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The time has come again for the annual ranking of how each of Japan’s 47 prefectures fares in terms of appeal points and overall attraction. Last year, the list was topped by Hokkaido Prefecture and ended with Ibaraki Prefecture, results that wouldn’t surprise many Japanese residents.
▼ Hokkaido takes the gold yet again.
This year, Hokkaido took the top spot for the 14th year in a row. It was followed by Kyoto, Okinawa, Tokyo, and Osaka in the top five, respectively, unchanged from last year. The result’s biggest jumps occurred in the middle of the rankings, with some prefectures like Wakayama jumping from 32nd place to 26th place.
One surprise this year was that Ibaraki’s last spot was taken by Saga Prefecture. Ibaraki is usually at the bottom of the list–its eight-year streak was broken once in 2020, and then it took last place again in 2021–so residents were surprised.
If you’re not familiar, Saga is located on Japan’s southern Kyushu island, surrounded by Fukuoka, Nagasaki, and Kumamoto prefectures. Some notable landmarks and events in the prefecture are Karatsu Castle, the Karatsu Kunchi Festival, and the Saga International Balloon Fiesta.
▼ This seems pretty appealing to us.
Keep in mind, though, we determined last year that many don’t agree with the survey’s logic or point system. 35,000 survey participants were asked to rank each of the 47 prefectures on a 5-point scale: “very attractive,” “moderately attractive,” “neither attractive nor unattractive,” “not very attractive,” or “completely unattractive.” Choosing “very attractive” gave that prefecture 100 points, but “moderately attractive” bumped it down to 50 points, and anything below that gave it zero points.
Understandably, the reaction to the results from netizens was mixed.
“Give last place back to us in Ibaraki!”
“I really don’t understand this ranking.”
“I wonder if Saga will use this to their advantage and promote it.”
“Personally, I don’t think this means Saga has zero attraction, it just means that the prefecture isn’t very good at selling the appeal it does have compared to its surrounding prefectures.”
“Saga actually has great food, onsens, and more, but maybe it’s better the general public isn’t aware of that.”
The “zero attraction” comment in particular could make sense to many, as Saga has used questionable advertising methods in the past to attract visitors. In any case, it might be safe to say it’s better to take these survey results with a grain of salt–or you could go to Saga Prefecture yourself to find that supposedly hidden appeal.
Sources: Jiji.com via My Game News Flash
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- External Link
- https://soranews24.com/2022/10/28/japanese-prefecture-replaces-ibaraki-as-least-attractive-prefecture-in-annual-ranking/
16 Comments
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Elvis is here
Hokkaido; famous for LCS (lamb curry soup).
No thanks.
JeffLee
Hokkaido because it is the prefecture most like Canada.
commanteer
This seems to favor the most populated and best-known prefectures - hardly a factor that determines attractiveness unless you love crowds. Saga has some dreary/boring areas, but also some very attractive parts. In my experience, some of the best places I have been were where I had the lowest expectations. Conversely, people travel to Okinawa, for example, expecting a relaxed semi-tropical escape and land in traffic jams and one of the most crowded and over-developed parts of Japan.
Laguna
Drive through Saga sometimes on my way to Fukuoka. There is no there there, to be sure - it is as flat as can be and all agriculture. Yet it is criss-crossed with thousands of irrigation canals, which at least takes an edge of its boredom.
Sven Asai
I guess it’s more a problem of promoting the spots. Of course also in Saga prefecture are very nice places, sightseeing spots, delicious restaurants, castles and other historic places and so on. By lacking their promotion, maybe even intentionally for not becoming overrun by tourists, they are only not so famous or still quite unknown. If you ever are in search for a contrast to Tokyo’s busy Shibuya crossing, maybe especially the last pref. in the ranking has some surprisingly nice places in store for you.
Kaowaiinekochanknaw
Why not link the full list?
Jimizo
Hokkaido too cold for my liking but it has its charms.
Never understood why Osaka makes the top 5.
Mickelicious
https://diamond.jp/articles/-/310887?page=2
bass4funk
Saga is really in all honesty a crap hole. Not to mention their AEON is just atrocious, ugly, and the city as well as surrounding areas is just unappealing.
Mocheake
Okinawa, for me is number one without a doubt. Nice weather year round, friendlier people, lower cost of living, not overly crowded, beautiful seas, a better mix of people, good nightlife, marine sports.
Pukey2
Can't remember ever going to Saga, but I have been to all the other prefectures on Kyushu. Either I've never been there or it really was forgettable.
Fighto!
Hokkaido No.1 for mine.
Kyoto No. 2; Nagasaki No.3.
Sorry Tokyo - far too crowded.
Elvis is here
Nah. LCS (lamb curry soup) really is disgusting. Think of all the kiddy sheep being wasted. Hokkaido should not be forgiven. It is regressive to sacrifice lambs for such bad food. Not to mention immature.