Photo/Illutration Dancers perform on the streets of Toyama on Sept. 1 during the traditional Owara Kaze no Bon festival. (Tatsuo Kanai)

The New York Times has once again highlighted Japan as a top travel destination, listing Toyama and Osaka among its “52 Places to Go in 2025.”

The announcement on Jan. 7 has been met with enthusiasm by local governments eager to attract more international tourists.

Toyama, nestled on the country’s north coast, was placed 30th on the list, with the headline, “Enjoy cultural wonders and culinary delights while skipping the crowds.”

The Times highlighted the city’s traditional events like the Owara Kaze no Bon dance festival and local culinary experiences such as pairing wine with oden pot dishes.

The article also acknowledged the impact of the Noto Peninsula earthquake that struck the region in January last year, noting that the city is working to attract tourists as part of its recovery efforts.

Toyama Mayor Hirohisa Fujii expressed his delight at the recognition, stating, “This is amazing news. We are all very excited.”

He highlighted the city’s rich history, culture and natural beauty, as well as its innovative urban planning initiatives.

“I believe that our Kengo Kuma-designed Glass Art Museum and our compact city policy have also been well-received,” he said, noting how the city integrates residential, commercial, administrative and cultural facilities along the tram lines.

He expressed hope that more tourists would visit Toyama and the wider Hokuriku region, including the Noto Peninsula, to help the area recover from the disaster.

Osaka, the largest city in western Japan, placed 38th on this year's list.

The Times commended the city’s “game-changing” redevelopment project, Grand Green Osaka, which is creating a vast green space near JR Osaka Station.

This project is seen as a significant departure from Osaka’s traditional image as a bustling metropolis focused on food and shopping.

Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura welcomed the news, expressing hopes that the increased international attention would lead to a successful Osaka-Kansai Expo, which is set to open in April.

“The world’s fair is a golden opportunity to showcase the charms of Osaka and the wider Kansai region to the world,” Yoshimura said.

The Times has been compiling its recommended travel list annually since 2005.

This year, Jane Austen’s England topped the list, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the author’s birth. Other notable destinations listed include the Galapagos Islands.

In recent years, several other Japanese cities have made the list, including Yamaguchi in 2024 and Morioka and Fukuoka in 2023.

(This article was written by Takehiro Tomoda and Yoshito Asakura.)

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