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The 2025 Okayama Prefecture Living Comfort Rankings

Daito Kentaku Co., Ltd., based in Minato, Tokyo, has conducted one of the largest surveys of living satisfaction to date, compiling the results into the "2025 Okayama Prefecture Living Comfort Ranking" and the "2025 Okayama Prefecture Desired Neighborhood Ranking."

Highlights of the Living Comfort Rankings

For the fifth consecutive year, Hayashima Town in Tsukubo-gun maintained its position as the top-rated locality. Following closely behind are Soja City and Okayama City North Ward, who have held the second and third places for three consecutive years.

• - Hayashima Town: The Top Choice

Hayashima Town achieved an impressive evaluation with a deviation value in the 70 range, securing the top position for five years. Although it is the smallest municipality in Okayama Prefecture, it shares borders with Okayama City and Kurashiki City, facilitating extensive residential development for commuters. Its strategic location along the Seto Chuo Expressway and access to the Sanyo Expressway enhances connectivity to Kansai, Shikoku, and Hiroshima regions, making it incredibly accessible.

• - Kurashiki City Jumps to 5th

Kurashiki City, known for its abundant large commercial facilities including outlet malls and department stores, rose one rank from the previous year to take the fifth spot. The city's lively atmosphere and the historical beauty of the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, which preserves the charm of the Edo period, attract many tourists.

Note: The deviation value is normalized so that the average score is 50, indicating how far a score deviates from this mean. Differences in ranking may occur if deviation values are identical but scores differ in decimal places.

The rankings are based on responses accumulated from five years (2021-2025), and areas with insufficient respondents may also include data from 2019 and 2020 to meet the minimum requirement.

Highlights of the Desired Neighborhood Rankings

For the sixth consecutive year, Okayama City's North Ward was voted the most desired place to live. Kobe City followed in second, a pleasant increase from last year's fourth position. Both Tokyo's 23 wards and Kurashiki City shared the third place this year.

• - Okayama City North Ward Retains the Crown

Okayama City's North Ward has been recognized as the most coveted neighborhood for six years running. With its diverse amenities and vibrant lifestyle, the area continues to appeal to many residents and newcomers alike.

• - Positive Sentiment from Current Residents

According to the survey, a significant 75.8% of respondents expressed satisfaction with their current neighborhood. Among them, 54.1% admitted having no particular desired neighborhood, and 21.7% stated their wish to continue living in their current area.

Note: The Desired Neighborhood rankings are derived from responses given by Okayama residents in 2025, with a focus on municipalities across the country.

Top 10 Living Comfort Rankings - Okayama Prefecture

Additionally, Some Insights from the Rankings

• - Safety and Quietness

Mimasaka City ranked second for safety and quietness, while Akaiwa City took third place in these categories.

• - Cost of Living and Rent

Waki Town in Waki-gun grabbed third place concerning costs and rent.

• - Disaster Prevention

In terms of disaster preparedness, Akaiwa City clinched the top spot, followed by Kamo Town in Tomata-gun and Mimasaka City.

The average score reflects respondents' satisfaction with their current neighborhoods, rated from 0 (very dissatisfied) to 100 (very satisfied).

Survey Overview

Methodology

The survey was conducted online via questionnaires distributed through MacroMill, targeting registered monitors.

Respondents

The participants were 12,564 residents of Okayama Prefecture, aged over 20, surveyed from 2021-2025, including a few responses from 2019 and 2020 to meet participant numbers.

Sampling Profile

• - Gender Ratio: Male 45.7% | Female 54.3%
• - Marital Status: Unmarried 37.3% | Married 62.7%
• - Children: No children 40.1% | Children 59.9%
• - Age Distribution: 20s 14.8% | 30s 21.9% | 40s 24.0% | 50s 22.8% | 60s 12.4% | 70s 4.0%

Survey Timeline

The surveys were conducted annually from 2021-2025, with each year's responses helping inform the latest rankings, accruing submissions from thousands of residents each year.

For those interested in detailed analyses and rankings, please check the dedicated website.

Conclusion

These insights reflect not only the satisfaction of Okayama residents but also the evolving preferences on living conditions and neighborhood desirability. The rankings serve as a valuable resource for those contemplating relocation or looking to understand the living landscape in Okayama Prefecture.