Tokyo named world's best city for 3rd year in row outside U.S. in Conde Nast Traveler poll

I would put Osaka ahead of Tokyo. It's not as stressful with friendlier people as a whole who are genuine. Less crime than Tokyo.

The magazine said Osaka in western Japan is "one of the best food cities in all of Japan -- must-eat regional specialities include takoyaki (battered, fried octopus balls) and okonomiyaki (grilled savory pancakes with a variety of additions)."

Okonomiyaki I can kind of understand but Takoyaki? I really want to know whats so popular about those mouth scalding flabby octopus balls.

Is this the same company?

http://www.condenastinternational.com/about-us/mission/

Other Asian cities that made the list were Singapore at seventh and Seoul at 16th.

Would have bkk, kl, Hanoi, hcmc, Macau etc well ahead of these 2.

Safety and security (and accessibility / comfort) probably the most important criteria for us travellers though, which is fair enough.

Not quite sure what the title is saying? Is this a survey of Americans of what the best city outside their own border is??

I totally agree w u @Kentarogaijin

They make it sound like the U.S. has the best cities in the world and that is quite far from true...

Saying that Tokyo is better than US cities doesn't say much for Tokyo!

@BertieWooster this is probably another of those highly biased polls...the facts can speak for themselves...

Agreed papigiulio

Even tho I am an Osaka-ite I still dont get whats so special about Okonomiyaki and tako yaki .

Sauce covered baste :(

yes, absolutely. Returned to Japan 4 times, to Tokyo 3 times and always in paradise. The most amazing place in Planet Earth.

Nice place to visit, it's bizarre, really living here another storyline.

"They make it sound like the U.S. has the best cities in the world and that is quite far from true."

"Saying that Tokyo is better than US cities doesn't say much for Tokyo!"

You guys have never been to Boise, Idaho, 'ave ye?

The photograph shows Shinjuku, where I live, which is now the biggest tourist draw of anywhere in Tokyo. Walking down the main street, you constantly hear languages from all over the world. It is fun guiding lost tourists, but the downside is that Shinjuku is so crowded and the shops and restaurants are all packed. There are time periods when places are relatively empty (I'm not saying when).

Well, I am quite pleased to live in Tokyo.

Conde Nast is US based. They have a well-known left leaning bias, so often interested in vacations that allow "tolerance" for fringe groups. That is important to many people.

https://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2014-10-20/top-25-cities-in-the-world-readers-choice-awards-2014 for the source article.

64% of people in the USA don't have passports. About 200M people inside the USA find having inside/outside very helpful.

This is a poll of their readers of a Travel magazine, which are self-selected. It is more of a popularity poll than anything. Heck, they picked Chicago as the best city in the USA. https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-cities-us

okonomiyaki (grilled savory pancakes with a variety of additions)."

Funny comment.

If I was to talk about Okinomiyaki Hiroshima style, the last thing I would say about it is the “grilled savory pancakes”. Tasteless IMO.

I've lived in several places in Japan, including Tokyo, and love living here.

Best city for what?

U.S. travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler

This is for Americans who want to travel outside the US

Does this mean The United States of America is the best place to live?

Does this mean The United States of America is the best place to live?

U.S. travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler

This is for Americans who want to travel outside the US

"Best city for what?"

If you're hunkering for jerk chicken, Kingston, Jamaica is the best city.

I just love Japan. Been returning for the last 5 years. But, I will stay away from the Tokyo area during the olympics. I'm a solo traveler and try to stay away from any mob of tourist.

I love Tokyo and I love living in Tokyo.

We hope to move back to Japan one day, but also the Melbourne is good too.

Tokyo has everything and very convenient to live in. The foods are fantastic and we rarely cook foods at home except rice. We will go to Ito Yokado and buy Sashimi, Tempura and fishes on the weekend. We do not have such as Department Stores in Melbourne.

Tokyo is well deserved to be World's best city in the world.

I guess it all depends upon what makes, one City better than another.

Comparing Tokyo, London, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Sydney, I'd say Tokyo is by far the best, but that's a personal experience thing based upon duration with those respective locations. Others will undoubtedly have different experiences within different Cities.... for example, as a young person I'd stay clear of Dubai, and other Middle Eastern Cities for fear of falling foul of their various behaviour laws. And I'd also stay clear of anywhere within Indonesia due to numerous factors - transport safety being one, and Religious fanaticism being another. Malaysia,... well, I count myself lucky for having not gone missing there, as as one Brit. Embassy staffer joked upon a past trip with them.... they're simply "Asia".... China is becoming ever more dangerous.

So, In comparison in Japan. where nothing really happens, it's relatively safer and quieter - you're less likely to get robbed or assaulted physically, as too your younger Kids - so it's a relatively "Safe" place.. baring Earthquakes and the portents of Doom and Gloom from the "Big one". Also, It does however, have one major downside - as long as you have money, you wont notice it...... which should sort of answer further questions upon Japan.

P.S. "Department" Stores are not where normal day to day folks go for shopping here in Japan, so please, if you think that, you are 50 years out of date.

Not that many Americans come to Japan, so this could be good publicity.

There is a lot to like about Japan for sure. I think it casts a spell on people. There is clutter everywhere, but you end up focusing on all the amazing details.

Lots of cities worldwide have overtaken Tokyo in terms of cost of eating out or having a good time, which also helps.

There are time periods when places are relatively empty (I'm not saying when).

What is best city? I do not go to any second rate one. For me, only the best city is my no. 1 choice.

grilled savory pancakes with a variety of additions

That does not describe okonomiyaki.

Oh, there's a clip being shone on the train about food. It described okonomiyaki as cabbage in a small amount of batter with a variety of additions.

Well over a millionaire tourists from the USA travelled to japan last year.

Banzai!

For what it's worth, if you go to Conde Nast's own website and read the supposed 2018 awards article, the results link to the 2014 survey. Have we been duped by old news?

https://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2014-10-20/top-25-cities-in-the-world-readers-choice-awards-2014

Melbourne came third? The list is somewhat debatable....

@Illogical Incredible, isn't it, that Tokyo would come in ahead of Melbourne or Boise.

Every Alleyways in Japan are the best in the World. Live your life through the alleyways.

Hardly a global poll, but well done Tokyo.

mmwkdw #P.S. "Department" Stores are not where normal day to day folks go for shopping here in Japan, so please, if you think that, you are 50 years out of date.

We are 60 year old couple. We lived in Kameari, Katsushika Ku before moving to Melbourne 20 years ago and originally from Kyushu. Kameari Ito Yokado B1 has everything you need for lunch and dinner. If you live in Kameari and then you will understand why we go shopping for foods at Ito Yokado on weekend. We buy Bread, Milk, Rice and water bottle at Supermarket.

We don't want to waste our weekend by cooking.

Check here about what kind of foods Ito Yokado Kameari is selling in its B1 on Google.

https://www.google.com/maps/uv?hl=en&pb=!1s0x60188f864c4a9619:0x7bd4374d33acd563!2m22!2m2!1i80!2i80!3m1!2i20!16m16!1b1!2m2!1m1!1e1!2m2!1m1!1e3!2m2!1m1!1e5!2m2!1m1!1e4!2m2!1m1!1e6!3m1!7e115!4shttps://lh5.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipO_KKe6B5hh494yQd6zs8IaedMX_I7oRnmB7r_l%3Dw284-h160-k-no!5sito+yokado+kameari+-+Google+Search&imagekey=!1e10!2sAF1QipO_KKe6B5hh494yQd6zs8IaedMX_I7oRnmB7rl&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi-u66i__dAhWD-2EKHfPJD-UQoiowC3oECAoQCQ