ABSTRACT
The population density of the Tokyo metropolitan area is relatively high compared to that of metropolitan areas in Western countries. As sprawl areas are formed by rapid urbanisation, they usually have large gaps. Infrastructure improvement in sprawl areas to minimise these gaps becomes very difficult and is usually inefficient once the sprawl area has formed. Cost is estimated in three parts (land purchase cost, compensation cost and construction cost) on each infrastructure element. In September 1963, the Japanese Government, with two main objectives, decided to establish a new academic city in Tsukuba. One was to create a national centre for advanced research and higher education. The other was to relieve over-population in central Tokyo and to help balance development of the metropolitan area. The results with respect to Tsukuba also clarify that infrastructure amenities have a very important role, not only in creating a better urban environment, but also in regional competition.
