2025 Volume 24 Issue 3 Pages 377-382
Japan has recently seen the rapid development of inclusive parks, yet academic research on their planning and design remains limited. This study integrates evidence from eight international review studies with an analysis of three domestic guidelines and 59 inclusive park cases to identify key challenges in Japan. International literature highlights four issues: inconsistent definitions of inclusiveness, the limited applicability of universal design principles to play environments, insufficient participation of children with disabilities in design processes, and the need for greater public awareness. Using these themes as an analytical framework, the domestic analysis revealed variations in park definitions, partial application of universal design for play (UDP), and limited initiatives promoting participation and awareness. While physical accessibility has improved, broader sensory, cognitive, and social inclusion remains underdeveloped. The findings suggest that Japan should strengthen definitional consistency, adopt UDP more comprehensively, introduce participatory processes, and enhance awareness-raising efforts to achieve more holistic inclusive parks.
