Japan Press Weekly

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2017 June 28 - July 4 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

JCP opposes resort hotel construction project in Nara Park

The Nara Prefectural government is pushing forward with a plan to construct a resort hotel at a site in scenic Nara Park in Nara City. The Japanese Communist Party and concerned citizens are opposing the project as it will damage the natural environment and cultural values of the park.

The planned construction site is currently designated as a scenery preservation zone and is strictly prohibited from being developed.

JCP Nara City Assembly members took up this issue in the March session of the assembly. The JCP insisted that the hotel construction project should not be approved in order to preserve the park’s precious natural landscape.

The JCP has long cooperated with local residents to protect the panoramic beauty of Nara Park. In the past, for example, the JCP-citizens joint efforts succeeded in putting a halt to a plan to build a monorail line at Mt. Wakakusa in the park

Komiya Michie, secretary general of a citizens’ organization for the conservation of Nara’s historical assets, said, “No resort hotel should be built on Nara residents’ historical treasure.” She hoped that the JCP will keep working to pass on the cultural property intact to future generations.

Past related article:
> Residents of ancient Nara opposing construction of monorail near World Heritage [November 24, 2013]