Photo/Illutration A visitor rides a swing at the Hakuba Iwatake Mountain Resort in Hakuba, Nagano Prefecture, on May 30, 2024. (Kazushige Kobayashi)  

Nagano Prefecture was the most inquired-about relocation destination in fiscal 2024, reclaiming the top spot for the first time in two years, according to an internal affairs ministry survey.

The survey tallied the number of inquiries received by consultation counters set up by prefectural and municipal governments and at relocation events.

The number of inquiries about moving to Nagano Prefecture was 25,891, up 5,305 from a year earlier.

Fukushima Prefecture placed second with 20,505 inquires, a year-on-year increase of 1,902, followed by Miyazaki Prefecture at 19,245, a decrease of 3,303.

Hokkaido was fourth with 18,813 inquiries (fifth in fiscal 2023), followed by Hyogo Prefecture with 16,745 (fourth), Shizuoka Prefecture with 14,838 (sixth), Kochi Prefecture with 14,305 (ninth), Yamaguchi Prefecture with 14,048 (10th), Nagasaki Prefecture with 12,475 (12th) and Kumamoto Prefecture with 12,371 (eighth).

The Nagano prefectural government has been bolstering efforts to promote the prefecture as a relocation destination and has set up consultation counters in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka.

The central Japan prefecture held the top position for eight straight years until it was overtaken by Miyazaki Prefecture in fiscal 2023.

“We have an advantage because the prefecture offers easy access from the three metropolitan areas of Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka,” a Nagano prefectural government official said. “It is easy to come from urban centers, and yet it is rich in nature, so many people say they want to start off by living in ‘two places.’”

A Fukushima prefectural official also said location is a key factor.

“Our prefecture is easily accessible from Tokyo, and we have set up consultation counters at 12 places in and outside the prefecture to make it easy for people to seek advice,” the official said.

An official from the Miyazaki prefectural government said, “While it is a comfortable place to live, blessed with a warm climate, we also assume it is because we have enriched measures to support people who move in from other areas.”

According to the ministry, the number of inquiries across the country in fiscal 2024 was 433,810, the most since the ministry began keeping records in fiscal 2015.

The increase stems from municipalities’ reinforced efforts to encourage relocation to their areas, the number of consultation counters available, and related events.

According to a survey conducted by the Join-Furusato support center, Gunma Prefecture ranked first in 2024 on a list of desirable relocation destinations.

The public interest organization based in Tokyo’s Yurakucho district provides relocation consultations in cooperation with local governments nationwide.

Shizuoka Prefecture ranked second, followed by Tochigi Prefecture.

At least 70 percent of consultations the organization received came from the Tokyo metropolitan area.

“The data reflects relocation desires of those who mainly live in the metropolitan area,” a representative said.

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