THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF JAPAN IS AN IMPORTANT OBJECT OF SOCIO-GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH

The purpose: to study the Japanese experience of regional development and planning in the context of sustainable development, which is an important objective of socio-geographical research. Methods. Were used methods of analysis political geography, regional and international studies. Results, scientific novelty and the practical significance. The concept of development, modern interpretations of regional development and regional policy, preconditions and grounds for introducing in Japan a new model of development (sustainable regional development), the modern territorial organization of Japan were considered in the paper. Were analyzed the regional planning of Japan in retrospective view and modern trends. To research the experience of such highly developed countries like Japan - is an opportunity to look into the future, to highlight the best practices of the regional and territorial development and to adopt this experience in Ukraine.