1.
regional city, provincial city
A city located outside the major metropolitan areas (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya). Contrasted with large urban centers, these cities serve as regional hubs but are smaller in scale.
地方都市の人口が減っている。
The population of regional cities is declining.
地方都市に移住する若者が増えてきた。
The number of young people moving to regional cities has been increasing.
地方都市の活性化は日本の大きな課題の一つだ。
Revitalizing regional cities is one of Japan's major challenges.
USAGE:
A common term in discussions about Japanese demographics, economics, and urban planning. Japan's depopulation trend has particularly affected 地方都市, making this a frequent topic in news and policy discussions.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 地方都市の活性化 (revitalization of regional cities)
- 地方都市の衰退 (decline of regional cities)
- 中核都市 (core city — a specific administrative category)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 地方: the regions, countryside — broader term for areas outside major cities
- 大都市: large city, metropolis — the opposite end of the scale