The Tokyo suburb of Kakamura has shown great appeal to expatriates because of its availability of space and proximity to scenic natural resources -- attributes that sharply contrast the dense and bustling big city one hour away.
"Tired of the scene but still tied to Tokyo by jobs and connections, some expatriates are choosing to move to Kamakura, a city known for its greenery and quiet surroundings. By the shortest train route, it is just an hour away from the center of Tokyo, and it is considered well within the reach of daily commute."
"'It's hard to find that which is uniquely Tokyo. Tokyo has to be accommodative to everyone who is there,' American resident Dan Rosen said. But, 'Kamakura is a boutique city. It is not required to deliver as many things.'"
"It also offers a variety of housing, with more single-family homes than most Tokyo suburbs, and by regulation apartment buildings in the oceanside part of the city generally must be no more than five stories tall."
Read the full story: A refuge from Tokyo's sprawl
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
In Texas, data centers are swallowing promised parkland
Residents who moved to Taylor, Texas for a rural community now have to contend with three data centers in their backyard.
How a Chicago-sized wind farm beat the odds and powered on
The project spanned five presidential administrations and a standoff with a U.S. military base.
MTA gives itself 30 days to transform pit into basketball court
The site has been under construction since 2022; the city originally estimated it would finish the court in 2024.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority