In What Size Cities is 'Parking Search' Most Common? Analyzing ~250,000 Search Data from P-Collection - Part 3
Parking Science Co., Ltd. analyzed roughly 250,000 parking searches from its app, revealing that while large cities lead, 41% of searches occur in mid-sized cities, proving nationwide demand.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 02:45 (16h 13m after Collected)
Parking Science Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture; President: Naoya Inoue) analyzed the number of parking searches and their composition ratio by classifying municipalities nationwide by population size, based on approximately 250,000 parking search data points obtained over about two years from January 2024 to December 16, 2025, on their proprietary [Free] parking search app with reward point features, 'P-Collection'.
As a result of aggregating the number of searches by population size, searches in municipalities with a population of 1 million or more accounted for 36% of the total, which was the highest result.
On the other hand, municipalities with a population of 100,000 to 300,000 also accounted for 25% of the total, and when including mid-sized cities with populations of 300,000 to 500,000 (16%) and 500,000 to 1 million (12%), searches from municipalities with populations under 1 million accounted for about 60% of the total.
Furthermore, 11% of searches were conducted even in municipalities with a population of less than 100,000, showing that parking searches are not an action limited to specific large cities but are routinely performed across a wide range of city sizes.
■ Distribution of Parking Searches by Population Size
■ Observation 1: Searches are not concentrated in a few large cities
Looking at the composition ratio of searches by population size, while cities with over 1 million people account for 36%, municipalities with between 100,000 and 500,000 people also account for 41% of the total, indicating that searches are not concentrated solely in specific large cities.
These results suggest that parking searches are not an action limited to 'cities with very large populations' but are widely performed in cities of various sizes where daily travel and visits occur.
Note that in this analysis, the 23 wards of Tokyo were aggregated at the ward level, resulting in searches being dispersed across each of the 23 wards, rather than concentrated in a single city like a designated major city.
This point is considered to reflect the reality that urban functions in Tokyo are distributed over a wide area, and the search area is subdivided by destination.
■ Observation 2: Mid-sized cities are an important presence supporting search volume
Combining municipalities with populations of 300,000 to 500,000 (16%) and 100,000 to 300,000 (25%), mid-sized cities accounted for about 40% of the total.
Many of these mid-sized cities are considered to be areas characterized by commercial facilities and tourist spots scattered throughout the city, making it difficult to complete travel solely by public transportation, thus expanding the living sphere predicated on private car use.
Therefore, it is suggested that a certain number of search behaviors to find parking near destinations in advance occur, driving up the search volume. This result shows that parking search demand plays an important role not only in metropolitan areas but also in mid-sized cities that serve as regional hubs.
■ Observation 3: Regardless of city size, parking search behavior is spreading nationwide
Even in municipalities with a population of less than 100,000, searches accounted for 11% of the total.
From this, it can be inferred that search behaviors for finding parking are widely performed across the country, regardless of the size of the city.
Parking searches are not limited to visits to large cities but may also occur during daily travel or car use within a region, suggesting that the search behavior itself is becoming entrenched nationwide.
■ Summary: Characteristics of Parking Searches by Population Size
From this analysis by population size, it has become clear that parking searches are not concentrated in large cities with a population of over 1 million, but occur across a wide range of city sizes, including mid-sized cities and smaller municipalities.
Particularly in mid-sized cities acting as regional hubs, there is a lot of travel predicated on private car use, and the behavior of looking for parking near destinations is thought to be consistently performed.
This analysis shows the reality that parking search needs do not depend on city size but are spreading nationwide, and the results can be said to provide one insight when considering future parking infrastructure and service provision.
■ Future Prospects
In this series of analyses, we have clarified the regional characteristics and distribution structure of where parking searches are conducted from multiple perspectives such as prefecture, municipality, and population size.
From these results, it is suggested that parking searches are influenced not just by the size of the city or population, but by factors such as the concentration of urban functions, means of transportation, and purpose of the visit.
Parking Science Co., Ltd. will continue to utilize the search behavior data obtained from 'P-Collection' to perform analysis from various perspectives such as timing, area characteristics, and usage scenes, visualizing the realities and issues of parking usage, and sending out information that leads to more convenient parking discovery.
Naoya Inoue
While involved in parking operations, established Parking Science in September 2022 to solve issues in the parking industry.
As a result of aggregating the number of searches by population size, searches in municipalities with a population of 1 million or more accounted for 36% of the total, which was the highest result.
On the other hand, municipalities with a population of 100,000 to 300,000 also accounted for 25% of the total, and when including mid-sized cities with populations of 300,000 to 500,000 (16%) and 500,000 to 1 million (12%), searches from municipalities with populations under 1 million accounted for about 60% of the total.
Furthermore, 11% of searches were conducted even in municipalities with a population of less than 100,000, showing that parking searches are not an action limited to specific large cities but are routinely performed across a wide range of city sizes.
■ Distribution of Parking Searches by Population Size
■ Observation 1: Searches are not concentrated in a few large cities
Looking at the composition ratio of searches by population size, while cities with over 1 million people account for 36%, municipalities with between 100,000 and 500,000 people also account for 41% of the total, indicating that searches are not concentrated solely in specific large cities.
These results suggest that parking searches are not an action limited to 'cities with very large populations' but are widely performed in cities of various sizes where daily travel and visits occur.
Note that in this analysis, the 23 wards of Tokyo were aggregated at the ward level, resulting in searches being dispersed across each of the 23 wards, rather than concentrated in a single city like a designated major city.
This point is considered to reflect the reality that urban functions in Tokyo are distributed over a wide area, and the search area is subdivided by destination.
■ Observation 2: Mid-sized cities are an important presence supporting search volume
Combining municipalities with populations of 300,000 to 500,000 (16%) and 100,000 to 300,000 (25%), mid-sized cities accounted for about 40% of the total.
Many of these mid-sized cities are considered to be areas characterized by commercial facilities and tourist spots scattered throughout the city, making it difficult to complete travel solely by public transportation, thus expanding the living sphere predicated on private car use.
Therefore, it is suggested that a certain number of search behaviors to find parking near destinations in advance occur, driving up the search volume. This result shows that parking search demand plays an important role not only in metropolitan areas but also in mid-sized cities that serve as regional hubs.
■ Observation 3: Regardless of city size, parking search behavior is spreading nationwide
Even in municipalities with a population of less than 100,000, searches accounted for 11% of the total.
From this, it can be inferred that search behaviors for finding parking are widely performed across the country, regardless of the size of the city.
Parking searches are not limited to visits to large cities but may also occur during daily travel or car use within a region, suggesting that the search behavior itself is becoming entrenched nationwide.
■ Summary: Characteristics of Parking Searches by Population Size
From this analysis by population size, it has become clear that parking searches are not concentrated in large cities with a population of over 1 million, but occur across a wide range of city sizes, including mid-sized cities and smaller municipalities.
Particularly in mid-sized cities acting as regional hubs, there is a lot of travel predicated on private car use, and the behavior of looking for parking near destinations is thought to be consistently performed.
This analysis shows the reality that parking search needs do not depend on city size but are spreading nationwide, and the results can be said to provide one insight when considering future parking infrastructure and service provision.
■ Future Prospects
In this series of analyses, we have clarified the regional characteristics and distribution structure of where parking searches are conducted from multiple perspectives such as prefecture, municipality, and population size.
From these results, it is suggested that parking searches are influenced not just by the size of the city or population, but by factors such as the concentration of urban functions, means of transportation, and purpose of the visit.
Parking Science Co., Ltd. will continue to utilize the search behavior data obtained from 'P-Collection' to perform analysis from various perspectives such as timing, area characteristics, and usage scenes, visualizing the realities and issues of parking usage, and sending out information that leads to more convenient parking discovery.
Naoya Inoue
While involved in parking operations, established Parking Science in September 2022 to solve issues in the parking industry.