DISCUSSION: CONVENIENCE AND URBAN ENVIRONMENT

Factors affecting planning and communications in historic Japanese towns are discussed using Kanazawa and Nara as examples. Many roads are radial between concentric circles making it difficult to travel rapidly across the town of Kanazawa. Before the early 1980s, historical preservation was not considered, and many existing buildings were demolished to provide a 36m wide road link to the railway station that will divide historic centres of the city. Attempts are being made to preserve Nara's old town while developing the infrastructure. However the grid layout, dating back to the eighth century, allows widening to be carried out with less disruption to the existing landscape. Initially, concrete buildings were erected on both sides of the new road to act as fire breaks separating the road from the old inflammable wooden structures behind. Neighbourhoods were cut off by the new road and community life was rarely taken into account when designing the road. New approaches include the consideration of an underground road in the city centre with an above-ground light rail transit system. Park-and-Ride is being investigated but the absence of ring roads around most Japanese cities make them difficult to implement. Japanese authorities are now recognising that road congestion is an integral part of urban infrastructure development.