Park-PFI Latest Cases and Statistics [2026 Edition] — Track Record of 165 Parks and the Outlook Ahead

Nationwide Adoption: 165 Parks

Park-PFI (the Public Solicitation Management System) has been implemented in 165 parks nationwide as of March 2025. Approximately eight years have passed since the Urban Park Act was amended in 2017 to establish Park-PFI. What began with pioneer cases at large parks in major cities has now steadily expanded to medium and small municipalities and parks of varying sizes.

Key nationwide figures (as of March 2025):

• Parks adopted: 165
• Municipalities adopted: More than 110 (estimated)
• By city scale: designated cities and core cities account for approximately 50%; municipalities with populations under 50,000 account for approximately 20%

Prefectural and Regional Trends

Regions where adoption is particularly advanced tend to have active municipal urban development divisions that support Park-PFI introduction and facilitate horizontal learning from pioneer cases. In the Tohoku region, many examples are linked with post-disaster reconstruction planning; in Kyushu, combinations with tourism demand are notable.

Evolution of Business Types: Accelerating Diversification

In the early years from 2017 to 2020, cafés and dining facilities dominated the mix. In recent years, business type diversification has accelerated considerably.

Trends in business type evolution:

• Café and dining: Still the most common, but declining as a share (from roughly 60–70% early on to approximately 50% currently)
• Glamping and accommodation: Rapid growth (cases concentrated after 2020)
• Sports and health facilities: Growing (fitness centers, tennis courts, multipurpose fields)
• Daycare and childcare: New entrant (increasing in urban parks adjacent to residential areas)
• Mixed-use (two or more types): Growing trend (mixed-use increasingly more common than single-type)

→ For a detailed comparison by business type, see What Revenue Facilities Work Best in Parks? A Business Model Comparison.

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Case 1: Stacked Urban Park Structure (Beppu City, Harukigawa Park)

The case that drew attention as a pioneering example of achieving Park-PFI on an extremely small site of only 0.92 hectares is Harukigawa Park in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture. While Park-PFI generally requires a minimum park area (roughly 3 hectares as a benchmark), Harukigawa Park utilized the stacked urban park special exception under the Urban Park Act, layering functions vertically across three levels.

• Level 1: Supermarket and tenant retail (private revenue facilities)
• Level 2: Artificial turf field and rooftop garden (designated park facilities)
• Level 3: Café and observation deck (revenue facilities)

What this case demonstrated is that the constraint of "limited park area" can be overcome through vertical utilization. Annual revenue of ¥14 million is an exceptionally high outcome for a 0.92-hectare park.

Case 2: Hot Springs × Park-PFI Integration (Ninohe City, Kadaru Terrace Kanaita)

The case in Ninohe City, Iwate Prefecture (population approx. 23,000) stands as a representative demonstration that Park-PFI can succeed even in small municipalities with populations of around 20,000. A locally capitalized town development company, "Kadaru Mirai," established a special purpose company and developed hot springs, sauna facilities, accommodation, a restaurant, and an indoor pool within a neighborhood park (2 hectares).

The project received the Japan Society of Civil Engineers Design Award 2023 Excellence Prize and attracted national attention as a model for revitalizing parks in small regional cities. The project's design — one that leverages local hot spring resources to create an experience only possible in that specific location — has been widely recognized.

Case 3: Expansion of Glamping (Rapid Growth Nationwide)

The number of Park-PFI cases featuring glamping (overnight accommodation) has surged since 2020. PARK DAIKANYAMA in Mutsu City, Aomori Prefecture, succeeded in attracting visitors under the positioning of "Japan's northernmost glamping." In peri-urban parks, cases framing glamping as an "extraordinary experience within the city" are also multiplying.

Common features of glamping cases:

• Natural environment and location scarcity are placed at the conceptual core
• Relocatable trailer homes and glamping tents are used to reduce exit risk
• Meals and experiential programs are added to raise the average spend (¥15,000–¥40,000 per person per night)

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Overview of the May 2025 Guideline Revision

The May 2025 revision of the MLIT guidelines strengthened and added provisions on the following points.

Key changes:

1. Clarification of two-stage market sounding recommendation: The previous language of "implementation is recommended" was specified as "implementing in two stages — at the project conception stage and the project development stage — is recommended." The purpose and activities for each stage were clarified.

2. Considerations for small parks and municipalities: For Park-PFI implementation in municipalities with populations under 50,000 or parks under 3 hectares, language was added encouraging the use of bonus points for market sounding participants and consultant subsidy programs.

3. GX (Green Transformation) alignment provisions: Language was added explicitly permitting the inclusion of renewable energy installation and ZEB (Net Zero Energy Building) compliance as bonus criteria in solicitation conditions for revenue facility construction.

4. Integration with Small Concession: Looking toward broader utilization of public land assets, the guidelines mention the potential for linking Park-PFI with the Small Concession system for integrated development with adjacent abandoned schools or former public facilities.

Institutional Integration with Small Concession

While Park-PFI and Small Concession have historically operated as separate systems, points of intersection between the two are expanding.

Typical patterns of integration:

• Activating an adjacent abandoned school or former community center through Small Concession while developing the park area through Park-PFI as an integrated project
• Park-PFI operators connecting with municipalities through the Small Concession Platform
• Target municipalities for Small Concession expert dispatch developing comprehensive PPP/PFI promotion plans that include park utilization

→ For the latest trends in the Small Concession system, see Small Concession Latest Trends [2026 Edition].

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Projections for Park-PFI Adoption Over the Next Three to Five Years

Assuming the current pace of adoption continues, adoption in more than 300 parks nationwide by 2028–2030 appears plausible. The following three dynamics are expected to accelerate the pace.

Accelerating factor 1: Growing fiscal pressure on municipalities

As aging infrastructure and increasing maintenance costs weigh heavily on municipal finances, the Park-PFI model of "funding park development through private-sector revenue" becomes increasingly fiscally rational.

Accelerating factor 2: Accumulating private-sector experience

A track record of 165 parks nationwide has deepened private-sector knowledge and know-how about "what is achievable through Park-PFI." This lowers the barrier to new entry and makes it easier for smaller municipalities to attract applicants.

Accelerating factor 3: More detailed operational guidelines

Continued revision of MLIT guidelines has progressively elaborated on the design procedures for market sounding, selection criteria, and public benefit requirements. The environment in which staff feel "we can actually do this" is increasingly in place.

Three Things Municipalities Should Prepare Now

For municipalities that aim to implement Park-PFI within three to five years, the following three starting points are recommended.

Preparation 1: Narrow down candidate parks

Park-PFI is not viable for every park. Organize annual visitor counts, surrounding private-sector demand, scope for building coverage ratio relaxation, and the age and condition of existing facilities, and identify two to three high-potential candidate parks.

Preparation 2: Begin internal consensus building

Park-PFI cannot be advanced by the parks division alone. It is essential to form a cross-departmental team involving finance, legal affairs, urban planning, and assembly liaison divisions. Early reporting to the mayor and deputy mayor is also important.

Preparation 3: Site visits to nearby success cases

Visiting successful cases in municipalities of similar size and conditions is one of the most effective ways for staff to form the concrete impression of "we can do this" — the key to breaking through the initial barrier. Participating in Park-PFI staff training workshops and seminars organized by MLIT (held approximately two to three times per year) is also beneficial.

→ For the basic mechanism and implementation flow of Park-PFI, see The Complete Guide to Park-PFI.

→ For cases in small municipalities, Park-PFI Small-Scale Case Guide is a useful reference.

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References

Park-PFI and Related Utilization (2025)

Park-PFI Utilization Guidelines (May 2025 Revision) (2025)

Case Studies of Revenue Facility Placement in Urban Parks (2025)