Japan is one of the top tourist destinations in the world, heralding plenty of popular attractions, shrines, food, and shopping. But from the locals’ perspective, many of these places have so much more to offer than what you’ll find in your travel guide. Introducing the top five most charming prefectures in Japan – as ranked by actual Japanese citizens!
What’s in a “Ken”?
Firs,t a note. When we say “prefectures”, we’re using the term somewhat loosely. Japan’s administrative classification system is called the 都道府県 (todoufuken). The system divides the country up into 47 distinct local areas. These include the metropolitan area of Tokyo, designated at 東京都 (toukyou-to); the metropolitan areas of Kyoto and Osaka, designated as 京都府 (kyouto-fu) and 大阪府 (oosaka-fu), respectively; and the administrative region of Hokkaido (北海道). The rest of the existing areas are properly “prefectures” and are designated with the kanji 県 (ken).
The “odd cases” here have stuck around for various historical reasons:
- The government of Hokkaido says on its Web site that 道 was chosen because the area of Hokkaido was so large. Indeed, at one point, the local government proposed dividing Hokkaido itself up into prefectures.
- The fu designation is a nod to how the areas of Kyoto and Osaka were still under control of the Shogun in the early days of the Meiji Restoration.
- And to came into existence for Tokyo in 1943, when Tokyo-fu and Tokyo-shi (Tokyo City) merged into a single administrative area.
That’s the messy historical reality of Japan’s todoufuken structure. For this article, we’ll call everything a “prefecture” just to keep our sanity.
The Most Charming Prefectures in Japan: 2020 Survey
The Prefectural Charm Ranking (都道府県別魅力度ランキング) is an annual survey that scores all prefectures in Japan according to factors such as livability, regional features, travel, and shopping. Survey respondents rank each prefecture from 1-5 (where 5 equals “very attractive” and 1 equals “not attractive at all”). Points are then calculated based on the number of people who select 4 or 5 (where prefectures earn 100 points x ratio of people who responded 5, and 50 points x ratio of people who responded 4).
The Top 5 Most Charming Prefectures in Japan
After the calculations are complete, we can see how high each prefecture ranks against each other in terms of points. Here’s the top five, according to Japanese locals:
#5. Kanagawa Prefecture
Coming in 5th is Kanagawa Prefecture at 34.7 points. People voted Kanagawa as one of the best places to live due to its easy accessibility to Tokyo – minus the crowds and the costs! If you prefer the urban life, Yokohama (the capital of Kanagawa) is the second most populous city in Japan, with plenty of attractions such as the Ramen Museum and Cup Noodle Museum, shopping malls, and one of the largest Chinatowns in the world.
If you’re more into nature, there is much to behold in the beautiful mountain and seaside areas. Hakone is a popular onsen town, and Owakudani is a nearby “hell valley”. Along the coast, you’ll find Kamakura and its famous Great Buddha Statue. Off the coast in Tokyo Bay is Sarushima (aka Monkey Island).
Photo: Krys Suzuki (sundoggen)
#4. Tokyo Metropolitan Area
The 都 (to; metropolitan area) in 都道府県, Tokyo ranks 4th at 36.4 points (a drop from 3rd place the previous year). We can attribute this drop to an overall decline in “motivation for tourism” (possibly due to COVID), as well as “motivation to live there”. Despite this backstep, 4th place is still a pretty great place to be!
After all, Tokyo, the country’s current capital, ranks high for convenience, entertainment, and modernity. Many individual cities within Tokyo are popular tourist destinations as well, such as Harajuku, Shibuya, and Asakusa.
Photo: Krys Suzuki (sundoggen)
#3. Okinawa Prefecture
Taking 3rd place is beautiful Okinawa (at 44.1 points). Okinawa has a very rich history and culture of its own, quite different from the rest of Japan. It has its own unique cuisine, delicious sweets, and not to mention beautiful tropical scenery wherever you go!
While the main tourist destination is Naha City, there is much to explore on Okinawa’s other islands. Taketomi Island is one of the smallest inhabited islands, and home to one of the few traditional Ryukyu villages left. Iriomote Island is 90% jungle, and offers nature tours. And on Yubu Island, villagers get around by water buffalo pulled carts! You can travel between many of these small islands by ferry from Ishigaki Island.
Some advice, though: Make sure to brush up on your Okinawan place names – they can be tricky!
Photo: Krys Suzuki (sundoggen)
#2. Kyoto
Japan’s former capital came in 2nd at 49.9 points. Famous for its deep history and authentic Japanese architecture, it’s no wonder it would rank as one of the most charming prefectures of Japan, even amongst the locals!
Kyoto is one of the few places you can still experience ancient Japanese culture in modern times. Real geisha and maiko still call Kyoto their home. Kyoto also boasts over 2,000 Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines!
Kyoto residents take pride in their preserved ancient beauty. All buildings and structures must adhere to special regulations in order to maintain the iconic cityscape. This means that even modern shops (including Starbucks!) must meet certain requirements (and color schemes!) to fit in with the surrounding architecture.
Photo: Krys Suzuki (sundoggen)
#1. Hokkaido
Stealing first place (for the 12th year in a row!) with a whopping 60.8 points is Hokkaido! As Japan’s largest todoufuken (accounting for nearly 22% of Japan), Hokkaido has plenty to offer locals and tourists alike. Delicious local food, rich natural attractions, and exciting things to do in every season.
Hokkaido is most famous for its winter attractions, including ski resorts, annual Snow Festivals, and plenty of onsen towns. It actually boasts the highest number of hot springs in the country! Particularly notable is Noboribetsu, one of Japan’s most famous jigokudani (“hell valleys”).
The climate is comfortable during the rest of the year, with cool summers, no rainy season, and almost no typhoons. There are many beautiful natural landmarks, including the Kushiro Wetlands, lush mountains, and colorful flower fields that bloom in the summer. You can also learn about the life, culture, and beliefs of Hokkaido’s indigenous Ainu people at the National Ainu Museum and the Ainu Cultural Exchange Center.
With so much to do all year round, Hokkaido clearly earns its first place spot amongst the most beautiful prefectures in Japan!
Photos: Krys Suzuki (sundoggen)
Final Thoughts
There are so many wonderful places in Japan, we couldn’t possibly list them all in a single article! But the locals have spoken. These are the five most charming prefectures in Japan – at least for 2020.
By the way, want to know which prefecture came in last? Read about it here!
