In the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake, resident-led recovery was emphasized, and many areas promoted relocation to higher ground. However, the planning process for large-scale land elevation projects and the incorporation of residents’ opinions remain unclear. This study focuses on the implementation, location, and area of land elevation, which are determinants of development scale, and analyzes the planning processes of seven large-scale relocation-to-higher-ground areas and four in-situ reconstruction areas as comparison targets.

 As a result, it was found that the implementation, location, and area of land elevation fluctuated throughout the formulation of the basic reconstruction plan and project implementation, influenced by various factors such as geotechnical conditions, landowner agreements, and residents’ preferences. To address these changes, municipalities employed various methods to grasp residents’ opinions through routine communication and devised strategies in the planning process to ensure smooth plan formulation and implementation.