Study on the factors to transform underused land focusing on the influence of railway stations in central areas of Japanese Local cities

Between 1985 and 2005, the results show that small areas of underused land have decreased in central areas, but there is a net increase of underused land. Additionally, commercial activity and population have declined in central areas compared to national trends and the average of core cities. Analyses of transformation factors reveal that outdoor parking lots negatively impact the transformation, but the combination of constructing of railway stations close to central areas and adopting land-use zoning for business-use and residential land have a positive affect on the transformation of underused land.