The municipal government of Neyagawa City has proposed a new legislation regarding the introduction of a "vacant property tax". This initiative is aimed at combating the growing number of housing properties left vacant and unused. The proposed tax, an uncommon move in Japan, appears to be a part of the city's ongoing efforts to resolve aging population and urban planning issues.

Japan is currently dealing with a high number of vacant homes, referred to as 'akiya'. This issue is largely driven by the country's progressively aging population and widespread urban migration. A vacant property tax, such as the one proposed by Neyagawa City, is designed to incentivize homeowners to either make use of these properties or sell them, thereby preventing neighborhood dilapidation and increasing available housing.

In the United States and much of the European Union, vacant property taxes are fairly common and serve similar purposes. However, these taxes are often accompanied by additional policies designed to encourage property usage, something that Japan is progressively moving towards.