Best Place to Live in Japan Survey Results for 2023

Curious about what Japanese consider to be the best places to live in Japan? Thinking of living in Japan and wondering where you should settle?

A survey by Eheya.net, a popular real estate listing site, has ranked the most comfortable and desirable cities to live in Japan based on responses gathered from 806,722 residents. The survey has been conducted for the past five years, from 2019 to 2023, and the results for 2023 have been released. 

How is the survey conducted? 

The surveys usually take place in March each year with questionnaires sent out and received online. A total of 806,722 people from the age of 20 and upwards and from all 47 prefectures participated in these rankings.

The survey itself uses a point system to evaluate their overall satisfaction of the areas. 

What was evaluated in the survey?

Overall satisfaction was not the only factor considered in the surveys. An extensive list of questions regarding different aspects of everyday life were included. People were asked to rate the city’s “happiness score,” with 10 points given for “very happy” to 1 point for “very unhappy.” 

Pride in, attachment to, and the desire to forever live in the cities were also an important part of the assessment. 

Items considered in the survey

In order to assess the comfort and satisfaction of the cities’ inhabitants and the desirability of the different prefectures and municipalities, the survey contained questions about the following items.

Lifestyle

• Sophistication and fashion

• Commercial facilities with varied departments

• Availability of miscellaneous goods 

• Luxury 

• Shopping streets and the amount of variety

• Landmarks and popular areas

• Vitality of the area 

• Development and redevelopment potential

• Learning facilities

• Fitness and sports facilities 

• Museums, art galleries and other cultural facilities

• Late night shopping

• Aesthetics of the townscape

• Ease and safety for pedestrians

• Drinking establishments such as bars and izakayas

• Entertainment areas and facilities such as karaoke, cinemas and theatres

• Diversity in the city regarding the population of foreigners 

• Accessibility and number of post offices and banks

• Supermarkets and other large-scale retailers

• Convenience stores, restaurants and food outlets

Transportation

• Main roads and their ease of access

• Availability of comfortable transport to the city center

• Highways

• Accessibility to school and work place

• Crowding of public transportation

Administrative services

• Clinics, hospitals and other medical institutions 

• Availability of free medical care for children

• Nursery schools, kindergartens and children’s centers

• Elementary, junior high and cram schools

• Nursing care and day facilities for the elderly

• Libraries, public learning and activity places

• Public parks, green areas and walkways

• Garbage collection frequency and timing

Tranquility

• Noise pollution levels

• Peacefulness

• Public safety

• Road traffic

• Gambling and pachinko facilities

• Garbage incineration and waste treatment plants

Sociability

• Friendliness of locals

• Reception of non-locals

• Good neighborhood relationships

• Connections with other regions

• Festivals and events 

Financial

• Real estate and rent pricing

• Overall pricing/cost of living

Tourism 

• Access to mountains, beaches, rivers, fields and other natural areas

• Popular sightseeing and scenic places

• Historical and traditional spots

Disaster prevention and safety

• Tsunami safe area

• Earthquake-resistant buildings and safety zones

• No risk of fires in crowded places

The top 10 Japanese prefectures voted best places to live in 2023

After assessing the survey scores from residents throughout Japan, the following are the best places to live in Japan according to Eheya.net's survey.

1. Tokyo

2. Kanagawa

3. Hyogo

4. Fukuoka

5. Okinawa

6. Osaka

7. Kyoto

8. Nara

9. Aichi

10. Saitama

Points of interest regarding the most livable prefectures in Japan

There aren't too many surprises on Eheya.net's list. We see that the top 5 places all have major cities and a fair number of job opportunities and business centers.

1. Tokyo

Minato City, Tokyo

The largest city in Japan, Tokyo is the capital city and is considered the wealthiest prefecture among all Japan’s prefectures. Tokyo's population is estimated to be a little over 37,194,000 million people. 

Tokyo is divided into 23 wards. Minato, Chuo, Shinjuku, and Meguro are famous for business, fashion and shopping. A bustling commercial district, Shibuya is known as an entertainment district. Preferred residential areas differ for individuals. Setagaya and Suginami are popular with families and have many green areas, parks and peaceful residential streets. 

Minato and Shinjuku Ward are home to many embassies, expats, and numerous international schools. As such, these cities offer many English-speaking services.  

With endless popular attractions, convenient and late-night shopping and dining, an extensive and timely transportation system, numerous entertainment options, multiple clinics and major hospitals, and the infrastructure and diversity of a world-famous city, it is not surprising that Japan's capital is often chosen as the best place to live in Japan.

2. Kanagawa

Yokohama city, Kanagawa

Kanagawa is south of Tokyo with a population of over 9 million people and an area of 2,416 square kilometers. One of the most famous cities in Kanagawa is Yokohama, a vibrant and commercial port city in Japan with a famous Chinatown favored by both local and foreign visitors. 

Kanagawa is a coastal prefecture and has popular beach areas such as Zushi, Hayama and Miura. Kamakura is located on Sagami Bay and has a long list of attractions, which pull in a large number of tourists every year.  

3. Hyogo

Kobe, Hyogo

Voted as one of the best prefectures to live in, the population of this prefecture is estimated at 5,470,000. Hyogo prefecture has a geographic footprint of 8,400 square kilometers.

Well-known areas and attractions include Himeji Castle and Kobe, which is the capital of Hyogo prefecture. Hyogo is ranked high in Eheya.net’s survey as it provides comfortable housing, low crime rates, a balance of nature and city functions, and easy transport access as well as international diversity. 

4. Fukuoka

Fukuoka city

Fukuoka has a population of over 5,000,000 and an area of 4,986 square kilometers. This prefecture has a reputation for its mild climate, a low cost of living compared to other cities in Japan, and delicious food.

With a reputation as a prefecture that balances rural with metropolitan life, Fukuoka is gaining popularity as a desirable living destination. 

Popular attractions in this prefecture are Ohori Park, Dazaifu Tenmangu when the cherry blossom season begins, and the Fukuoka Castle Ruins. 

5. Okinawa

Nago, Okinawa

Rich with natural beauty, this prefecture is made of more than 150 islands that are both inhabited and uninhabited. The area covers 1,199 square kilometers and has a population of 1,466,870. 

Local attractions include Shuri and Nakagusuku Castles which are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Cape Manzamo, and the Mid- Sea Road. 

Okinawa is also famous as a Blue Zone, an area with many people living to 100. Often referred to as the Hawaii of Japan, Okinawa has a high rate of local tourism and a laid-back reputation. It is unsurprising that many Japanese people dream of relocating to Okinawa and it ranks number 5 on the list for 2023. 

Other rankings

Eheya.net's survey also aggregated the following rankings based on data compiled by respondents.  

Livability rankings by municipality

1. Chuo Ward, Tokyo

2. Nagakute City, Aichi

3. Ashita City, Hyogo

4. Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo

5. Fukuoka City, Fukuoka

6. Musashino City, Tokyo

7. Tennoji Ward, Osaka

8. Minato Ward, Tokyo

9. Meguro Ward, Tokyo

10. Higashikawa Town, Hokkaido

Prefectures that respondents most want to live in

The previous 2 lists ranked the prefectures and cities based on respondents' answers regarding the overall livability score of their current place of residence.

However, this list and the one that follows reveal what the respondents thought were the best places to live in Japan.

1. Tokyo

2. Fukuoka

3. Okinawa 

4. Kanagawa

5. Hokkaido

6. Miyagi

7. Osaka

8. Hyogo

9. Chiba

10. Shizuoka

Japanese cities that respondents most want to live in

Wondering which are the best cities to live in Japan? Here's what respondents answered.

1. Fukuoka City

2. Naha City

3. Yokohama City

4. Sendai City

5. Osaka City

6. Sapporo City

7. Minato Ward

8. Kyoto City

9. Kobe City

10. Shinjuku Ward

Final thoughts

Often rankings of popular places in Japan don’t address livability, which is what Eheya.net focused on in their survey.

So if you’re trying to figure which Japanese city to choose to live in, refer to this list for ideas!