Numerous attempts have been made by Japanese geographers to study condominiums. The condominium supply began in the central areas of Tokyo in the late 1950s as a form of luxury residences. After the 1970s, the condominium supply began to extend into the suburbs, and within a short period of time, many people began living in condominiums.
Since the late 1990s, the condominium supply has increased rapidly in the central areas of metropolitan regions and many local cities in Japan. In addition, the growth of suburban cores such as Makuhari and the increased condominium supply in suburban cores became remarkable phenomena. In recent years, the importance of residential areas in suburban neighborhoods has changed in the metropolitan regions.
This study aims to clarify the decision-making processes involved in the residential choices of condominium residents, on the basis of a case study of Makuhari Bay Town, a new condominium district developed after the late 1990s. Among 130 households that participated in the interview surveys, data from 112 households that were living in resident-owned condominiums were used in the analysis.
Most of the residents indicated that they had spent their entire lives in the suburbs and therefore preferred newly developed areas. In addition, some of the young families preferred to live close to their parents, while some parents moved into second-hand or rented houses in Makuhari Bay Town.
The residents evaluated Makuhari Bay Town as a pleasant neighborhood. Hence about 20 percent of the residents choose to remain in Makuhari Bay Town when they decided to move to a new residence. The decision-making patterns of the residents were different from that reflected by the classical decision-making model. That is, most of the households sought homes in famous residential districts although they were not familiar with the areas. Some residents visited housing parks as a kind of recreational activity, and upon finding a residence that they liked, decided to purchase it and move into the neighborhood. The characteristics of the residential form and the prosperous residential conditions of Makuhari Bay Town facilitated these decision-making patterns. Few residents used the Internet to search for houses. However, they did use the Internet to familiarize themselves with new areas, particularly to learn about the lifestyles of the district and the reputation of the elementary schools.
