Mechanical parking lots in Japan are witnessing significantly lower occupancies, causing distress among the local residents. Despite technologically advanced methods to solve parking problems, these structures are growing increasingly vacant. The lack of use has residents worried about the investments made into these facilities and the opportunity cost of the space they occupy.

In densely populated cities like Tokyo, parking places are of high value, and the emergence of mechanized parking lots was meant to increase the efficiency of space use. However, their underutilization has sparked discussions about urban planning, efficient resource use, and technological interventions.

In comparison, in the US or EU, parking issues are addressed through different means like parking garages, on-street parking, and the increasingly popular shared parking models. Mechanized parking structures are less common.