Kyoto

Even when you’re just casually strolling through the streets of Kyoto, you’ll suddenly come across buildings that are officially designated Important Cultural Properties. Incidentally, second place goes to Nara Prefecture. Both are regions with a strong image as ancient capitals. If you get the chance, be sure to take a walk around the city.

Okinawa Prefecture

Incidentally, in the same ranking, six prefectures from the Kyushu region, including Okinawa, made it into the top 10. The warm climate, the endlessly stretching blue, beautiful sea, and the delicious food… Hmm, just thinking about it makes me want to go to Okinawa.

Akita Prefecture

Inaniwa udon is characterized by being flatter and thinner than regular udon. Its smooth texture makes it especially popular as zaru udon. By the way, as for the other two of Japan’s “three great udon,” candidates include Sanuki udon from Kagawa Prefecture, Mizusawa udon from Gunma Prefecture, Goto udon from Nagasaki Prefecture, and Himi udon from Toyama Prefecture... You might be thinking, “Wait, aren’t there supposed to be three?” It seems there are various opinions about the third one.

Osaka Prefecture

The longest shopping street in Japan is Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street, stretching about 2.6 km. It’s lively no matter when you go, and it’s a place where you can fully experience the essence of Osaka. Another remarkable point is its history of over 350 years as a shopping street. Be sure to stop by when you visit Osaka!

Tokyo Metropolis

Sakuma Park in Kanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo is considered the birthplace of Radio Calisthenics. However, since Radio Calisthenics, as the name suggests, is exercise done while listening to a radio broadcast, there’s talk that there may have been other places where people were doing it at the time—it’s just that no records remain.

Hokkaido

The prefecture chosen as No. 1 in the 2023 Prefectural Attractiveness Ranking is “Answer Prefecture.” This ranking is announced annually, evaluating the appeal of each prefecture from various perspectives. The selection of “Answer Prefecture” for the top spot reflects recognition of its unique initiatives, culture, nature, and other qualities that year.

Kumamoto Prefecture

Kumamoto Prefecture, with its many marshes, is well suited for cultivating lotus root. Karashi renkon was created by Buddhist monks during the Edo period as a “healthy food” and became widespread. By the way, the “karashi” is a mixture of mustard, miso, sugar, and breadcrumbs.

Ishikawa Prefecture

Since the Azuchi–Momoyama period and especially after 1952, numerous traditional crafts using gold leaf have been produced in Ishikawa Prefecture. You may sometimes see gold leaf used on food or in drinks, and that gold leaf is also produced almost entirely in Ishikawa. Moreover, it isn’t a “special edible” variety—there’s no difference in its composition from the gold leaf used in crafts.

Aichi Prefecture

The Chinese restaurant Misen in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, is the original. It’s based on a Taiwanese noodle dish called danzai mian. That tinglingly spicy soup in Taiwanese ramen, the richly seasoned minced meat, and the fragrant garlic chives are just irresistible! Ah, now I’m getting hungry.

Kochi Prefecture

John Manjirō was from what is now Tosashimizu City in Kōchi Prefecture. While fishing, an accident caused his boat to be wrecked, and he drifted to an uninhabited island. He was later rescued by a ship from America, which led to his journey to the United States. Incidentally, it was also John Manjirō who brought the song “The ABC Song,” used to learn the alphabet, to Japan.