Tokyo 4th in ranking of top 100 city destinations

Tokyo ranked fourth among the top 100 city destinations in 2023, with the Japanese capital entering the top 10 for the first time, according to a recent index. 

The Top 100 City Destinations Index 2023, published in December, is the latest edition of an annual ranking produced by global market research company Euromonitor International.  

Tokyo’s appearance in the index’s top 10 for the first time was spurred on by improved developments in tourism infrastructure, the easing of COVID-19 prevention measures, and a weak yen which continues to make trips to Japan easier on the budget for many international visitors, according to the creators of the index.

Tokyo’s fourth place marks a significant improvement from its position at No. 20 in the Top 100 City Destinations Index 2022. 

Paris ranked top of the latest index with the French capital retaining its status as the world’s top city destination. Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Madrid (Spain), Tokyo (Japan), and Amsterdam (the Netherlands), completed the top five ranked city destinations respectively. 

For the latest edition of the index Euromonitor International compared over 50 metrics across six key pillars for 100 city destinations including economic and business performance, tourism policy and attractiveness, health and safety, and sustainability, among others.

The resulting index is one dominated by European cities - accounting for seven of the top 10 cities and with 63 in the top 100. New York, which ranked eighth, was one of the three cities outside of Europe to feature in the top 10, Tokyo and Dubai being the other two.

The second highest-ranked Japanese city was Osaka, at number 16 in the index. 

Publication of the Top 100 City Destinations Index 2023 comes toward the end of a year in which international travel has continued its post-pandemic recovery. 2023 has seen 38 percent growth in terms of the number of trips, which are projected to reach 1.3 billion by the end of the year, according to Euromonitor International’s index report. 

Japan itself has seen a surge in inbound tourism in 2023, receiving over 2.5 million foreign visitors in October, the first time for the monthly figure to top pre-pandemic levels.

The recovery of international and domestic travel has reignited concerns about overtourism on these shores. In October the government announced a package of measures aimed at tackling overtourism which included measures to help persuade travelers away from tourist hotspots including Tokyo. 

Overtourism is a challenge faced by cities outside of Japan, too, according to Euromonitor International. 

“Some destinations are imposing restrictions, steep taxation or reduction of hotel capacity to help limit the influx of tourists and preserve cultural heritage, while others embrace dispersion strategies that promote alternative or off-the-beaten-path destinations,” Nadejda Popova, Senior Manager (Loyalty) at Euromonitor International, said in a press release. 

“Seen by many as a double-edged sword, overtourism underscores the importance of implementing sustainable practices to help drive more responsible tourism over mass travel to benefit the environment as well as local residents.”  

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