Small Off-Street Paid Parking Lots

Paid parking in Yokosuka is very different from what I'm used to in the US. In general the streets are far too narrow to accommodate on-street parking, and in fact I have not yet seen a parking meter on a curb in Japan. Of course there are numerous large parking structures in Japan, but that's a topic for a future post.

Here's an example of a small, off-street parking lot in Yokosuka. This one accommodates four cars. There are several of these privately-owned lots located throughout the city, and most I have seen provide fewer than 10 spaces with hourly parking up to 24 hours. The lots are not monitored by staff, instead they operate on a "first come, first served" principle, and employ electronic meters and a barricade system to prevent the vehicle's exit until the proper fee is paid. Most lots use a single meter that monitors all spaces. A few minutes after entering a space, the barricade raises behind the tires, blocking exit. After the fee is paid, the barricade lowers and the driver must leave the space.

The lots appear to be managed by a handful of private operators (based on signs and logos). Many of the lots look to be relatively new, and are located near high parking demand locations (close to new or successful shops, offices and residences). The small (and often irregular size) of the lots makes me wonder if each lot is the site of a former obsolete building, torn down and awaiting redevelopment.