Planning strategies and infrastructure development supporting physical activity: analyzing municipal compact city plans in Japan

Abstract Aligned with global goals for healthy and sustainable cities, urban compactness significantly promotes residents’ transport-related physical activity and health. In Japan, amid demographic changes, municipalities have begun formulating Location Normalization Plans focused on making cities more compact. This study examines the associations between health and transport-related physical activity considerations in urban plans, including Location Normalization Plans, the demographic characteristics of municipalities, and the development of infrastructure that supports leisure-time physical activity. Analyzing responses from 725 of 1,374 Japanese municipalities, our research reveals that 38% of urban plans integrated health and physical activity in goals/visions, and 28% recognized these as challenges. The development of physical activity infrastructure such as sports facilities (48%), metropolitan parks (21%), and bicycle paths (14%) was more prevalent in larger municipalities. However, the incorporation of health and physical activity in planning goals/visions or challenges was not exclusive to larger municipalities; smaller ones also demonstrated this capability. Logistic regression analyses revealed that municipalities that included health considerations in their plans’ goals/visions and challenges were more likely to develop or renovate physical activity infrastructure. Prioritizing health and physical activity in planning has the potential to support leisure-time and transport-related physical activity, helping to create healthy and sustainable cities.