Yokosuka Project Repurposes Vacant Hillside Homes

Yokosuka city is regenerating vacant houses in its steep hillside neighborhoods to create new community assets and rebuild local social ties.

This initiative addresses a critical urban crisis in Japan, where an aging population and difficult geography leave homes abandoned. In Yokosuka's "yato" areas, the steep terrain makes remaining properties inaccessible for elderly residents who can no longer navigate the slopes.

Nationwide, Japan faces a staggering total of approximately nine million vacant houses ^[1]. In certain affected areas, the vacancy rate has reached a point where one in seven homes stands empty ^[2]. For many residents, the geography is the primary barrier to maintaining their homes. One local resident said that because they live on a mountain, they cannot continue living there once their legs fail them.

Another resident said that the volume of empty homes is significant, and that the situation is particularly severe in the areas further up the hills. Some residences are located at the top of staircases exceeding 100 steps ^[3].

Kana Fujiwara, representative of the company Yatoto, is leading efforts to change the perception of these properties. She said the project focuses on changing how people view the inconvenience of these locations so that they can instead become a source of richness for the community.

This effort coincides with "Vacant-House Future Consideration Day," observed annually on May 26. The day marks a continued focus on the issue since the implementation of the vacant-house law in 2015 ^[4]. By assigning new functions to these buildings, the project aims to transform liabilities into community hubs that serve both young volunteers and the elderly.