Each year, Japan’s Prefecture Attraction Ranking causes a stir as it places prefectures in order. The 2020 ranking was announced on 14 October, with Hokkaido topping the list for the 12th consecutive year ahead of Kyoto and Okinawa. All three are popular destinations for foreign and domestic tourists alike.
Ofthe prefectures who have either expressed interest in an IR bid or been linked in some way, Tokyo has dropped a place from last year’s third placing to fourth, with Kanagawa – home to Yokohama’s Yamashita pier – in fifth.
In sixth place was Osaka, considered a front-runner to develop an IR on Yumeshima Island.
In 11th was Nagasaki prefecture, which is hoping to build a resort at Huis Ten Bosch, while Aichi is 16th. Finally, in 28th position, was Wakayama, which is hoping to build an IR at Marina City. All of these were highly rated as prefectures.
The survey was conducted by Brand Research Institute. The Prefecture Attraction Ranking surveys 47 prefectures and 1,000 municipalities in Japan in terms of awareness, attractiveness and image. This is the 15th time it has been conducted.
The period of the survey was 24 June to 20 July and valid responses were obtained from 31,734 consumers nationwide.