance of alleys by elucidating the transformation of plot, the transition of ownership, and changes with respect to use of buildings, over the period from 2006 to 2016.
First, the alleys that disappeared during this period were clearly identified. The total number of alleys in the subject area declined to 391 from 424 in this period—33 (7.78%) alleys disappeared. As for the disappearance, there was a rapid rise in 2007, which was followed by a general decline up to 2009, and thereafter, it again started to increase. In recent years, the rate of disappearance is increasing in the southwestern area.
The following three typical patterns of disappearance of alleys were identified:
1. A pattern where the plot of land that includes the alley is sold by the owner, and as a result, the building along the alley are demolished. The purchasers of such land are usually business corporations. Immediately after the alley disappears, the resulting plot of land is amalgamated with neighboring plots, creating a large enough plot of land, where very often, collective housing are built. In some instances, a trend is observed where parking lots are initially built, and within a few years, collective housing are built on such land.
2. A pattern where the individual owners of the land, including the alley, or the individuals who get ownership of such land through inheritance rights, decide to demolish the existing building along the alley and replace them with a new detached house. In such instances, since no amalgamation of plots is undertaken, even though the detached house may be built on more than one such plot, the official division of land still shows the alley as it was prior to its physical disappearance.
3. A pattern where a parking lot is built after the owner of the building along the alley demolishes them. Although the land used to build a parking lot often comprises multiple plots, since no amalgamation of plots are undertaken, the official division of land may still show the alley as it was prior to its physical disappearance.
