Changing spatial structure of Kei-han-shin metropolitan area from the analyses of population and commuting change

Abstract

We analyzed the changing spatial structure of Kei-han-shin metropolitan area through the population and commuting change between 2000 and 2005. Re-concentration of population to central cities is found though some peripheral wards of them and suburban cities next to them are losing population. We can also find remarkable population growth in some suburban areas. But the workers in central cities as well as commuting rate to central cities from suburbs are decreasing. These show central cities are losing centralities and intra-suburban commuting are increasing. Nowadays the pattern of living in suburbs and working in central city is not general.