The Historical Town Development Card, also known as Rekimachi Card, is an original and educational way to discover Japanese cities committed to preserving their historical landscapes. Halfway between tourist support and the collection object, this free map allows you to better understand Japan’s urban history while encouraging you to explore destinations that are sometimes less known, but rich in sense and heritage coherence.
The Rekimachi Card principle
The Historical Town Development Card is a compact map, designed as a cardboard flyer, distributed in some Japanese cities known for their commitment to preserving their historical landscapes. Rekimachi refers to municipalities that have obtained national certification for their plans to conserve and improve the historic urban environment.
Each map highlights a specific city, selected for the quality of its urban fabric, the continuity of its history and concrete efforts to protect its architectural and landscape identity. The aim is not only to value the past, but to show how these cities organize themselves to transmit a coherent living environment to future generations.
An institutional project serving the territory
The distribution of the Rekimachi Cards is the result of a collaboration between the Kansai Regional Development Office of the Japanese Ministry of Territory, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the certified cities of the region. Launched in November 2018, this initiative is part of a broader Japanese urban heritage development policy.
By supporting this project, the institutions seek to make more visible the often discreet but essential approaches, such as architectural regulation, the restoration of old neighbourhoods or the harmonious integration of contemporary facilities in historical settings.
Content and reading of the map
The Rekimachi Card is read in a simple and intuitive way. On the front side, an iconic photograph presents the characteristic urban landscape of the city concerned. It can be an ancient district, a historical axis, a castle surrounded by its urban fabric or a coherent architectural ensemble.
On the back, the map offers a clear summary of the city’s history and the principles of its urban development. It provides information on key periods, major architectural elements, and actions taken to preserve local identity. This approach allows the visitor to place what he observes in a specific historical and administrative context.
Rekimachi map in pdf
The cities concerned in the Kansai region
In the area covered by the Kansai Regional Office, fifteen types of Rekimachi Cards are distributed. They cover a range of cities spread over several prefectures, illustrating the diversity of Japanese urban landscapes.
The Shiga prefecture is represented by Otsu, Hikone and Nagahama, known for their castles, ancient shopping routes and their close relationship with Lake Biwa. Kyoto appears with several municipalities, including Kyoto itself, Uji and Muko, highlighting various forms of historic urban planning. Nara and her region present cities and towns marked by the early Japanese state and religious influence. Wakayama and its surroundings offer a different look, with port towns, merchant towns and pilgrimage-related localities.
Each map reflects a specific approach to urban conservation, adapted to the local context.
Conditions for obtaining and visiting logic
The Rekimachi Cards are distributed free of charge, with one card per person. They can only be obtained on-site in designated locations, often tourist offices, municipal museums or administrative buildings. Mailing is not proposed, which encourages an active approach to visiting.
This logic encourages travellers to travel physically to the cities concerned, take the time to travel and understand their organization. The map then becomes a tangible memory, but also a landmark to structure a deeper discovery.
A relevant tool for curious travellers
For visitors interested in urban history, architecture or spatial planning, the Rekimachi Card brings real added value. It allows you to go beyond a simple visual visit to access a finer reading of the landscape. Synthetic information facilitates understanding of architectural choices, regulatory constraints and preservation logics.
Even for a traveller discovering Japan for the first time, these cards are an accessible gateway to often complex themes without excessive jargon.
Collect cards, additional motivation
Some people choose to collect the Rekimachi Cards, transforming their journey into a kind of thematic journey through historical Japan. This playful dimension reinforces the desire to discover several cities, sometimes outside the most frequented routes.
Since each map is visually distinct, the collection offers a varied panorama of Japanese urban landscapes, ranging from densely built old centres to more airy towns, marked by the relationship with the surrounding nature.
Integrating the Rekimachi Card into a travel itinerary
When preparing for a stay in Japan, integrating the cities Rekimachi makes it possible to build a coherent route around the discovery of urban heritage. These destinations are easily combined with cultural tours, walking tours and meetings with locals.
The maps can also serve as a guide for organizing thematic days, linking several cities sharing a similar history or function, such as castle towns, old shopping centres or religious towns.
The Historical Town Development Card offers a clear and accessible reading of historic urban Japan. Through a simple and free format, it encourages a more conscious discovery of cities, their past and their evolution. For travellers wishing to understand the territory beyond emblematic sites, these maps are a discreet but relevant tool, inviting them to slow down and observe the urban landscape with an enlightened look.
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