Tokyo, Japan’s approach to tackling parking shortages is worth emulating!

In light of China’s parking‑shortage challenges, might some congestion‑management strategies employed in other countries—such as Tokyo, Japan—offer useful lessons for us? Today, Tokyo’s population exceeds 13 million, yet its vehicle stock surpasses 8 million. With nearly every resident owning a car, how has Tokyo managed to address its parking difficulties?

Japan’s Garage Law explicitly stipulates that, prior to purchasing a vehicle, citizens must provide proof of a designated parking space. Registration and license issuance are permitted only after an on-site inspection by the police has confirmed compliance. Such designated parking spaces may be owned or rented. Furthermore, a parking‑space identification sticker must be affixed to the rear windshield for easy verification at any time. Anyone found forging such documentation will face a fine of RMB 12,000 and will be barred from applying to purchase a vehicle for two years.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department have recruited retired seniors to form a parking‑enforcement unit that focuses exclusively on illegal parking. Once a ticket is issued for an infraction, penalties take effect immediately. If a vehicle remains illegally parked on a residential street for an extended period, residents can report it directly to the authorities. By tightening penalties for illegal parking, Tokyo has reduced such violations by approximately 82 percent.

The Japanese government is actively promoting the use of underground resources to construct mechanical multi‑storey parking facilities in locations such as office buildings, shopping centers, and beneath parks, and even encourages private individuals to convert their residential plots into small parking lots.

Parking fees in Tokyo vary depending on location and demand. Renting a parking space outright can cost around RMB 4,000 per month in the city center, while on the urban periphery it typically runs about RMB 1,500 per month.

Japan was the first country in Asia to introduce a subway system, so its metro and light-rail networks are highly dense; within a 10-minute ride from the city center, you can typically find a subway or light-rail station. Tokyo is home to a large concentration of government institutions. To avoid adding congestion to the capital, official vehicles are rarely provided to civil servants, so both government employees and corporate workers generally commute by subway, light rail, or bus.

From this perspective, the Japanese government has addressed urban parking by prioritizing public transportation over private car ownership and strictly regulating the number of private vehicles through legislation. However, it is Tokyo residents’ commitment to planning and adherence to established rules that truly lies at the heart of resolving the city’s parking challenges.