New Rankings Reveal Happiness and Livability in Tohoku Cities for 2025

Daito Kentaku Co., Ltd. has recently conducted their largest ever residential satisfaction survey, unveiling the "Happiness Ranking of Cities 2025 (Tohoku Version)" and the "Most Desirable Cities to Live Ranking 2025 (Tohoku Version)." These rankings highlight the best spots in Tohoku, a region known for its natural beauty and rich culture.

Top Findings from the Happiness Ranking

For the second consecutive year, Tomiya City in Miyagi Prefecture topped the happiness rankings, scoring high in various living comfort assessments. Following closely in second place is Rokkasho Town in Aomori Prefecture, while Nanbu Town in Aomori ascended from eleventh to third this year. Other notable mentions include Ishikawa Town in Fukushima and Aizumisato Town in Fukushima, which made significant progress in the rankings, securing fourth and sixth places, respectively.

This ranking is based on accumulated responses from 2021 to 2025, considering municipalities with at least 50 respondents. Cities with fewer respondents utilized earlier years' data to enhance their rankings.

- 1st Place: Tomiya City, Miyagi (2 years in a row)
- 2nd Place: Rokkasho Town, Aomori (2 years in a row)
- 3rd Place: Nanbu Town, Aomori (previously 11th)

Longevity and Desirability Rankings

In terms of cities people want to stay in, Tomiya City again ranked first for the fifth consecutive year. Inakadate Village in Aomori Prefecture debuted in second place, an impressive entry given its first-time eligibility after increasing its respondent count. Kuwabata Town in Fukushima jumped from twenty-fifth to third, showcasing remarkable progress in urban satisfaction.

Other newcomers in the top ten include Shirataka Town in Yamagata Prefecture at seventh place, previously unranked due to low participation.

- 1st Place: Tomiya City, Miyagi (5 years in a row)
- 2nd Place: Inakadate Village, Aomori (new entry)
- 3rd Place: Kuwabata Town, Fukushima (previously 25th)

Insights on Happiness and Longevity Assessments

Across the top 20 in happiness rankings, Marumori Town in Miyagi and Gojome Town in Akita made their first appearances, indicating a shift in public perception towards these municipalities. Meanwhile, the 20th spot went to Shizukuishi Town in Iwate, a newcomer after not meeting the required number in prior years.

Interestingly, the top three cities maintained a high satisfaction level, scoring in the 70s on the scale, while the remaining ranked cities had scores in the 60s.

Moving onto the most desirable places to live, Tagajo City in Miyagi significantly improved its standing, moving from twenty-ninth to fourteenth place. Meanwhile, Shizukuishi Town also climbed from forty-eighth to eighteenth.

Conclusion

These rankings not only showcase individual cities but also reflect the overall living conditions and community character across the Tohoku region. With such positive evaluations, Daito Kentaku strengthens the importance of municipal satisfaction and livability in urban development.

For complete rankings and additional details, please visit the official website.

Sources: Daito Kentaku Ranking Release