Return of Citizen Power in Kamakura: the birth of Hiromachi Ryokuchi and Kamakura Hiromachi Forest Citizen Association 広町緑地

 

I tell you a bit the story of the birth of Hiromachi Ryokuchi Forest 広町緑地. Er, well, the forest itself has been there for centuries, but the place was once destined to be rows of houses. In 1970, two years after Japanese City Planning Act became effective, the city planner of Kamakura City designated the area for Urbanization Area (; my post for January 12, 2025). Of course, they did not think this place was suitable for a business district like Marunouchi 丸の内 of Tokyo. The place around Nishi-Kamakura Station had been an area for summer houses of rich people in Tokyo since the 1920s. As a natural extension, the land of now Hiromachi Ryokuchi was considered a good housing area for commuters to downtown. The public transportation for them, i.e. Shonan Monorail 湘南モノレール, was experimentally introduced to the area in 1964, and the full service between Ofuna 大船 and Shonan Enoshima 湘南江の島 stations began in 1970 = the year when the place became Urbanization Area. In 1973, landlords = 3 giga-developers from Tokyo submitted a master plan to the city for bulldozing 38ha forest.

Around Hiromachi Ryokuchi, ordinary suburbia is thriving.

I think the businesspeople from Tokyo failed to realize the “society” of yesteryear summer houses already well-established around the forest in the proud City of Kamakura. Local uproar ensued, voicing strong opinions against real estate business from downtown. The rollercoaster ride of this process is explained in detail here. By 2002, such a local movement gathered signatures asking for the preservation of the forest. The number of signatories was larger than the population of Kamakura City. The city office gave in. Already in 1986, Kanagawa Prefecture established the Kanagawa Trust Midori (= “green”) Fund inheriting the capital partially from the reorganized public corporation of forestry in Kanagawa Prefecture. (er … this part of economic history for Japanese forestry and the primary industry needs very long explanation, I guess. It’s beyond the zone of this fun blog … I might return to the topic someday …) The purpose of this money was to rescue “endangered” greenery in the mapping exercise of City Planning Act. Hiromachi Ryokuchi had a resume perfectly fit for the idea. In 2002 11.3 billion yen (about USD 87 million for 2002 rate) was deployed from the fund, and the title holder of the land was changed from private real estate business to the City of Kamakura.

The border between Hiromachi Ryokuchi and
housing area is this one ordinary commuter road.

To 38ha, the surrounding 10ha was added and the city designated the entire area as Urban Forest Park. By doing so, the city declared the natural ecosystem of Hiromachi Ryokuchi standing next to housing suburbia was to be protected. In 2004 the master plan for Hiromchi Ryokuchi protection was formulated to open the place as a park in 2015. Meanwhile, in 2003 the civic movement for saving the Hiromachi Ryokuchi incorporated their movement as non-profit and joined the planning and execution for the city’s master plan. Their movement, now named Kamakura Hiromachi Forest Citizen Association, received several awards from the prefecture and the national government. They became the official keeper of Hiromachi Ryokuchi Forest by contract with the City of Kamakura.

This is the admin office for Hiromachi Ryokuchi
where Citizen Association stations.

The staff from the Association station at the Admin Office for 8:30-17:15, and 5 teams of volunteers organized by the Association engage in preservation efforts of the forest. They are

1. A Team engaging forestry

2. A Team for organic rice cultivation

3. A Team for organic veggie cultivation

4. A Team for maintaining trekking routes in the Forest

5. A Team for researching and recording ecosystem of the Forest 

The Association welcomes donation, pecuniary and man-power-wise any time for supporting the protection of Hiromachi Ryokuchi. You can make contact from this HP of theirs, or visit/call the admin office of the Forest whose address is listed at the end of this post. I know a guy who is a member of rice cultivation team. He said “You know, organic rice cultivation is really labor-intensive task! We don’t use gas-powered tools like tractors or the like.” … I think before petrol-dominating farming, there was horses and cows … Also, several members of the team for ecosystem research are assisting professional researchers for Kanagawa Prefectural Museumof Natural History. Their nature observation tour of Hiromachi Ryokuchi is really a fun. Please check this event calendar if you’re interested in such things. In the calendar you can find other cultural events like traditional organic cooking and crafts. They are popular. You need to make a reservation ASAP when you find the opening.

Organic volunteer farmers are in action.

Of course, without joining such volunteering or events, we can stroll the forest as we like it. Next week, I tell you my adventure of walking in the nature of Hiromachi. I think their approach is a kind of extension from Retention Forestry. Please stay tuned!

The management office which is what we’ve found at the entrance is

Kamakura Hiromachi Ryokuchi Management Office 鎌倉広町緑地管理事務所
1133 Tsu, Kamakura, 248-0032
〒 248-0032 鎌倉市津1133番地
Phone/FAX：0467-32-5112

The city office who oversees the place is

Parks and Green Spaces Section, Kamakura Cityscape Division 都市景観部みどり公園課　
18-10 Onarimachi, Kamakura, 248-8686
〒248-8686鎌倉市御成町18-10 本庁舎3階
Phone: 0467-61-3491

park@city.kamakura.kanagawa.jp