Why Japan Looks the Way it Does: Zoning
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN commenters recommend it as the go-to explanation of Japanese zoning in housing and urbanism debates.
What it is
A video explaining why Japanese cities look the way they do, through Japan's national tiered zoning system that permits mixed use and flexible development. It compares this approach with more restrictive zoning elsewhere.
Recommended by 8 HN commenters across 9 different months, 2021 to 2026.
What Hacker News said
Recommends 7373737373 · 2021-10 · on “Why can't we build nice neighborhoods anymore?”
I found this video yesterday: "Why Japan Looks the Way it Does: Zoning" which was very illuminating [this video]
Recommends mikem170 · 2022-04 · on “Tax the Land”
I like the way that Japan handles zoning. It's based on population densities. Localities can designate industrial and commercial areas, but can't deviate from federal guidelines to prevent growth. Instead of single family homes they allow triplexes where a percentage of space can be used for a low-impact business, like a barber shop or something. They have setbacks geared towards making sure that you don't build three stories on top of your neighbor's house. They have neighborhoods. They don't have a housing shortage. They don't have a system that doesn't empower developers who want to clear-cut cheap land on the outskirts of town and build sprawling anti-social subdivisions of oversized ide
Recommends CaliforniaKarl · 2022-06 · on “Abolish Zoning”
The _Life Where I'm From_ episode on zoning in Japan is useful, I think, as a point of comparison. Zoning in Japan can still be pretty complex (limits on floorspace, setback, and angles), but allows for environments that many people like. [this video]
Recommends ItsMonkk · 2022-08 · on “Ask HN: Anyone else feels the commoditization of real estate is unethical?”
Yes, land use is one factor. What is interesting is that the dynamic actually flips once there is adequate zoning. Take a look at this[0] video on Tokyo zoning and how he talks about living in an industrial zoned area. He talks about how it's cheaper to do so, and if you want to move to a single family zoned area, it's actually more expensive! Under the current system, landowners want their own land to be zoned as high as possible, while they want everyone else's land to be zoned as low as possible. Since 1 < everyone else, when people vote on zoning it is zoned as low as possible. With a LVT the system flips, everyone wants their land to be zoned as low as they desire, and they want everyon
Recommends alexchantavy · 2022-11 · on “Can Tokyo’s charms be replicated elsewhere?”
The lax zoning laws (at least compared to the US) allow mixed use so you have more things within walking distance. This was a fascinating video on it: [this video]
Recommends marsantwo · 2023-01 · on “Why Neighborhoods and Small Businesses Thrive in Tokyo”
If you are interested in why the Japanese/Tokyo urban design works then look at these 2 links from the "Life where I am from" Youtube channel Why Japan Looks the Way it Does: Zoning [this video] What a Typical Tokyo Neighbourhood is Like [LINK]
Recommends com2kid · 2023-06 · on “Why Britain Doesn’t Build”
The developed world has one great example of functional housing policy: Japan. A single policy that allows for unique neighborhoods, affordable houses, supports small businesses, and enables walkable cities. Just.... do what we know already works. For anyone not familiar, here is a primer [this video]
Recommends jonpurdy · 2025-06 · on “Backyard Coffee and Jazz in Kyoto”
There are two great videos specifically on Japanese zoning and narrow streets: Life Where I'm From, on zoning: [this video] Not Just Bikes, narrow streets: [LINK]