Development and Prospects of Community Gardens through Temporary Use of National Land

Insights from the Case of Harajuku Harappa Farm, Shibuya, Tokyo

Abstract

This paper reports on the establishment and prospects of Harajuku Harappa Farm, a community garden temporarily developed on app. 1,500 m² of unused national land in central Tokyo. Initiated by local residents in collaboration with public agencies, the project overcame barriers to utilizing national land through multi-stakeholder partnerships. The farm incorporates experimental, shared, and educational plots, emphasizing composting and local resource recycling. From an urban planning perspective, the farm demonstrates the potential for temporary public land use to promote environmental education, community building, and circular resource management in cities. This case study highlights the necessity of policy frameworks that enable regenerative, citizen-driven uses of underutilized urban spaces.