2026 Urban Landscape Awards: Winners Selected
Overview
The Urban Landscape Day Executive Committee announced the results of the 2026 Urban Landscape Awards. Five districts were selected in the Urban Space category and four activities in the Landscape Community Development Activities and Learning category. The grand prize, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Award, in each category went to “Nagano Prefectural Art Museum and the Area Around Nagano City Joyama Park” and “Creating a Landscape to Be Remembered 100 Years from Now, Initiated by Local Residents: Bandpark Banshohana Nature Park Redesign,” respectively.
Key points
- An award program honoring districts that create outstanding urban landscapes and activities related to local landscapes.
- For fiscal year 2026, awards were selected in the Urban Space category and the Landscape Community Development Activities and Learning category.
- The grand prize in both the Urban Space category and the Landscape Community Development Activities and Learning category is the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Award.
Overview
As part of its public awareness efforts to promote better local landscape development, the Urban Landscape Day Executive Committee presents the Urban Landscape Award to districts that create outstanding urban landscapes and to activities related to local landscapes.
This award has been presented since fiscal year 1991.
Impact
The award aims to provide an impetus for initiatives that contribute to local revitalization.
Details
Applications from districts and others were reviewed by the Urban Landscape Award Review Committee. As a result, five districts were selected in the Urban Space category (one grand prize winner and four others), and four activities were selected in the Landscape Community Development Activities and Learning category (one grand prize winner and three others).
[Grand Prize (Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Award)] In the Urban Space category, the award went to “Nagano Prefectural Art Museum and the Area Around Nagano City Joyama Park” (Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture). The district integrates the area around Zenkoji Temple with the museum area, and developed Joyama Park with a seamless connection to the museum.
[Grand Prize (Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Award)] In the Landscape Community Development Activities and Learning category, the award went to “Creating a Landscape to Be Remembered 100 Years from Now, Initiated by Local Residents: Bandpark Banshohana Nature Park Redesign” (Minamikyushu City, Kagoshima Prefecture). The initiative developed a park information center and cafe incorporating local landscape resources, and returns part of the revenue from a publicly established and privately operated tourism hub to park management costs.