The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.
© KYODOTokyo ranked world's safest city for 3rd consecutive year by EIU
SINGAPORE©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.
The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.
© KYODO
94 Comments
Daniel Naumoff
Well.. good news. Hopefully it stays so until and after I move in.
Yubaru
Right, people will get a false sense of security reading this. Tokyo and Japan have plenty of crime, far too much UNDER-REPORTED, to keep the people and the world, in the dark about the reality of life here.
How ironic, this was two articles down...and from Tokyo too!
"Man wielding knife and model gun arrested on robbery charge"
oldman_13
Right, and that's why there's been so many incidents of violent random crime lately.
extanker
Well it does say 'Worlds Safest', not 'Crime Free'...
Kazumichi
Even so, people should stop sleeping on the street!
Yubaru
How does sleeping on the street make Tokyo less "safe?"
Yubaru
Quite so, yet to the average reader the two go hand in hand. I suppose one could argue that Baghdad is "safer" than Kabul!
smithinjapan
These are always pretty dodgy reports, often sponsored by or partly owned (the paper, mag, or what have you) by a company in the target that ranks first. Japan is pretty safe, to be sure, especially when it comes to petty crime targeting tourists and locals alike, but beyond that...
extanker
You do have a point there.
Well technically I suppose Baghdad could win 'Safest City in Afghanistan' with the slogan 'We have less car bombs than Kabul'... ;-)
Peeping_Tom
"Right, people will get a false sense of security reading this. Tokyo and Japan have plenty of crime, far too much UNDER-REPORTED, to keep the people and the world, in the dark about the reality of life here."
You seem to think that everybody else but you cannot "understand" that there is actual crime in Tokyo, or Japan or whatever in that land.
What you fail to accept is that it's FAR WORSE elsewhere!
Hence this what the article states; everyone is able to understand it.
Not sure you do though.
nigelboy
Perhaps now, someone could kindly provide us with ‘Figures of Under Reported Crimes In Major Cities’. Must be there since many posters in this site has stated this phenomenon for over a decade.
juminRhee
Extanker:
Well, Baghdad is the safest city in afghanistan...since its not even in Afghanistan. It's in Iraq:)
Akie
Non democrazy Japan is 100 times better than freedom rioting HK.
Chip Star
the city is still plagued by corruption and organized crime.
Someone doesn't understand what a 99% conviction rate based mainly on confessions means.
Kobe White Bar Owner
Elsewhere in Asia, Beijing was ranked 31st, while Shanghai trailed at 32 on the list of 60 cities.
Relvence being? just seems like China has been singled out for a bit of bashing.
Chip Star
Japan is a democracy. It's not a surprise that someone who has been brainwashed by the CCP doesn't know that. China could learn a lot by emulating Japanese democracy, unless Chinese people are incapable of functioning without authoritarianism.
yoshisan88
People really need to read the whole article before making comments. There are other categories like infrastructure design, digital security etc that determines the ranking, not just crime rate. By the way Tokyo comes in fourth for personal security, it says the city is still plagued by corruption and organized crime. However, Tokyo is a relatively safe compared to many other major cities over the world.
Chip Star
Hilarious how some people view wanting the truth as bittnerness. Gotta keep that tatemae, a.k.a., lying, going; it's a cultural thing.
Alfie Noakes
As the report says, corruption is endemic and organised crime is involved in all levels of Japanese society. All that North Korean crystal meth doesn't just import itself and all those home owners don't just suddenly decide to move en masse so another Hills can be built somewhere.
extanker
@JuminRhee
HAHA! Whooops! (Dammit...) :-D
JJ Jetplane
Doesn't matter how safe Tokyo is. Common sense should still factor in. Common sense such as don't leave your wallet open in your bag and walk away thinking there are no pickpockets. Don't walk down that dark alley alone at night. For women, don't stand between a group of men on a crowded train. Look both ways before crossing the street. Don't believe that new person that says they need money for some kind of emergency. There is no 100% safe place. Some places simply have less crime than others or they don't report as much crime as others.
commanteer
The headline uses the comparative word "safest." And it's a reasonable comparison, since danger is universal. Tokyo is remarkably safe compared to most megacities. If people don't believe this, they should move to someplace they consider safer, wherever that is.
kwatt
It seems to me Japan is the safest country because probably no guns here, all children go to school (not many skip school and poke around), and they(most) try to abide by rules, laws, regulations,,,etc whatever, and work harder.
browny1
Certainly no doubt in my mind for a mega-city, Tokyo has few / no equals re personal safety altho from my limited experiences, I can't imagine much threat to life, limb and security in Singapore.
And of course there is the under/non-reporting of violations, esp of sexual crimes, but I'm guessing people generally don't attract that much unwanted anti-safety behaviour.
My biggest worry - and I don't worry coz I don't live there - would be natural disaster safety. The real threat to life, danger and injury from storms, earthquakes, typhoons etc is not to be taken lightly.
Sadly one day - tomorrow or 100 years from now - millions will suffer and it's not a place I'd like myself or family or loved ones to be. Their safety is too important.to
Yubaru
I know for a fact, from my father-in-law (former JP) my brother-in-law (soon to be former senior detective), cousin (beat cop), and a host of others, that everyday crime, is NOT reported in the news, and in particular, underage crime, is almost never reported unless the crime is particularly heinous.
These statistics and surveys are based in a large part, on REPORTED crime statistics, statistics put out by the government.
Consider that.
nigelboy
No kidding. No rational adult would think that ALL/MOST crimes are reported on the news.
No kidding. That’s how criminal statistics comes from. I’m quite sure this EIS report took those into consideration.
BeerDeliveryGuy
Yes but the police are not required to inform the media of all crimes, and the news stations are only interested in what will boost their ratings. Police are, however, required to report all crimes to the Census Bureau to provide accurate crime rate data. Your suggestion that because the news does not report all crime, the statistics must be false, is skewed.
Tokyo-Engr
I agree Tokyo is very safe and much safer than any major city in the country of my citizenship.
On the other hand if you go to the website and see the rankings it calls the whole study into question.
Washington DC is 7th and Chicago is 11th: Both cities have a high level of violent crime and are ranked ahead of Stockholm?
New York and L.A. (ranked 15th and 17th respectively) are ranked ahead of Wellington and Taipei
Johannesburg has one of the highest violent crime rates in the world (rape and murder) is ranked ahead of BangkokThe metrics used are not what one would think they are based on the headline of the article and the sponsor of the study is NEC.
Again.....I do honestly believe that for its size and complexity Tokyo should rank at the top or in the top 5 but I have doubts/questions about this study. I guess it all boils down to one's definition of "safe"
Gobshite
Go to London, report back... just sayin
>
Joe Blow
Safe city = a high IQ city.
(Small towns are another thing because of their residents' relative lack of anonymity).
girl_in_tokyo
I was chatting with a new friend last night, and the conversation turned to "scary experiences." She told me when she first started living alone, she though Futako-tamagawa would be a good area, since it's mainly residential and nice and quiet. Then she started encountering the perverts. Apparently, for women living in that area it's well-known that you have to be careful walking home after work, because the perverts take advantage of the quiet dark. The first time it happened to her it was a man wandering around with no pants on. Then a guy sneaked up behind her and grabbed her. Then a guy in a car followed along behind her. After a couple more similar incidents she decided to move.
Yeah, Japan is "safe". The perverts "only" try to terrify you for their own enjoyment. That won't effect your well-being or mental health at all, amirite?
kohakuebisu
A couple of weeks ago, there were negative comments about a report saying Japan had world-leading life expectancy.
We're in the countryside, not the city, but certainly don't fret if we leave the car or house unlocked. Our kids walk to school. I ride a bike, but often don't carry a lock for little stops at shops or the toilet. It strikes me as pointless buying a 7kg bike if you are then going to carry a 1kg chain and lock. This level of safety makes life more hassle-free. It makes it better.
TheLongTermer
I dont who surveys and reports this crap. Completely disconnected from reality. Ive felt more danger on the trains and in daily life in Japan than anywhere else I have ever lived.
BeerDeliveryGuy
So cybercrime and disaster control are part of the algorithm. Tokyo may not be the most “crime free” city in the world, but for a city of 12million residents and about the same number of commuters, it’s definitely the safest and cleanest I’ve seen. But I’m no expert, and I’m sure I’ll be refuted by numerous “experts” claiming Tokyo is at the same level as Johannesburg, São Paulo and Mogadishu.
Gobshite
No bias then?
YubaruToday 09:26 am JST
I know for a fact, from my father-in-law (former JP) my brother-in-law (soon to be former senior detective), cousin (beat cop)
Realization
@extanker: What do you mean "Well it does say 'Worlds Safest', not 'Crime Free'..." ???
Drank but nonalcoholic :(
BeerDeliveryGuy
Extreme claustrophobia, much? But seriously, I’m genuinely interested in where and what lifestyle you’ve lived, that would make a Tokyo train ride the most dangerous experience of your life.
daito_hak
I am sorry but this is relative. Yes sure Tokyo is relatively safe, but isn't hypocrite to say that when so many bushiness are owned by the Yakuza and in fact that the mafia is tolerated and very active in all major Japanese cities?
Yes sure so why "plagued by organized crime" does not mean then that the city is not that safe? This denomination would mean poor safety for any other place in the world so why not for Japan?
This is a bizarre statement as past big earthquakes have showed that this is not true. See the recent ones in Kyushu and Hokkaido. There is no scientific evidence to believe that Tokyo will not sustain severe damages and causalities in the event of a major earthquake.
This one is flat wrong.
JJ Jetplane
@TokyoEngr
I can agree with you that DC should not be 7th. DC is one of the poorest and crime riddled places in the US. The Capital is, for the most part, the only clean area in DC. Furthermore, the level of corruption should make it rank much lower.
I don't know much about LA. But New York is a safe city. Coming from New York, I have seen first hand the transformation of the city. Crime still happens, but as long as you use your common sense, you are safe going around all parts of New York City. New York City is not the same city it used to be when i was growing up. Things still happen, but its relatively safe now.
Amir Marzouk
When was the last time the infrastructure was really tested by an earthquake? I see so many buildings and train station pillars with cracks in them from previous shakes.
BeerDeliveryGuy
LA crime has gone way down in the past decades as well, but Angelinos are mostly of the opinion that NY is more dangerous because NYers are mean and selfish.
TheLongTermer
Yeah me too, what world are you living in. Try a field trip for yourself on the tokaido line on a hot day around 9 pm. youll see many interesting things. also road rage on some of the commutes when driving. No need to try and convenience me with your stories, I lived it.
Jessie Lee
Ludicrous survey. Caracas, one of the world's most dangerous cities made the list!
Janet Shigemi Kajihiro
I been traveling to Tokyo for just leisure for many years thus far only because I like to take a vacation there. I been traveling alone and it is very safe there. I could be on the street walking around in the city late at night still and I do not worry because there are policemen all areas of Tokyo keeping in eye out for anything they may see that is suspicious. Police in Japan are so good and I respect them. Everyone there just minds their own business and you rarely see anyone causing trouble. I live in Hawaii and to be honest I would have to be careful with myself and I always would have to watch my back to make sure nobody is following me too. I think Japan is do smart in many ways. No1 -they do not have trash cans all over the street and there is a reason for that I think. No2-you do not see too many benches anywhere except in the park or shopping malls. No3-you do not see to many homeless people out on the street. Japan is so very clean. I always tell my friends or even strangers who I never met before to go to Japan because it is the safest country I say.! Everyone is so nice
JCosplay
Well, I for one can say that I’m surprised that Tokyo came out as the safest city in the world. One of the safest? Yeah I definitely agree. But not THE safest. However, I can’t be absolutely certain, since I’ve never been there, though I will be visiting for the first time in December. But from the stories that I’ve heard from friends and people who were there, that while it’s very safe, there’s a few areas and places you should definitely stay away from. Particularly the bars and restaurants that try to invite you in.
Well, wheter it’s the safest city in the world or not, there’s no denying that’s it’s one of the safest cities in the world. I can’t wait to see for myself once I do visit there in December. Don’t worry, I won’t be reckless or stupid or anything like that. LOL
Wakarimasen
Yes there is crime here but it is all relative. not also there are other factors taken into account.
Personally I have only ever witnessed 2 "incidents" in Japan in my 15 years here.
When I am back in London I almost always see some fight or scuffle or even random street thefts.
Serrano
Why isn't San Francisco in the top three?
BeerDeliveryGuy
I completely agree. The late night Tokaido is a terrifying place..., if you have an irrational fear of people sleeping or puking. I personally know a former Marine who says he feels safer on the battlefield than in a hospital, but that just shows that perception of danger is different from reality. Not a convenient story, but rather a general observation of when I used to commute from Hiratsuka to Yokohama, and took the last train many times.
japan_tomorrow_dot_com
Safest but definitely not the best place to live, I can't stand the oriental urban life. :/
Tangerine2000
There are no cities that have 0% crime. However, Tokyo when compared to other capitals in first world countries like London, Paris, New York etc. is much, much safer. When you think of London now, it is the acid attack capital of the world. Along with that, you have massive knife crime.
Japan is a homogeneous society. As a result, the cities in Japan are safer and the people living in them have a relatively high degree of trust between each other. Cities in other first world countries are becoming more and more dangerous. Transplanting millions of people from incompatible cultures from developing countries into the first world within a few short years has been a major reason for this.
Tokyo isn't perfect, and there are some dangerous/strange people, but on the whole, you don't have to worry in the same way you do when going to other G7 nations.
Dango bong
because it is a toilet
DaDude
Bangkok is not exactly the most beautiful city out there but I am surprised to see Rio, Sao Paulo, Johannesburg, Mexico City and Manila ranked as safer. Even in Paris, Rome Barcelona, Milan and Madrid I had to be on high alert.
Yubaru
Never said they were, you are assuming otherwise. You can not be sure it was taken into account, unless you blindly believe everything the government puts out here, and if you do, then there is nothing anyone can do to help.
You know this how? Of course the media only reports what boosts their ratings, but I also know from experience that the general public is blissfully unaware of the crime that occurs around them, a lot in part because the local media rarely reports anything other than statistics given out by the government, and not specifics. The cops also keep a lid on what does get reported as well. Just like with other government agencies. There are far too many examples that prove this overall.
Cops do not report to the "census bureau" there is no such thing here in Japan.
Nice try, never said this, you are attempting to put words into my mouth. I said "under-reported". Statistics are skewed if you understood how they are collected here and disseminated. I can give any number of examples from employment statistics, crime and safety, economics, and others that the information disseminated to the public is skewed.
Those of us who have lived here for a while are quite aware and put little trust in the government for disseminating "accurate" information and statistics.
You will learn the longer you live here.
lesenfant
Digital security? People still use a bank book! Many young people dont know how to use a computer.
So its almost like they win by default for digital security.
Toasted Heretic
It's safe if you're male but it's often very uncomfortable for single females, esp. single foreign females. So many times, I've heard of friends being pestered at stations, outside stores at night or in broad daylight.
And of course, I don't need to draw attention to women being harassed in parts of Okinawa, do I?
It's relatively safe in comparison to other cities, sure.
Ex_Res
Tokyo has been ranked the world's safest city for the third year running, followed by Singapore and Osaka, according to the latest report by the Economist Intelligence Unit released on Thursday.
What on earth, (or who on earth) is the Economist Intelligrnce Unit?
nigelboy
Hmm. That makes sense. NOT
Then why would the same government ‘puts out’ figures and statistics that puts Japan in a negative light?
Birth rate, aging population, low inflation rate, suicide numbers, and government debt ratio versus GDP.
Must be Jekyll and Hyde thing.
Toasted Heretic
Nonsense. I've lived in cities with people from all over the world and not only do we trust each other, we marry each other, hang out with, do business with and live beside. It's not only harmonious, but your'e going to get headbangers in any country.
Mankind has always been nomadic. The only culture I find incompatible is the culture of fear and ignorance.
Disillusioned
Really? What's your neighbor's name? Japan is a nation of 125 million strangers.
Tangerine2000
"Homogenous" (adjective) :of the same kind; alike
If everyone is a stranger, they are all alike, are they not?
Strangerland
Say what?!
This is completely out of step with reality.
Do you not speak Japanese, or have you just never lived in a Japanese neighborhood?
I speak Japanese and I've lived in a number of different neighborhoods, all of which had 町内会, and neighbors who knew the names of the people who lived in the various homes. Regular events, including sports days, and clean-ups, where the community interacted.
I know you've lived in Japan a long time, but it blows me away that someone could actually live here for a number of years and make the statement you did, that is so out of line with how things actually are.
Haaa Nemui
You don't know the names of any of your neighbours? Just curious what area you live in. I'm in a residential area and know the names of most surrounding families... and those I don't know I still hold at least some level of trust. But in saying that your point is fair for many
All I can say about this issue is, Japan is safe compared with most other countries... just don't be naive about it.
drlucifer
Which is the safest city in Japan?
The study was funded by NEC and that is reflected in the report. If every major firm in every major country funded their own report we will have hundreds of differing results.
I don't take this type of reports seriously.
Strangerland
This is the norm in Japan. Which is why the following statement was so baffling, as it was so clearly out of step with how things actually are:
Strangerland
It's weird how people think that a study can be shut down just because of bias. These people clearly don't understand how the world works. The funding organization can be totally biased, and yet produce an unbiased report.
If you have a problem with the methodology, call it out. But doubting the report without having an actual reason to doubt the report, beyond a belief in conspiracy theories, is entirely illogical.
Thunderbird2
What riots? There haven't been any for quite some time. There are protest marches, yes, but they are legal. We're allowed to do that by law. But riots? Can you tell me the last one we had, because I don't remember any recent ones.
As for Tokyo being safe - I can agree with that. Only place I have ever felt comfortable walking around at night. Only time I've ever felt threatened was a gangster trying to scam me in broad daylight at Sensouji some years ago.
Alexandre T. Ishii
I'm a foreigner living in Japan and I don't live in Tokyo, I feel safer living in this city of Fukuoka. What is the signification of "SAFE" to metropolitan life I don't reckon the meaning of what is that? If there are so many people around and find lost there I think it's unsafe condition...When people aren't friendly and find freedom to behave with cold feeling it's like nobody will give a hand to help. Economist Intelligence Unit to show more safer live probably will depend on AI. Very controlled metropolitan cities are in China, monitoring people by personal data on the street shows safer but no privacy. Metropolitan life isn't anything safe by ranking, maybe better say: less unsafe!
RickyC
Here below there are there elements that they are evaluating inside fourteen factors while giving the score to each city:
Problem corruption and bribery
Worries being insulted
Worries being subject to an attack because of your skin colour, ethnic origin or religionOf course Tokyo will score close to zero as danger, while other developed countries scoring high points. In Japan, above facts are not even crime :)
albaleo
But in the personal security rankings, Washington DC and Chicago rank 23 and 26 respectively (out of 60). It seems their overall high ranking is due to "digital security".
Interestingly, Tokyo only comes 4th in the personal security rankings, just below Hong Kong.
Ex_Res
I think that the feeling of safety and security is a state of mind for each individual.
If a person wants to be 100℅ safe one would spend one's life hiding under a bed.
Most commentators here are relating crime to their feeling of safety. I feel that Japan has below average crime, but at a price, Japans legal system is unsafe.
Maybe the Economist Intelligence Unit (whoever they may be) should concentrate in economics rather than crime and geology.
h.jaffar sadiq
dear's Thank god world TOP safest country japan in Tokyo.
Toasted Heretic
Your posts always cheer me up. More proof that our cultures are full of love and compatible.
We love Tokyo, and all its peoples, yes we do.
rcch
as a European, in my opinion, one of the biggest differences between (in this case) Tokyo and any major western city, is the feeling that unless lightning is gonna hit me, i am pretty sure that i,m gonna be home at the end of the day. in pretty much any other major city outside of Japan, if we,re not careful, we might end up dead or in the hospital because of whatever stupid reason, like looking at someone in the wrong way. yeah sure, don,t leave your wallet open in public (duh), be careful not to fall on a subway track, be careful in the street not to get hit by a car... and pretty much, that,s it! it,s kind of funny how many foreigners (especially from western countries) start living in Japan and still find some negative things to say about safety here. yeah sure unknown crime is out there. yeah bullying in Japan is a problem (unfortunately). and those perverts everywhere, yeah it sucks, but, imo (in most cases) if women DO something about it, like at least say something or scream, those pervs will run so fast they,ll fly, because these perv Japanese men, they,re like scared little kids and they were always used to Japanese women being passive. it,s not like in for example USA or Europe (i,m not saying there,s no such men in Japan but...). as for the list itself, there,s some weird placement going on, i,m guessing because this is not only based on street crime rates, but bottom line, even if those damm pervs are out there, in a place with 38(!) million people, i think we can still say that Tokyo deserves the first spot. as to why Tokyo is (relatively alot) safer (and cleaner) than other big cities, people (not just Japanese) in Japan follow the rules and know the meaning of civilized society.
Mister X
Again proof that despite the naysayers Tokyo is still one of the safest cities in the world, not crime free but relatively safe at least.
Now if you focus more on supporting people with a mental illness and continue to keep immigration at an absolute minimum and under tight rules Tokyo can continue to be one of the safest cities for many years to come.
Tom
When I am on the subway here and read signs that say, minus 7 meters below sea level, and the emergency exit is 700 meters away, I cannot help but think...what is with other subway systems around the world?
Mister X
I couldn't agree more.
Jimizo
Do you have stats to back this up?
I’m not arguing against your point. It’s a genuine question.
drlucifer
It would be nice of you to tell us the weird thinkers how the world works since you claim to know so much.
You don't have any facts supporting your deep believe that the result was not influenced by the source of the funding for the report, if you do, sharing with us would help to strengthen your strong believe that bias doesn't exist in the report.
I find the report inaccurate regarding infrastructure and susceptibility to malware attack
and can only suspect the source of the funding influenced the selection.
The selectors seem to have forgotten how portions of the Hanshin expressway crumbled during the great Hanshin Earthquake.
Strangerland
What? I have made no claim for which I could provide facts to support. I simply pointed out the illogicality of deciding something has no validity based purely on the existence of bias, and not in actual evidence. How exactly does pointing out something is wrong imply anything other than that something is wrong?
Strangerland
Which items stated in the report are inaccurate? Please quote the actual incorrect wording.
Strangerland
Did they? Or was it not part of the metrics that they reported upon?
Jimizo
Post a link. I’m open-minded on this.
Many Japanese I’ve met have said they believe one of the reasons Japan is safe is because of low immigration and they don’t want this changed. I know it’s a sensitive topic, but I think honesty is more important than feelings in this case.
Yubaru
Did I say they would? This does show that you admit that the government plays with figures to put them in a better light and not let the negative ones out.
Since you keep trying to put words in my mouth I will return the favor!
karlrb
7th place was to Washington - did you mean Washington D.C.?
Washington is a state, not a city.
pacificwest
Yes, it's Washington DC, which surprised me.
Tokyo, Singapore, Osaka, Amsterdam, Sydney, Toronto, Washington DC, Copenhagen, Seoul, Melbourne, Chicago, which surprised me even more.
I've only looked at the report quickly but I think they ought to have a metric that equates the degree of success with cities size.
It's a lot easier to manage a city of 602,000 (Copenhagen) than 9 million (Tokyo), which says a lot for Japanese society.
Ditto, it seems strange that cities like London and New York come above a place like Zurich where the only thing that you are likely to die from is boredom.
@Chip Star
It means the police and prosecutors only take cases forward that they are 99% sure of gaining a conviction for, not that they are torturing people into false confessions as you'd like to infer.