Discover the Most Desirable City to Return to in Japan for 2025

Nationwide Return Destination Ranking 2025 Revealed

In a recent announcement, WAVE DASH Co., Ltd., headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, unveiled the 'Most Desirable City to Return to in Japan 2025' ranking through their regional support website, Seikatsu Guide.com. This ranking identifies cities where individuals who grew up but currently live elsewhere want to return.

The survey for this ranking was conducted between October 5, 2021, and September 30, 2025, involving 61,914 registered members of Seikatsu Guide.com. The criteria focused on the percentage of participants wishing to return to their hometowns, marking the first update in four years, with a deliberate rise in the minimum sample size for enhanced accuracy.

The top-ranking cities showcased notable characteristics, particularly a high fiscal strength index. Out of 815 cities, the rankings for these top three locales are as follows:

- Kariya City: 9th place (1.24)
- Musashino City: 1st place (1.51)
- Minato Ward: 16th place (1.15)

The fiscal strength index reflects a municipality’s financial capability; areas surpassing the index of 1.0 do not receive local allocation tax grants. The implication is clear: a high index corresponds to a greater proportion of self-generated revenue, indicating robust financial health.

Stable financial municipalities are better positioned to enhance administrative services. Consequently, it seems logical that individuals express a desire to return to these thriving communities. Seikatsu Guide.com also provides comparative data on some local governments, allowing users to evaluate specific neighborhoods or ascertain their relative performance on a national level.

As part of the insight into the top five cities, the nature of the ranking emphasizes the concept of 'hometown', thus suggesting ties to winter holiday destinations and inspiration for souvenirs or local products, particularly for those considering 'furusato' (hometown tax donations). Furthermore, for potential movers, certain municipalities offer relocation support programs, making this information useful for anyone contemplating their next place of residence

Survey Overview

- Method: Internet survey
- Duration: October 5, 2021 - September 30, 2025
- Participants: 61,914 Seikatsu Guide.com members

To explore the full ranking of the top 50 cities, visit: Most Desirable City to Return 2025

For previous rankings, take a look at: Most Desirable City to Return 2021

Discover more about wishful living destinations at: Most Desired Cities in Japan

About Seikatsu Guide.com

Managed by WAVE DASH Co., Ltd, Seikatsu Guide.com collates administrative and regional data from cities across Japan, including the 23 special wards of Tokyo and designated cities. The platform offers valuable comparisons between municipalities and features various rankings driven by member votes on popular locales. The site encompasses essential information about living costs, subsidies, childcare resources, and much more, proving indispensable for those seeking a suitable living environment.

For inquiries related to this release, contact: WAVE DASH Real Estate Media Department, E-mail: [email protected]