Nagoya and Fukui feature in new Japanese urban livability rankings

Recent urban livability reports have highlighted significant shifts in the rankings of Japanese cities. According to the 2026 Urban Characteristics Evaluation by the Mori Memorial Foundation, Nagoya ranked second nationally among 136 cities. The city achieved top positions in the “Research and Development” and “Living and Residence” categories, emphasizing its strengths in infrastructure and residential practicality over tourism.

In a separate ranking by Toyo Keizai Inc., Fukui City dropped to fourth place, having held the top spot the previous year. The ranking methodology was updated this year, adjusting indicators for wealth and safety. Despite the drop in Fukui City, several other cities within Fukui Prefecture, including Echizen, Obama, Tsuruga, and Awara, secured positions within the top 50. The overall top rankings for the Toyo Keizai report were held by Hitoyoshi, Bunkyo Ward, and Nagakute.