Abstract
The objective of this study was to clarify spatial change in the business district of the central area of Kyoto due to office location changes during the second half of the 1990s. The number of offices decreased in most industry sectors in Kyoto during the period, because Japan fell into a long-term economic depression after the collapse of the bubble economy. The rate of decrease in traditional wholesale trade offices such as those in the textile and apparel sector in Kyoto was remarkable. On the other hand, the number of information services, research offices, and their workers increased during the economic depression. These offices increased in districts that have good access to Kyoto station.
The total area of the business district in downtown Kyoto decreased by about one-third during the period. Office sites in the former business district became suitable locations for condominium and apartment house developments. An increase in condominiums for investment, which has become popular in large cities such as Tokyo and Osaka in recent years, also occurred in the business district of central Kyoto. This trend is one of the notable changes that are taking place in central Kyoto.
