National Land Use Planning Act (Act No. 92 of 1974.)

The purpose of this Act is to facilitate the comprehensive and systematic use of national land in combination with measures taken under the National Spatial Planning Act (Act No. 205 of 1950) by providing for the necessary matters concerning the formulation of national land use plans, by preparing land use master plans, and by taking measures for controlling land transactions or other measures for coordinating the land use.
The national government shall formulate the National Plan for the basic matters concerning the use of national land, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order. Prefectural governments may formulate a Prefectural Plan for the matters necessary for the use of national land within the area of the relevant prefecture, and municipal governments may establish a Municipal Plan for the matters necessary for the use of national land within the areas of the municipalities, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order.
Prefectural governments shall establish a land use master plan for the areas in their respective prefectures to specify the following areas: (i) urban areas; (ii) agricultural areas; (iii) forest areas; (iv) nature park areas; (v) nature conservation areas. When intending to conclude a contract for transfer or establishment of rights of land ownership, rights to use specified by Cabinet Order, or right to acquire any of these rights of land located in a regulated area, parties must obtain permission from the prefectural governor.
The Act further makes provisions, inter alia, for: measures for the control of land use, permission of transfer of rights on land, measures for unused land, penalties, etc.