Abstract
The late 1980s saw the surge of building boom of “Resort Mansions” (apartment for second housing) at the fringe of greater metropolitan areas under the “bubble economy”. In 1988, 40% of dwelling in Resort Mansions sold in Japan in Yuzawa-machi. Yuzawa-machi, having skiing ground and hot spring, locates in 180km north from Tokyo (75 minutes by Shinkansen). I have analyzed some historical background for emergence of Resort Mansions in Nakako district, where it concentrates most intensity in Yuzawa-machi.
Nakako was cleared in the middle of Meiji era. Since first skiing land was established in 1931, some land owners of Nakako, who lived in the sorrounding district, run lodging houses along with cultivation of their lands. In the early 1970s, land improvement was implemented here, to mechanize paddy rice cultivation. However, by the will of the landowners, the northern part of Nakako has not been designated as Agricultural Conservation Area, which would prevent the rice field from non-agricultural uses. They expected for the future tourist development.
Such historical background implies following reasons might be thought for concentrations of Resort Mansions in this particular area; (1) land owners had little attachment to their land; (2) land owners were familiar with the idea of tourist development; (3) land improvement facilitated the establishment of infrastructure; (4) not being designated for Agricultural Conservation Area, the lands were ready for immediate development.
These factors, along with the proximity to Tokyo, matched the demand of the “bubble economy” and resulted in dramatic appearance of Resort Mansions.
