Published: 2005
Key Benefits:
National Spatial Planning Act
(Act No. 205 of May 26, 1950)
Table of Contents
Chapter I General Provisions (Article 1 - Article 3)
Chapter II Study, Deliberation, etc. of the National Land Council (Article 4 and
Article 5)
Chapter III Formulation of National Spatial Strategies (Article 6 - Article 12)
Chapter IV Implementation of National Spatial Strategies (Article 13 and
Article 14)
Chapter V Auxiliary Provisions (Article 15 and Article 16)
Supplementary Provisions
Chapter I General Provisions
(Purpose)
Article 1 The purpose of this Act is to promote the use, improvement and
conservation of national land, from a comprehensive viewpoint of policies for
the economy, society, culture, etc., with consideration for natural conditions of
national land, by formulating National Spatial Strategies and taking other
measures, in combination with measures by the National Land Use Planning
Act (Act No. 92 of 1974), and thereby contributing to the realization of the
economy and society in which present and future citizens can live rich lives
with peace of mind.
(National Spatial Strategies)
Article 2 (1) The term "National Spatial Strategies" as used in this Act shall
mean the comprehensive and basic plans to promote the use, improvement and
conservation of national land (hereinafter referred to as "spatial development"),
which are related to the following matters:
(i) Matters concerning the utilization and conservation of national land
resources including land and water;
(ii) Matters concerning the utilization and preservation of sea areas (including
the acts prescribed in the Act on the Exclusive Economic Zone and the
Continental Shelf (Act No.74 of 1996), Article 3, paragraph 1, item 1 to item
3 inclusive, in the exclusive economic zone set forth in the same Act, Article
1, paragraph 1, or on the continental shelf set forth in the same Act, Article
2);
(iii) Matters concerning the prevention and mitigation of disasters including
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earthquake disaster, flood damage and wind damage;
(iv) Matters concerning the adjustment of the size and arrangement as well as
the improvement of cities and farming, mountain and fishing villages;
(v) Matters concerning the proper location of industries;
(vi) Matters concerning the use, improvement and conservation of important
public facilities including transport facilities, information and
communications facilities and research facilities pertaining to science and
technology;
(vii) Matters concerning the protection of resources, and the use and
improvement of the facilities related to culture, welfare and tourism;
(viii) Matters concerning preservation of environments including the creation
of prosperous environments on national land and formation of good
landscapes.
(2) The National Spatial Strategies set forth in the preceding paragraph shall be
the National Plan prescribed in Article 6, paragraph 2, and the Regional Plans
prescribed in Article 9, paragraph 2.
(Basic Principles of National Spatial Strategies)
Article 3 (1) National Spatial Strategies shall appropriately formulate measures
for the spatial development to maintain and improve the natural, economic,
social and cultural conditions of Japan, while paying attention to securing
domestic and international coordination pertaining to the said measures, in
order to appropriately respond to the changes in social and economic structures
including population and industry in Japan and the world and realize a
national land that acts as the foundation of: local communities that
independently develop in accordance with their own characteristics; a vital
economy and society through the enhancement of international competitiveness,
promotion of science and technology, etc.; citizens' lives for which safety is
secured; and a rich environment which also contributes to the preservation of
the global environment.
(2) National Spatial Strategies shall be formulated so that the national
government fulfills its obligation in regard to the implementation of measures
for the comprehensive spatial development, while respecting independent
approaches by local governments and at the same time understanding the roles
the national government should intrinsically play, including implementation of
measures that must be carried out on a nationwide scale or from a nationwide
viewpoint.
Chapter II Study, Deliberation, etc. of the National Land Council
(Study, Deliberation, etc. of the National Land Council)
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Article 4 (1) The National Land Council studies and deliberates on matters
necessary for National Spatial Strategies and their implementation, and
reports the result, or makes recommendations, to the Minister of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
(2) The National Land Council may, when it deems necessary, offer its opinion
about National Spatial Strategies to the head of the relevant administrative
organ through the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
(3) The head of the relevant administrative organ may hear the National Land
Council's opinion about a basic plan pertaining to the organ's affairs under its
jurisdiction that has a close relationship with National Spatial Strategies.
(Publication of Gist)
Article 5 The National Land Council shall, when it deems necessary, publish the
gist of the result of the study and deliberation carried out pursuant to the
provision of this Act.
Chapter III Formulation of National Spatial Strategies
(National Plan)
Article 6 (1) The national government shall formulate a National Spatial
Strategy for all districts in the nation as a policy guideline for the
comprehensive spatial development.
(2) The National Spatial Strategy set forth in the preceding paragraph
(hereinafter referred to as the "National Plan") shall provide for the following
matters:
(i) Basic policy concerning the spatial development;
(ii) Objectives concerning the spatial development;
(iii) Matters concerning basic measures found necessary from a nationwide
perspective to achieve the objectives set forth in the preceding item.
(3) The National Plan shall be harmonious with the national government's basic
plan for the preservation of the environment.
(4) The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism shall prepare a
draft of the National Plan and seek a cabinet decision.
(5) When intending to make a draft of the National Plan pursuant to the
provision of the preceding paragraph, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure,
Transport and Tourism shall, in advance, take necessary measures to reflect
the opinions of the public pursuant to the provision of an Ordinance of the
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, as well as confer
with the Minister of Environment and the heads of other relevant
administrative organs, hear the opinions of prefectures and designated cities
(referring to the ordinance-designated cities set forth in the Local Autonomy
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Act (Act No. 67 of 1947), Article 252-19, paragraph 1; the same shall apply
hereinafter), and pass through the study and deliberation of the National Land
Council.
(6) When the cabinet decision set forth in paragraph 4 is made on the National
Plan, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism shall
publicly announce the National Plan without delay.
(7) The National Plan shall be formulated in an integrated manner together with
the plan for national land use for all districts in the nation set forth in the
National Land Use Planning Act, Article 4.
(8) The provisions in paragraph 4 to the preceding paragraph inclusive shall
apply mutatis mutandis to amendments to the National Plan.
(Policy Evaluation pertaining to the National Plan)
Article 7 (1) When formulating the basic plan set forth in the Government Policy
Evaluations Act (Act No. 86 of 2001), Article 6, paragraph 1, the Minister of
Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism shall formulate the National
Plan as a policy set forth in the same Article, paragraph 2, item 6.
(2) After two years has passed since the date of the public announcement
pursuant to the provision of the preceding Article, paragraph 6 (including the
cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis under the same Article, paragraph
8), when the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
formulates the implementation plan set forth in the Government Policy
Evaluations Act, Article 7, paragraph 1 for the first time, he/she shall
formulate the National Plan as a policy set forth in the same Article,
paragraph 2, item 1.
(Proposal Pertaining to the National Plan)
Article 8 (1) Prefectures or designated cities may, singly or jointly, propose to
the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to prepare a draft
of the National Plan necessary to further increase the effect of the measures
concerning the matters listed in items of paragraph 1 of Article 2 within the
district of the said prefectures or designated cities (including a draft for a
change in the National Plan; hereinafter the same shall apply in this Article).
In this case, a rough draft of the draft of the National Plan pertaining to the
said proposal shall be accompanied.
(2) When the proposal pursuant to the provision of the preceding paragraph
(hereinafter referred to as "Planning Proposal" in this Article) is made, the
Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism shall, without delay,
judge whether it is necessary to prepare a draft of the National Plan that takes
into account the said Planning Proposal (referring to a draft of the National
Plan that will realize the whole or a part of the content of the rough draft of
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the said draft of the National Plan pertaining to the Planning Proposal; the
same shall apply in paragraph 4), and if he/she finds it necessary to prepare
the said draft of the National Plan, then he/she shall prepare the draft.
(3) When the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism intends to
prepare a draft of the National Plan that takes into account the said Planning
Proposal (referring to a draft of the National Plan that will realize a part of the
content of the rough draft of the said draft of the National Plan pertaining to
the Planning Proposal), and intends to go through the study and deliberation of
the National Land Council pursuant to the provision of Article 6, paragraph 5
(including the cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis under the same
Article, paragraph 8), he/she shall submit the rough draft of the draft of the
National Plan pertaining to the said Planning Proposal.
(4) If the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism judges that it
is not necessary to prepare a draft of the National Plan that takes into account
the said Planning Proposal, he/she shall, without delay, notify to that effect
and the grounds for it to the prefectures or designated cities that made the said
Planning Proposal.
(5) When the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism intends to
notify pursuant to the provision of the preceding paragraph, he/she shall, in
advance, submit the rough draft of the draft of the National Plan pertaining to
the said Planning Proposal to the National Land Council and hear its opinion.
(Regional Plans)
Article 9 (1) The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism shall
formulate a National Spatial Strategy for each of the districts listed in the
following (hereinafter referred to as "Regional Plan Districts"):
(i) The Metropolitan Area (referring to the district as a whole that consists of
Saitama Prefecture, Tokyo Metropolis, Kanagawa Prefecture, and other
Prefectures designated by a Cabinet Order);
(ii) The Kinki Area (referring to the district as a whole that consists of Kyoto
Prefecture, Osaka Prefecture, Hyogo Prefecture, and other Prefectures
designated by a Cabinet Order);
(iii) The Chubu Area (referring to the district as a whole that consists of Aichi
Prefecture, Mie Prefecture, and other Prefectures designated by a Cabinet
Order);
(iv) Other districts that consist of two or more Prefectures between which a
close relationship in terms of nature, economy, society, culture and so forth is
recognized to a considerable degree, and are designated by a Cabinet Order
as the districts that need promotion of the comprehensive spatial
development as a whole.
(2) The National Spatial Strategy set forth in the preceding paragraph
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(hereinafter referred to as the "Regional Plans") shall provide, based on the
National Plan, for the following matters:
(i) Policy concerning the spatial development in the said Regional Plan
District;
(ii) Objectives concerning the spatial development in the said Regional Plan
District;
(iii) Matters concerning major measures found necessary from the regional
perspective beyond a single Prefectural area to achieve the objectives set
forth in the preceding item in the said Regional Plan District (including
measures covering beyond the said Regional Plan District that are found
particularly necessary for promoting the comprehensive spatial development
in the said Regional Plan District).
(3) When the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism intends to
formulate a Regional Plan pursuant to the provision of paragraph 1, he/she
shall in advance take necessary measures to reflect the opinions of the public
pursuant to the provision of an Ordinance of the Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, as well as pass through conference of
the Regional Plan Council set forth in the next Article, paragraph 1, and confer
with the head of each relevant administrative organ.
(4) When the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has
formulated a Regional Plan, he/she shall publicly announce this without delay.
(5) The provisions in the preceding three paragraphs shall apply mutatis
mutandis to amendments to a Regional Plan.
(Regional Plan Council)
Article 10 (1) In order to confer on matters necessary for the Regional Plan and
its implementation, for each Regional Plan District, pursuant to the provision
of a Cabinet Order, the relevant national administrative organs in the region,
relevant Prefectures and relevant designated cities (hereinafter referred to as
"national regional administrative organs, etc." in this Article) shall organize a
Regional Plan Council (hereinafter referred to as "Council").
(2) The Council may, when it deems necessary, by conference, add municipalities
(except designated cities) within the said Regional Plan District, local
governments adjacent to the said Regional Plan District, and other entities
that have a close relationship with the implementation of the Regional Plan.
(3) The meeting for the conference set forth in paragraph 1 (referred to as
"Meeting" in paragraph 6) shall consist of the following members:
(i) The head of national regional administrative organs or a staff member
designated by him/her;
(ii) The head of local governments that joined pursuant to the provision of the
preceding paragraph or a staff member designated by him/her;
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(iii) The representative of the entities (except local public bodies) that jo ined
pursuant to the provision of the preceding paragraph or a person designated
by him/her.
(4) The Council, when it deems necessary, may ask relevant administrative
organs to provide some forms of cooperation including to submit materials,
express opinions and give explanations.
(5) When the Council confers pursuant to the provision of the preceding Article,
paragraph 3 (including the cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis under
the same Article, paragraph 5), it shall hear the opinions of persons with
relevant knowledge and experience.
(6) On matters for which conference has been settled, the members of the Council
shall respect the result of the deliberation.
(7) The common affairs of the Council shall be dealt with by the Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
(8) In addition to the matters set forth in the preceding paragraphs, matters
necessary for the operation of the Council shall be decided by the Council.
(Proposal etc. Pertaining to a Regional Plan)
Article 11 (1) Municipalities (except those municipalities which are the members
of the Council) within a Regional Plan Districts may, singly or jointly, propose
to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, pursuant to
the provision of an Ordinance of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure,
Transport and Tourism, via the Prefecture, to carry out formulation or change
of the Regional Plan as necessary to further increase the effect of the measures
concerning the matters listed in the items of paragraph 1 of Article 2 within
the district of the said municipalities. In this case, a rough draft of the
Regional Plan pertaining to the said proposal shall be accompanied it.
(2) When the proposal pursuant to the provision of the preceding paragraph
(hereinafter referred to as "Planning Proposal" in this Article) is made, the
Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism shall, without delay,
judge whether it is necessary to carry out the formulation or change of the
Regional Plan that takes into account the said Planning Proposal (referring to
the formulation or change of the Regional Plan that will realize the whole or a
part of the content of the rough draft of the Regional Plan pertaining to the
Planning Proposal; the same shall apply in paragraph 4), and if he/she finds it
necessary to carry out the formulation or change of the said Regional Plan,
then he/she shall prepare its draft.
(3) When the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism intends to
carry out the formulation or change of the Regional Plan that takes into
account the said Planning Proposal (referring to the formulation or change of
the Regional Plan that will realize a part of the content of the rough draft of
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the Regional Plan pertaining to the Planning Proposal), and intends to go
through the deliberation of the Council pursuant to the provision of Article 9,
paragraph 3 (including the cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis under
the same Article, paragraph 5), he/she shall submit the rough draft of the
Regional Plan pertaining to the said Planning Proposal.
(4) If the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism judges that it
is not necessary to carry out the formulation or change of the Regional Plan
that takes into account the said Plan Proposal, he/she shall, without delay,
notify to that effect and the grounds for it to the municipalities that made the
said Plan Proposal.
(5) When the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism intends to
notify pursuant to the provision of the preceding paragraph, he/she shall, in
advance, submit the rough draft of the Regional Plan pertaining to the said
Plan Proposal to the Council and hear its opinion.
(Coordination of Studies)
Article 12 (1) The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism may
make necessary coordination between studies on the National Spatial
Strategies by the heads of relevant administrative organs and require the said
heads of relevant organs to report on the result of their studies.
(2) When the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism makes
coordination pursuant to the provision of the preceding paragraph, he/she may,
if deemed necessary, hear the opinions of the heads of relevant organs and
specify particular areas to be studied.
Chapter IV Implementation of National Spatial Strategies
(Coordination concerning a Regional Plan)
Article 13 (1) Prefectures or municipalities within the Regional Plan District for
which a Regional Plan has been formulated may, when deemed necessary for
the implementation of the said Regional Plan, singly or jointly request the
Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to coordinate affairs
of relevant administrative organs.
(2) When a request is made pursuant to the provision of the preceding paragraph,
the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism shall, if he/she
deems it necessary, hear the opinion of the National Land Council and
coordinate accordingly.
(Recommendations on Implementation of National Spatial Strategies)
Article 14 When the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
finds it necessary to coordinate the implementation of the National Spatial
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Strategies, he/she may make a necessary recommendation to the heads of the
relevant administrative organs.
Chapter V Auxiliary Provisions
(Coordination with the Okinawa Promotion Plan)
Article 15 Coordination between the Okinawa Promotion Plan and National
Spatial Strategies shall be carried out by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure,
Transport and Tourism after he/she hears the opinions of the Prime Minister
and the National Land Council.
(Delegation to Cabinet Order)
Article 16 Procedures for implementation of this Act and other matters
necessary for its enforcement shall be prescribed by a Cabinet Order.
Supplementary Provisions [Extract]
(1) This Act shall come into force as of June 1, 1950.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 89 of 2005 Extract] [Extract]
(Effective Date, etc.)
Article 1 (1) This Act shall come into force as of the date (hereinafter referred to
as "Effective Date") specified by a Cabinet Order within a period not exceeding
six months from the day of promulgation; provided, however, that the
provisions of the following paragraph and Supplementary Provisions Article 27
shall come into force as of the day of promulgation.
(2) The National Land Council may study and deliberate on the preparation of
the draft of the National Plan pursuant to the provision of Article 6, paragraph
4 of the National Spatial Planning Act after the revision pursuant to the
provision of Article 1 (hereinafter referred to simply as "National Spatial
Planning Act") even prior to the enforcement of this Act.
(3) Until the National Spatial Plan is formulated pursuant to the provision of the
National Spatial Planning Act, Article 6, paragraph 1, the provisions of the
National Spatial Planning Act, Article 9 to Article 11 inclusive and Article 13
shall not apply.
(Transitional Measures with the Partial Revision of the National Spatial
Planning Act)
Article 2 (1) After the Effective Date, until the National Spatial Strategy is
formulated pursuant to the provision of the National Spatial Planning Act,
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Article 6, paragraph 1, the Comprehensive National Development Plan that is
already prepared pursuant to the provision of the Comprehensive National
Land Development Act, Article 7, paragraph 1 prior to the revision pursuant to
the provision of Article 1 when this Act comes into force shall be deemed to be
the National Spatial Strategy formulated pursuant to the provision of the
National Spatial Planning Act, Article 6, paragraph 1.
(2) The provisions of the National Spatial Planning Act, Article 7 and Article 8
shall not apply to the Comprehensive National Land Development Plan that is
deemed to be the National Spatial Strategy formulated pursuant to the
provision of the National Spatial Planning Act, Article 6, paragraph 1 pursuant
to the provision of the preceding paragraph.
(Delegation to Cabinet Order)
Article 27 In addition to the matters provided for in these Supplementary
Provisions, the transitional measures necessary for enforcement of this Act
shall be specified by a Cabinet Order.
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