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Ever since World War II housing has been in short supply and extremely overcrowded in Tokyo. Recently the government has introduced various housing programs including redevelopment and remodeling projects, construction of rental housing, and public housing which are scattered throughout various wards in the city and surrounding prefectures. The most recent major development has been the development of new towns.
As part of a major housing study the TMG published a plan to examine the state of various aspects of urban dwelling in 1980. The quality of housing, transportation, parks, and open spaces and waste management among other things were analyzed. The conclusion was that facilities in 1980 were livable, but were difficult due to the intense overcrowding. To alleviate the cramped housing conditions, the TMG developed housing projects entitled "New Towns" The first of these was called Tama new town located to the South and West of the 23 wards about 30 kilometers outside of Tokyo proper. The Tama new town covers just over 7,000 acres and has a population of 410,000.
Tama also contains several commercial centers, many schools, and clinics. Most of the houses are high rise apartment buildings, but town houses and villas are also available. These new towns have been developed so as to minimize congestion, pollution and noise. The new towns were formulated specifically for middle class families desiring more space who can afford a unit for between $80,000-$115,000. There are apartments, town houses, and detached villas which families can choose from. When the first new town was installed, it was a success and the government has since sponsored the development of new towns throughout the city and surrounding prefectures.Despite the development of modern new towns housing, the prospects for those who cannot afford the price of a new dwelling are very limited. However the TMG has tried to make allowances for people with little means to purchase housing. The revised plan of 1970 also included a substantial number of tall apartment buildings to be built specifically for people with lower incomes known as danchi. The danchi have been very effective in decreasing the numbers of sub-standard housing units in Tokyo. The Japan Public Housing guidelines currently stipulate that families must fall within a certain lower income bracket to inhabit them. The Metropolitan Housing Supply Corporation also works with the Government to make loan arrangements and financial aids for housing in the private sector.
The housing crisis continues to plague the residents. Even by modern standards, the average Japanese lives in a much smaller space than in comparable cities across the world. Forty percent of houses have floor space of less than 46 square meters. Space has always been a precious commodity in Tokyo, but with the increasing affluence of the population there have been further demands for more living space in detached homes. Home ownership decreased to 54% in 1987 after increasing in the 1970's indicating the increasing price of land. Moreover, most of the houses owned were located outside of the 23 ward area. The majority of the housing within Tokyo's 23 wards is rented, giving way to a landscape of small cramped apartment buildings. But even renting space does not save on cost. Currently Tokyo residents spend about one-fifth of their salary on rent. The suburban population growth rate offers little hope for those who desire more space. In 1980 there was a total of 3.5 million houses in Tokyo. Over thirty percent of those were wooden and therefore considered substandard. The government is working to eliminate substandard homes, but this will not alleviate the cramped space. The latest figures indicate that progress is being made to ensure proper housing, but given the congestion, there does not seem to be a viable end to the crowding.
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