The historic district of Kikuhama in Kyoto stands at an important crossroads. It faces profound challenges in balancing preservation of its rich cultural heritage with modernization and sustainable revitalization plans. As younger residents continue moving out, properties are being repurposed into short-term guest houses and hotels, leading to a burgeoning of vacant and deteriorating buildings that pose urban risks. At the same time, most of Kikuhama struggles to integrate tradition and innovation in a harmonious manner that retains its authentic essence. This project utilizes robust methodology combining demographic census data analysis, geospatial mapping technology, and in-depth interviews with community members representing diverse generational perspectives. Key findings reveal a 10.7% population decline and demographic shifts towards an aging population over the past decade, even as Kyoto city continues a slower decrease in population. Locals express a difference of views on the area as a whole. As Kikuhama navigates these pivotal socioeconomic transformations, this study spotlights how sustained community-engaged research and extensive local stakeholder collaboration remain vital to ensuring culturally-attuned, sustainable revitalization upholding Kikuhama’s essence. Enabling inclusive community-driven commerce and productive use of vacant properties can lead Kikuhama towards a flourishing future.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Branchaud, Thomas
• Khan, Ruba
• O'Neill, Nathan
• Cheung, Allen

Subject

• Inclusion
• Industry
• Project-Based Learning
• Sustainability
• Community
• Well-Being
• Culture
• Environment
• Innovation
• Computing
• Learning
• Infrastructure

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 115245
• E-project-121523-062634

Keyword

• Urban Mapping
• IQP
• Kyoto
• QGIS
• Revitalization

Advisor

• Nirmal, Padini
• Sphar, Jefferson Alex

Year

• 2023

Center

• Kyoto, Japan Project Center - IQP

Sponsor

• Padini Nirmal
• Jefferson Alex Sphar

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
• 9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
• 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities

Date created

• 2023-12-15

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Source

• E-project-121523-062634

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2024-02-07