A Beautiful Sequence of Slopes and Stone / Walk around the residential area near heaven, Manaduru (Kanagawa Prefecture)

Manazuru Town is built on a small peninsula jutting out into Sagami Bay in Kanagawa Prefecture. Taking advantage of the undulating terrain formed by the accumulation of lava, the townscape is characterized by a series of slopes and steps. Houses are positioned to hug the landscape, and the sea appears whenever the view opens up—this "sequence of undulations and views" is the town's greatest charm.
Manazuru is also known as the "town of stone." Traces of old stoneworks remain throughout the peninsula, and stone culture is alive and well in every aspect of daily life, from stone walls and stone steps to stonework in gardens. Simply walking the streets offers a chance to enjoy the changing appearances created by the stone and the topography.
To preserve this beautiful townscape, Manazuru Town was the first in Japan to enact a landscape urban planning ordinance called the "Standards of Beauty." Even when constructing new homes and buildings, the town has established rules to ensure harmony with the sea, forest, and topography, protecting the town's landscape from large-scale development. This is a unique approach for this small town, emphasizing "how beautiful it is" rather than "what to build."
The town's unique character is woven together by its stones and undulating terrain. This "standard of beauty" ensures that it will be passed on to future generations. Manazuru Town is a place where beautiful, Japanese-style landscapes that make the most of natural forms still thrive.

Village Walker
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