#Japan #Sapporo #Daiwa House #Hokkaido Living #Neighborhood Ranking

Introduction

In 2025, a comprehensive survey conducted by Daiwa House Industry has unveiled the best neighborhoods in Hokkaido, revolving around living satisfaction and desired locations. This research, regarded as one of the largest ever on residential satisfaction, integrated feedback from residents across the region, leading to insightful rankings.

Methodology

The survey gathered data from 38,016 residents aged 20 and above in Hokkaido, utilizing an online questionnaire administered by MacroMill, a market research firm. The evaluations collected throughout various years from 2021 to 2025 ensured comprehensive insights into evolving preferences. Respondents rated their current neighborhoods based on satisfaction scores ranging from 0 to 100, reflecting ratings of very satisfied, satisfied, neutral, dissatisfied, and very dissatisfied. To normalize the results, a standardized deviation score was employed to indicate variations in satisfaction levels.

Highlights of the 2025 Rankings

Top Neighborhood Satisfaction

For the sixth consecutive year, Maruyama Park in Chuo Ward, Sapporo, has maintained its position as the most satisfying neighborhood. The current rankings are as follows:
1. Maruyama Park (Chuo Ward, Sapporo)
2. Nishi 11-chome A (a composite area involving several nearby stations)
3. Chuo Library A (also a consolidated area comprising main city spots)

Notably, the ranking saw significant improvements in places like Horohira Bridge A, which climbed from 10th to 6th, and Gakuen Mae in Toyohira Ward, which advanced to 10th from 15th place.

Top Desired Neighborhoods

The desire to live in certain neighborhoods has also been assessed, with Sapporo A earning the top spot for the seventh year in a row, indicating its continuing popularity.
1. Sapporo A
2. Asahikawa (served by the JR Sekihoku Main Line)
3. Hakodate (by the JR Hakodate Main Line)

Furthermore, Obihiro made its way into the top 5, reflecting changing preferences among residents.

Top Municipalities Satisfaction

Among municipalities, Higashikawa has been recognized for its high satisfaction score, remaining in first place for four consecutive years, praised particularly for its unique water supply system. The new rankings include:
1. Higashikawa
2. Higashikagura
3. Chuo Ward, Sapporo

This trending preference highlights a shift towards smaller towns with unique offerings.

Factors Influencing Rankings

The survey also investigated various factors that contribute to living satisfaction. Key metrics included safety, community engagement, administrative services, and access to public amenities. For example:

• - Maruyama Park topped the chart for ease of approachability and community feeling, securing first ranking in these categories.
• - The factors of safety and quietness ranked highly alongside, reinforcing its desired reputation among residents.

Sapporo neighborhoods excelled in life conveniences, marking them as favorable, particularly those along the subway lines, indicating a correlation with transport accessibility.

Insights into Desired Areas

The community's changing dynamics were also evident in the desire ratings, with preferences leaning towards urban convenience. Not surprisingly, Sapporo retained a dominant position in desired municipal rankings, being a hub for services and amenities.

Conclusion

As urban designers and city planners look into the future, insights from this survey will play a crucial role in shaping urban development strategies within Hokkaido. With a substantial sample size and preferences ranging across age demographics, feedback from this study will prove invaluable in understanding and enhancing the living experience within these neighborhoods. The next survey in 2026 is anticipated with great interest to see how these trends evolve over time.