Chubu Region Park-PFI Overview
Adoption status and regional characteristics centered on Aichi, Shizuoka, and Toyama
Unit costs and amounts in financial examples without a cited source are illustrative assumptions, not statistically established market rates. Use estimates and comparable records appropriate to the target facility, location and business when preparing a project plan. Distinguish these assumptions from cited statistics and case expenditure.
Nationwide Park-PFI deployments
203 parks
End of FY2025
Major Chubu region Park-PFI cases
4+
Shizuoka City's sounding target parks
16 parks
The Chubu region (this article focuses on Aichi, Shizuoka, and Toyama prefectures) has produced several notable cases among the 203 parks nationwide where Park-PFI is being utilized.
By prefecture the list shows Aichi with 13 parks, Shizuoka with 6, and Toyama with 6. Aichi ranks behind Tokyo with 18, Fukuoka with 17, and Kanagawa with 14.
What follows is this article's own reading. No document explains the difference in counts.
① A manufacturing-driven economy: The Chubu area, centered on Aichi Prefecture, is a manufacturing hub with strong corporate financial capacity and high business entry appetite. The barrier to private-sector participation in Park-PFI is relatively low.
② Presence of designated and core cities: Large cities including Nagoya (about 2.35 million), Shizuoka (about 660,000), and Hamamatsu (about 766,000) serve as Park-PFI adoption pioneers. The preliminary count of the 2025 census puts Nagoya at 2,345,892, Shizuoka at 659,620 and Hamamatsu at 765,750.
③ Diverse tourism resources: Hot springs and coastlines in Shizuoka, natural landscapes in Toyama — many areas where combining tourism with park activation holds promise.
Nagoya's Tsuruma Park: "TSURUMA GARDEN"
Park-PFI renewal of a historic park established in 1909
Project Overview
The Park-PFI project "TSURUMA GARDEN" opened on May 27, 2023 at Tsuruma Park in Nagoya's Showa Ward. A group led by Yahagi Jisho Co., Ltd. is implementing the project.
History and Distinctiveness of Tsuruma Park
Tsuruma Park is the first park established by the City of Nagoya, opened on November 19, 1909, and is registered as a national Registered Monument. It has been beloved by residents for its historic structures (Sogakudo concert hall, Kakukaku-tei tea house) and as a renowned flower-viewing destination.
The introduction of Park-PFI required a design that would not impair this historical value.
Development Areas and Facility Composition
TSURUMA GARDEN comprises three areas:
| Area | Location | Main Facilities |
|---|---|---|
| Area 1 | South front area | Cafés, restaurants, and commercial facilities |
| Area 2 | Aki no Ike (Autumn Pond) area | Commercial facilities, rest spaces |
| Area 3 | Aki no Ike area | Commercial facilities |
| Kumazawa-yama area | Kumazawa Hill | Green space and path development (no revenue facilities) |
Shizuoka City's Multi-Park Deployment
Johoku Park Park-PFI and the strategy behind the 16-park sounding
Johoku Park Park-PFI
Shizuoka City is implementing a Park-PFI-based renewal project at Johoku Park, introducing private-sector energy to address facility aging after approximately 40 years since opening.
The "Tsunagu Park Project" was selected as the designated developer, with plans for a Starbucks Coffee café and all-weather indoor facility.
16-Park Batch Sounding
What distinguishes Shizuoka City's approach is that it conducted a market sounding survey covering 16 parks simultaneously.
Typically, market sounding surveys are conducted individually per park. Shizuoka City instead consolidated 16 parks into a single solicitation for private-sector ideas. This approach offers several benefits:
- Expanded options for operators: Operators can select the park with the most suitable location and scale from 16 options
- Administrative efficiency: Reduced sounding implementation costs (publicity, venues, staffing) compared to individual execution
- Facilitated comparison: Cross-cutting comparison of proposals across multiple parks enables prioritization of parks suitable for Park-PFI
Ohama Park Park-PFI
Shizuoka City has also applied Park-PFI to the Ohama Park renewal project. A renewal opening is scheduled for summer 2025, with private-sector-led operation and maintenance planned through March 2040.
Aichi Prefecture's Obata Ryokuchi
Suburban park-type BBQ, camping, and restaurant operations
At Aichi Prefecture's Obata Ryokuchi (Moriyama Ward), a Park-PFI project by the Chubu Doboku and Iwama Zoen group has been implemented. Convenience and recreation facilities including BBQ sites, a campground, and a buffet restaurant have been developed, forming a suburban park-type Park-PFI model.
Characteristics of Suburban Park-Type Park-PFI
The Obata Ryokuchi case demonstrates a typical Park-PFI pattern for "large suburban green spaces."
- Target audience: Families and younger demographics from within Nagoya (30-minute driving radius)
- Business type: Outdoor leisure (BBQ, camping) plus dining (restaurant)
- Visitor draw model: Centered on weekend and holiday day-trip leisure demand
- Seasonality: Concentrated in the spring-to-autumn outdoor season, making winter revenue a challenge
Toyama Prefecture's Takaoka Otogi no Mori Park
Café-type Park-PFI in a regional core city
A café-type Park-PFI project has been implemented at Takaoka Otogi no Mori Park in Toyama Prefecture's Takaoka City.Takaoka City, with a population of approximately 160,000, is a regional core city. This represents a Park-PFI model for "everyday-use parks in regional cities" rather than large-city models. Even with a single café as a small-scale revenue facility, it contributes to improved park convenience and reduced maintenance costs.
Future Developments in the Chubu Region
Background of Growing Adoption
Structural factors behind the expansion of Park-PFI in the Chubu region include:
- Automotive industry company towns: The presence of Toyota Motor and other manufacturers supports regional economic stability and private-sector business entry appetite
- Nagoya City's lead effect: The success of Tsuruma Park creates spillover effects for surrounding municipalities
- Shizuoka City's proactive stance: The pioneering 16-park batch sounding broadens the base for Park-PFI adoption
Developments to Watch
- Hamamatsu City: As Shizuoka Prefecture's second designated city, Park-PFI introduction is under consideration
- Toyama Prefecture: Social experiments underway for introducing private-sector energy to the comprehensive sports park
- Core cities in Aichi: Park-PFI introduction consideration is anticipated in Toyota City, Okazaki City, Toyohashi City, and others
→ For the latest nationwide Park-PFI statistics, see Park-PFI Latest Cases and Statistics [2026 Edition].
Complete Guide to Park-PFI
Comprehensive explanation of the system, procedures, and cases
Park-PFI Latest Cases and Statistics [2026 Edition]
Nationwide statistics across 203 parks and policy trends
Park-PFI Market Sounding
How to conduct market sounding surveys and design considerations
What to do next
When considering Park-PFI, examine the park's conditions, use and operator interest.
| # | What to check or consider | Responsible team or contact |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Check the park's site area and the footprint of existing buildings, including rest and sports facilities, to establish current building coverage | Parks team |
| 2 | Check the building coverage limits and exceptions in the local ordinance. Compare them with existing building footprints to assess whether new facilities can be added | Parks team |
| 3 | Study visitor numbers and patterns of use, including weekday, weekend and seasonal differences, to assess likely demand | Site surveys and existing survey records |
| 4 | Check actual fees at comparable parks, taking account of differences in area, location and facility use | Other municipalities and published records |
| 5 | Present the survey results and proposed use to private operators. Ask about their interest and the conditions needed for a viable project | Market sounding |
Assess the scope for new buildings against existing building footprints and the local ordinance. If there is no room to add buildings, consider reuse of existing facilities and other project methods.
References
Nagoya City Tsuruma Park 'TSURUMA GARDEN' (Park-PFI) — PPnet Park-PFI Promotion Support Network (2023)
Johoku Park Renewal Project Using Park-PFI — Shizuoka City (2024)
Park-PFI Case Collection — Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (2024)
Park-PFI System Utilization Status — Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (FY2023)
Related Articles
5 Park-PFI Success Cases
Success patterns from large parks to small cities
Park-PFI in the Kanto Region
Adoption status and success patterns in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama
