Japan’s tradition of agricultural production in the urban periphery stretches back to the Edo period, but the City Planning Act enacted in 1968 triggered a deterioration in the agricultural production environment in urbanization promotion areas. Urban agriculture is closely connected not only to the growing of agricultural produce, but also to communities, environmental conservation, and food education. As such, it plays an important part in food culture and communities. Following experiences including the Great East Japan Earthquake, efforts focused on rethinking agriculture in city suburbs gathered momentum, leading to the 2015 enactment of the Basic Act on the Promotion of Urban Agriculture, which removed a variety of obstacles. Now, tens of thousands of people are beginning to move into agriculture every year.