National Vacant House Rate Fluctuation MAP Released, Showing Trends by Municipality Across Japan
The National Vacant House Countermeasures Consortium has analyzed trends in vacant house rates across 1,047 municipalities nationwide from 2008 to 2023 and released the "National Vacant House Rate Fluctuation MAP." The analysis revealed that the increase in vacant house rates was modest in the three major metropolitan areas, and in many prefectures, the rate of increase in prefectural capitals was lower than the prefecture as a whole, suggesting a structural acceleration of the vacant house problem due to population concentration.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 5, 2026 at 01:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 4, 2026 at 16:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 4, 2026 at 16:35 (3 min after Collected)
## Press Release Information
Title: National Vacant House Rate Fluctuation MAP Released, Showing Trends by Municipality Across Japan
### Analysis Results Summary
Based on data from the Housing and Land Survey, we analyzed the changes in "vacant house rates" for 1,047 municipalities nationwide from 2008 to 2023. As a result of the analysis, the following two phenomena became clear.
Phenomenon ① In the three major metropolitan areas (Southern Kanto, Kinki, and Tokai), the increase in vacant house rates remained at less than about one-third of the national average.
Phenomenon ② In 42 out of 47 prefectures (89%), the increase rate in prefectural capitals was lower than the overall prefecture.
These results suggest that Japan's vacant house problem is structurally accelerating due to a dual gravitational pull: "population concentration in the three major metropolitan areas" and "concentration in prefectural capitals within each prefecture." Based on regional categorization according to this dual gravitational structure, it is considered necessary for the national government, local governments, and private companies to promote measures tailored to the actual conditions of each region.
### National Vacant House Rate Fluctuation MAP
Using data from the 2018 and 2023 Housing and Land Surveys announced by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, we created the "National Vacant House Rate Fluctuation MAP." The vacant house rate is calculated as (number of vacant houses ÷ total number of housing units), and the change in vacant house rate (2023 value − 2008 value) is shown on the map. Red (≥ +20%) indicates a large increase, while blue (≤ -20%) indicates a decrease.
The areas around the Tokyo metropolitan area and major cities are generally white to light pink, indicating a low increase, while rural and mountainous areas show darker reds.
▼ You can use the National Vacant House Rate Fluctuation MAP from the URL below:
https://www.crassone.jp/special/map-chart/index.html
Vacant House Rate Change Map (2008 → 2023) Color standard: -20% (blue) to +20% (red)
### Detailed Analysis Results
#### Data for Analysis
* **Data Source**: Housing and Land Survey (Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)
* **Target Years**: 2008, 2023
* **Number of Target Municipalities**: 1,048 municipalities
* **Indicator**: Vacant house rate (number of vacant houses ÷ total number of housing units)
* *Vacant houses* are defined as "other dwellings" in the 2008 survey and "vacant houses excluding rental/for-sale and secondary dwellings" in the 2023 survey.
* **Analysis Target**: Change in vacant house rate (2023 value − 2008 value)
#### Phenomenon ①: Significantly Small Increase in Three Major Metropolitan Areas
When aggregating the increase in vacant house rates (change from 2008 to 2023) by 11 regional classifications, Southern Kanto (Tokyo metropolitan area) showed the lowest level at +0.59 points, followed by Kinki (+1.90 points) and Tokai (+2.31 points). On the other hand, Shikoku showed the largest increase at +6.49 points, reaching about 11 times that of Southern Kanto.
It is considered that population continues to flow into the three major metropolitan areas, centered on the Tokyo metropolitan area, while in other rural areas, vacant houses are increasing due to the loss of housing occupants. Shikoku, in particular, already had a high vacant house rate in 2008 and faces the structural problem of "regions that were already high are getting worse."
**Note**
* Tokai (+2.31pt) slightly exceeded Hokkaido (+2.13pt), so strictly speaking, the order is "Southern Kanto, Kinki, Hokkaido, Tokai." However, it is certain that the increase in the three major metropolitan areas is small.
* Okinawa (+0.46pt) showing the smallest increase may be due to unique circumstances such as increased tourism demand, increased immigrant population, and increased new housing supply.
#### Phenomenon ②: Trend of Prefectural Capital Increase Being Lower Than Overall Prefecture
We compared the change in the overall vacant house rate for all 47 prefectures with the change in their prefectural capitals. As a result, in 42 out of 47 prefectures (89%), it was confirmed that "increase value in prefectural capitals < increase value in overall prefecture."
Even within prefectures, it can be observed that population and economic activities are concentrated in prefectural capitals (or central economic cities), while the vacant house problem is becoming more severe in other municipalities. This trend is particularly noticeable in the Shikoku and Chugoku regions.
**Note**
In 5 out of 47 cases (Mito, Kofu, Nagano, Tsu, Nara), the increase in vacant house rates in the prefectural capitals exceeded that of the overall prefecture. Analyzing their common characteristics, it can be seen that "a larger economic sphere exists within the prefecture."
* Nara City (difference of +1.29pt) → Within the commuting area to Osaka/Kobe, weak demand for inner-city residency.
* Tsu City (difference of +0.86pt) → In the shadow of the Nagoya economic sphere.
Title: National Vacant House Rate Fluctuation MAP Released, Showing Trends by Municipality Across Japan
### Analysis Results Summary
Based on data from the Housing and Land Survey, we analyzed the changes in "vacant house rates" for 1,047 municipalities nationwide from 2008 to 2023. As a result of the analysis, the following two phenomena became clear.
Phenomenon ① In the three major metropolitan areas (Southern Kanto, Kinki, and Tokai), the increase in vacant house rates remained at less than about one-third of the national average.
Phenomenon ② In 42 out of 47 prefectures (89%), the increase rate in prefectural capitals was lower than the overall prefecture.
These results suggest that Japan's vacant house problem is structurally accelerating due to a dual gravitational pull: "population concentration in the three major metropolitan areas" and "concentration in prefectural capitals within each prefecture." Based on regional categorization according to this dual gravitational structure, it is considered necessary for the national government, local governments, and private companies to promote measures tailored to the actual conditions of each region.
### National Vacant House Rate Fluctuation MAP
Using data from the 2018 and 2023 Housing and Land Surveys announced by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, we created the "National Vacant House Rate Fluctuation MAP." The vacant house rate is calculated as (number of vacant houses ÷ total number of housing units), and the change in vacant house rate (2023 value − 2008 value) is shown on the map. Red (≥ +20%) indicates a large increase, while blue (≤ -20%) indicates a decrease.
The areas around the Tokyo metropolitan area and major cities are generally white to light pink, indicating a low increase, while rural and mountainous areas show darker reds.
▼ You can use the National Vacant House Rate Fluctuation MAP from the URL below:
https://www.crassone.jp/special/map-chart/index.html
Vacant House Rate Change Map (2008 → 2023) Color standard: -20% (blue) to +20% (red)
### Detailed Analysis Results
#### Data for Analysis
* **Data Source**: Housing and Land Survey (Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)
* **Target Years**: 2008, 2023
* **Number of Target Municipalities**: 1,048 municipalities
* **Indicator**: Vacant house rate (number of vacant houses ÷ total number of housing units)
* *Vacant houses* are defined as "other dwellings" in the 2008 survey and "vacant houses excluding rental/for-sale and secondary dwellings" in the 2023 survey.
* **Analysis Target**: Change in vacant house rate (2023 value − 2008 value)
#### Phenomenon ①: Significantly Small Increase in Three Major Metropolitan Areas
When aggregating the increase in vacant house rates (change from 2008 to 2023) by 11 regional classifications, Southern Kanto (Tokyo metropolitan area) showed the lowest level at +0.59 points, followed by Kinki (+1.90 points) and Tokai (+2.31 points). On the other hand, Shikoku showed the largest increase at +6.49 points, reaching about 11 times that of Southern Kanto.
It is considered that population continues to flow into the three major metropolitan areas, centered on the Tokyo metropolitan area, while in other rural areas, vacant houses are increasing due to the loss of housing occupants. Shikoku, in particular, already had a high vacant house rate in 2008 and faces the structural problem of "regions that were already high are getting worse."
**Note**
* Tokai (+2.31pt) slightly exceeded Hokkaido (+2.13pt), so strictly speaking, the order is "Southern Kanto, Kinki, Hokkaido, Tokai." However, it is certain that the increase in the three major metropolitan areas is small.
* Okinawa (+0.46pt) showing the smallest increase may be due to unique circumstances such as increased tourism demand, increased immigrant population, and increased new housing supply.
#### Phenomenon ②: Trend of Prefectural Capital Increase Being Lower Than Overall Prefecture
We compared the change in the overall vacant house rate for all 47 prefectures with the change in their prefectural capitals. As a result, in 42 out of 47 prefectures (89%), it was confirmed that "increase value in prefectural capitals < increase value in overall prefecture."
Even within prefectures, it can be observed that population and economic activities are concentrated in prefectural capitals (or central economic cities), while the vacant house problem is becoming more severe in other municipalities. This trend is particularly noticeable in the Shikoku and Chugoku regions.
**Note**
In 5 out of 47 cases (Mito, Kofu, Nagano, Tsu, Nara), the increase in vacant house rates in the prefectural capitals exceeded that of the overall prefecture. Analyzing their common characteristics, it can be seen that "a larger economic sphere exists within the prefecture."
* Nara City (difference of +1.29pt) → Within the commuting area to Osaka/Kobe, weak demand for inner-city residency.
* Tsu City (difference of +0.86pt) → In the shadow of the Nagoya economic sphere.