The compact city thesis here is really intresting - how topography basiclly does the work that urban planners elsewhere struggle with through policy. I've noticed this in some European hilltowns too but never made the connection to shrinking cities explicitly. The idea that physical constraints can actually become advantages when population declines is kinda counterintuitive. Makes me wonder if flat cities that invested heavily in sprawl infrastructure are going to have a much harder time maintaining vitality as demographics shift.
Yes I think sprawling cities are already having a harder time with maintaining coherent urban space amid decline. It also actually makes the abandoned areas more interesting too, in a way, because there is little expectation that real estate has any value left. In a lot of sprawling places it seems sometimes that landowners hold on to properties with overinflated expectations of their market value. In the hillsides of Onomichi or Nagasaki or elsewhere, people are often more willing to give up their properties to new users
Interestingly in the western half of Shimane the flatter city of Masuda has a more thriving nightlife quarter by the station than the older, larger and hillier city of Hamada.
I've made a note of the bigtrees site, I must check some of the local ones out. Interestingly I know of a few in Shimane that he hasn't mentioned ... it looks like he's only been around the Izumo and Matsue area
Great overview! I love Nagasaki and have been a dozen times or so. You recommend some of the same places I enjoy, but I can add a few you maybe left out because they are too common:
Mount Inasa overlook. You can go up by ropeway or bus and it has a great view of the harbor and city, especially nice at night.
Bomb shelter tunnels in Nagasaki park in tateyama. You can go inside and imagine how horrific it was like during the bombing.
Glover house. Big estate on the top of the curvy souvenir street that you can tour. Has some period furnishings and nice gardens.
Gunkanjima. This is the abandoned “battleship”island off the coast. You can take a fast tour boat, but I haven’t done this yet since my wife gets seasick.
The compact city thesis here is really intresting - how topography basiclly does the work that urban planners elsewhere struggle with through policy. I've noticed this in some European hilltowns too but never made the connection to shrinking cities explicitly. The idea that physical constraints can actually become advantages when population declines is kinda counterintuitive. Makes me wonder if flat cities that invested heavily in sprawl infrastructure are going to have a much harder time maintaining vitality as demographics shift.
Yes I think sprawling cities are already having a harder time with maintaining coherent urban space amid decline. It also actually makes the abandoned areas more interesting too, in a way, because there is little expectation that real estate has any value left. In a lot of sprawling places it seems sometimes that landowners hold on to properties with overinflated expectations of their market value. In the hillsides of Onomichi or Nagasaki or elsewhere, people are often more willing to give up their properties to new users
Interestingly in the western half of Shimane the flatter city of Masuda has a more thriving nightlife quarter by the station than the older, larger and hillier city of Hamada.
Nice. Already know I will like it. Planning a few weeks in the prefecture including the islands. Saved!
I agree Hiroshima is packed with tourists, but it's still fairly easy to avoid them by hiking up Ushitayama. Not many old trees though sadly - https://lessknownjapan.substack.com/p/hiroshima-ushitayama?r=7yrqz
I've made a note of the bigtrees site, I must check some of the local ones out. Interestingly I know of a few in Shimane that he hasn't mentioned ... it looks like he's only been around the Izumo and Matsue area
Great overview! I love Nagasaki and have been a dozen times or so. You recommend some of the same places I enjoy, but I can add a few you maybe left out because they are too common:
Mount Inasa overlook. You can go up by ropeway or bus and it has a great view of the harbor and city, especially nice at night.
Bomb shelter tunnels in Nagasaki park in tateyama. You can go inside and imagine how horrific it was like during the bombing.
Glover house. Big estate on the top of the curvy souvenir street that you can tour. Has some period furnishings and nice gardens.
Gunkanjima. This is the abandoned “battleship”island off the coast. You can take a fast tour boat, but I haven’t done this yet since my wife gets seasick.
Thanks! Yes people should definitely visit the major sites as well :)