Kanazawa tops Japan's 2026 Municipality Brand Ranking

Daito Trust Construction has released the ‘Ii Heya Net Municipality Brand Ranking 2026,’ based on a survey of 181,267 respondents aged 20 and older. The ranking evaluates municipalities based on a brand deviation score, which is the product of image DI (desirability index) and recognition rates among non-residents.

In the national rankings, Kanazawa City in Ishikawa Prefecture secured the top position for the second consecutive year. Other high-ranking cities include Hakodate and Otaru in Hokkaido, Kamakura in Kanagawa, and Sapporo in Hokkaido. Nikko City showed strong performance, ranking 8th nationally and maintaining its position as the number one municipality in the North Kanto region for the third year in a row.

The survey, conducted by Macromill between February 10 and March 22, indicates that regional characteristics such as local specialties, landscapes, and historical culture significantly influence brand strength. Notable improvements were seen in cities like Shimonoseki, Kumamoto, and Sasebo.