Cities in Japan: the largest cities and what to see

Japan is a highly urban country: more than nine in ten residents live in cities. The cities in Japan listed below are the largest by population, but size is not everything; smaller places such as Kanazawa, Nara or Takayama are just as rewarding for visitors.

Largest cities by population

Greater Tokyo, including surrounding prefectures, is home to about 37 million people, the largest metropolitan area in the world.

Cities in Japan worth visiting beyond the largest

• Hiroshima: the Peace Memorial Park and nearby Miyajima.
• Kanazawa: gardens, samurai and geisha districts.
• Nagasaki: history of foreign trade, hillside churches and harbour views.
• Sendai: gateway to Tohoku and the bay of Matsushima.
• Okayama and Kurashiki: a famous garden and canal-side old town.
• Matsuyama: a castle and the historic Dogo hot spring.

Getting between cities

Bullet trains connect Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and Fukuoka along one line, while separate Shinkansen lines run north to Sendai and Hokkaido and northwest to Kanazawa. Domestic flights link Sapporo, Fukuoka and Okinawa to Tokyo and Osaka in about one to two hours.

Choosing cities in Japan for your trip

Tokyo and Osaka provide the energy of big cities, Kyoto and Kanazawa the traditional atmosphere, and Fukuoka and Sapporo a relaxed pace with excellent food. Combining two or three styles gives a fuller picture of the country. The regions and map page helps place each city.

City breaks by theme

• History: Kyoto, Nara, Kamakura and Kanazawa.
• Food: Osaka for street food, Fukuoka for yatai stalls, Sapporo for seafood and ramen.
• Modern architecture and design: Tokyo, Yokohama and Naoshima's art sites.
• Nightlife: Tokyo's Shinjuku and Shibuya, Osaka's Namba and Fukuoka's Nakasu.

Accommodation tips

Hotels near major railway stations save time when changing cities. Business hotels offer compact, clean rooms at reasonable prices, while capsule hotels and hostels suit tight budgets. Ryokan are rare in the biggest metropolises but common in Kyoto, Kanazawa and hot spring towns nearby.

Urban transport

Every large city has subways or urban rail lines accessible with an IC card, and most can be explored without a car. Day passes for subways and buses, sold in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Fukuoka, can lower costs for intensive sightseeing days.

Getting help in cities

Tourist information centres at major stations provide maps, advice and free Wi-Fi. In most large cities, signs and announcements on public transport are given in English, and many restaurants offer menus with pictures or translations.

Best season for city visits

Spring and autumn are pleasant everywhere. Sapporo is especially lively in February during the Snow Festival, Osaka in summer with its river festival, and Fukuoka in November with its sumo tournament.

Official source: Japan National Tourism Organization

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