Japan voted Best Country in world for 2nd year in a row in Conde Nast Traveler poll

"....along with historical architecture"

Crazy. Japan has about the least amount of "historical architecture" than anywhere else in the world, unless you count the replica buildings like temples that are extensively rebuilt every 30 years or so.

Gotta question the veracity of this survey.

Japan is great! I love living here.

The Park Hyatt Kyoto is not the usual kind of hotel people stay in. The usual hotel ranges from a capsule hotel to a bigger capsule. I think the readers who choose Conde Nast Traveller selections are not necessarily usual travellers.

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"" A detailed breakdown of the scoring system isn’t provided, ""

Other than safety and fast transportation I don't see how could Japan be second but either way Good News for Japan, congrats.

Tokyo... is... friendly?

Polite, yes, maybe. But "Friendly" is far down on the list of adjectives I would use.

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This article is one big joke.

Tokyo placed sixth on its list of Friendliest Cities in the World.

Anyone who says this has never lived here or spent much time here at all

along with historical architecture

A few temples. Otherwise it's ugly concrete boxes everywhere.

The Park Hyatt Kyoto was voted Japan’s best hotel in the survey

Even with the exchange rate, most aren't staying at high end hotels. It'll be minpaku creating a nuisance to neighbours or business hotels with tiny rooms and crappy breakfasts who won't let you check in at 14:59.

Glad to see the usual rigorous standards applied to this poll, i.e. a full breakdown of the age, nationality, socioeconomic status, travel experience, and gender of the participating members.

Otherwise Conde Nast could just as well have made the whole thing up to attract comments and controversy.

Nah, that would be cynical and dishonest...

A few temples. Otherwise it's ugly concrete boxes everywhere.

Reading this, a passage from Alex Kerr's "Dogs and Demons" came to mind. I don't recall off hand if it was his own idea or if he was quoting someone else, but the gist of it was that the Japanese have an ability to "narrow their focus", by which he meany they'll see a stream flowing through the countryside and yet somehow not see the brutalist-designed factory right next to it.

This might be what's going on with this poll. People will go to a temple or shrine and conveniently not see the vending machines and not hear the endless broadcast announcements spoiling the atmosphere.

"Best country" in the world is highly subjective.

Any country is ‘friendly’ if one has the means to stay in a five star hotel.

Journalists reviewing luxurious hotels and restaurants on a two week jaunt here don’t have a clue.

Yeah, sounds plausible - Conde Nast could be making it up because it has a vested interest in pushing Japan up its readership favorability ranking and attracting controversy. Sounds like quite a conspiracy - maybe we could tie MAGA to it somehow? Lol. Or maybe it's just that Conde Nast readers think Japan is a great tourist destination with interesting culture where they can enjoying spending their luxury holiday for a relatively low price, thanks to the yen in the gutter phenomena.

I'm a natural cynic when it comes to these "polls", "awards", and so on. There's always some mutual back-scratching going on.

I mean Japan's great, no question. I wouldn't have spent 20 years living here if I thought otherwise, but these puff pieces are lame.

Great place to visit if you have a very large pile of money. Awful place to live especially if you are a corporate slave.

Of course, Japan is the best of all countries, I am very happy living here...

I'm very sorry that this report breaks the hearts of some whiner, but that's life, accept it..

GO JAPAN !!!..

By the way, US is not even in the top 20. LOL

With Conde Nast being primarily focused on luxury travel

It tells everything behind that result.

If the focus was on budget travel, it would be completely different

Agreed. Japan is one of the best place to be as a tourist, especially if you are rich.

But here is a big difference, a huge difference, between being a tourist, and actually working and living here, being in their system.

180 degree opposite.

But one thing is certain. The Japanese propaganda for best country, best this, best that, is one of the most advanced and developed in the world.

Condé Nast lost over $100M in 2023 and cut 5% of the workers.

Knowing the source of your "news" is very important to avoid as much bias in the articles as possible. Condé Nast wants to be for the wealthy, elite. They appear to be more aspirational.

A media company that isn't profitable is much more likely to create for-pay articles that are more "marketing" than anything else.

Ref: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/01/business/media/conde-nast-business.html

This might be what's going on with this poll. People will go to a temple or shrine and conveniently not see the vending machines and not hear the endless broadcast announcements spoiling the atmosphere.

Yeah, people totally ignore the Yoshiwara paper mills belching out toxic smoke at the foot of Mount Fuji

Now this is an interesting phenomenon.

Presumably, the majority of the commenters here are expats living in Japan.

YET, there are a good number of usual suspects here who feel compelled to down-vote, diminish or decry any achievement of, or accolade received by, Japan. 

Their usual refrain being along the lines of, “so what? other countries have done that” or “those people praising Japan don’t know the Real Japan like I do, it really sucks (is unfair; is racist; is misogynistic; is too oyaji driven; is clueless; is unfriendly; is apathetic; etc., etc .”  

It begs the question:  You have chosen to live here (none of the usual suspects are enslaved, I think it’s safe to assume), so if Japan makes you SO unhappy that you must come to this site every day to whine about “lousy Japan,” why do you remain here?  Why not go to your ideal country or, if there is no such thing, at least to any country that you hate less ??

I can think of about six best countries in the world off the top of my head, and I’m not even as well-traveled as some. Japan is on that list though, for sure.

Congratulations Japan. I like the country very much but that's just me.

Crazy. Japan has about the least amount of "historical architecture" than anywhere else in the world, unless you count the replica buildings like temples that are extensively rebuilt every 30 years or so.

Gr8 point, looks more like a paid survey. In Asia Japan is definitely at the bottom when it comes to authentic original historical architectures..

Conde Nast is for cashed up Westerners, and for them, Japan is a great destination. Few hassles, little crime, great intercity transport etc.

Due to wage differentials and yes, the exchange rate, Westerners doing many common jobs will now be cashed up compared to Japanese. They will also get enviable time off work compared to those working in Japan.

Yep! I agree! Japan is a great place to visit. However, living there is a very different story.

I guess some of the essential tourist income bias is involved. as for authentic architectures please take a walk around the backstreets of Kyoto an Osaka you almost fall into old shrines and temples, nah western tourists, surely more valuable than US touted alamo, US got nought, UK was all paid for by the slave trade, and unmaintained. Europe, OK I enjoy central paris, but a rip -off even if you are fluent Ish in lingo, I like japan 'cos the small things in life are still meaningful, inc respect cleanliness transport security ..... AND FOOD. fantastic pic at the top, fujisan, if you choose th correct south facing room in the H-Regency during the winter months, press the open curtain switch, u got it, Can the salarymen afford to. never mind!!! It is the views that count not the perceived status

In Asia Japan is definitely at the bottom when it comes to authentic original historical architectures.

South Korea is lower, but they were occupied by Japan and also had a civil war. The big palace with the changing of the guard in Seoul was destroyed at least once by the Japanese and is a complete rebuild. If you think Tokyo has lots of high rises and concrete, get yourself to Seoul to see way way more.

Japan was heavily firebombed so there are mitigating factors here too. Its also "ki no bunka", wood which rots, which cannot be compared with "ishi no bunka", stone that doesn't stay up when you have earthquakes. Other places have earthquakes too, but not as many big ones as Japan.

The title is way off target. This survey of tourists is for the "best tourist destination", not the best country in the world.

Naturally most people will say their own country is the best in the world so take the title with a grain of salt.

As a tourist destination Japan has much to offer from great food and natural scenery to factory tours and quirky niche tours just not found anywhere else. A great destination for all ages.

Without the breakdown of how this ranking was pulled, naming a country the “best,” is like calling a person “great” without grounds. That aside, Japan is certainly a pleasant place to visit for foreigners, but living here is a whole different story. I also agree that “friendly” is not what I would refer to the people here, but they’re polite and manageable.

The only Asian countries with more World Heritage sites than Japan are Iran and China. Where did the lie come from that Japan has the fewest historical buildings in Asia?

And it's also a lie that it will be rebuilt in 30 years. The number of years varies depending on the shrine, and temples are not included.

People who don't know the difference between shrines and temples should stop insulting Japan, right?

If the person who made the comment was Korean, it's understandable that they would be jealous. The lack of historical buildings is inevitable in a country without culture or history.

By the way, US is not even in the top 20. LOL

Yet, somehow, manages to continue to be one of the top 3 destinations for international tourism on Earth.

Tell us, where does China or Russia rank on the list? We’ll all wait. LOOOL!!

Reader's choice. Mostly Americans voting I guess.

Japan number 1, why not. It's still a fairly new destination, so interesting. Transportation is easy, it's safe, food, nowadays with the exchange rate cheap. And there is lots to see, although "historical buildings".... English is slowly slowly improving too, 20 years ago the only English you could find in parks, museums etc were the signs forbidding stuff, nowadays there's a bit more. Still surprisingly weak English generally of course.

Nothing wrong with Japan as number 1 tourist destination.

Can't stop laughing!!!

Conde Naste are spot on - Japan is definitely the best place to live - and visit - on earth. Amazing attractions and incredible food.

I did an online survey about what country is best suited to me. Surprise - it is Japan.

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/quiz-find-the-best-country-for-you

If course for the super rich Japan is perfect.

Super clean, super safe, staff that be d down backwards to you.

But a holiday is so different to real life.

If course for the super rich Japan is perfect. Super clean, super safe, staff that be d down backwards to you. But a holiday is so different to real life.

Poppycock. For travellers and residents alike, super rich or not, Japan is undoubtedly clean, extremely safe and reliably staffed. It's getting scruffier and rustier by the year I'll admit, but it is still an amazing country and I think it always will be.

Mike_OxlongOct. 6 11:07 pm JST

I did an online survey about what country is best suited to me. Surprise - it is Japan.

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/quiz-find-the-best-country-for-you

Japan is #8 in power. Fascinating.

Personally, I feel there are many items of concern, which Japan can improve upon for their people. These relate to public sanitation, publicly sold food (American fast food sold in Japan does not always appear to be of the same type, quality), international building code issues . . . .

Japan is a great destination. Few hassles, little crime, great intercity transport etc.

Also...

Large numbers of clean public restrooms.

No tipping.

Best customer service in the world.

Do not have to worry about bribing corrupt officials or policemen.

Do not have to worry about gangs of little children constantly begging you for money.

Great public transportation.

Do not have to worry about getting sick from drinking the water.

Do not have to worry about getting car-jacked at a petrol station or shot at in a road-rage incident.

Also...

Some of the best ski resorts in the world with amazing powder snow.

Some of the best beaches (i.e. Yoron) in the world.

Beautiful verdant forests and alpine mountains with great hiking.

Only country in Asia besides India with castles.

suomithewayToday 04:07 am JST

Sounds like a litany of fairy tales and non-issues for most of the first world.

As someone who has raised 5 healthy happy kids here, I agree. Moving to Japan from Canada in 1988 was the best decision I’ve ever made

The usual hotel ranges from a capsule hotel to a bigger capsule.

For backpackers and day labourers, yes. For travellers, Japanese and foreign alike...no. For them hotels range from business hotels which are quite reasonable, Air B&B, Japanese Inns and large hotels with dinner and breakfast included.

Your chances of getting mugged on the subway or shot anywhere are next to zero. The toilets flush and the tap water is drinkable. That's good enough for me right there.

There is probably no other country with better hygiene than Japan.

The use of masks and other items is almost pathological.

Unfortunately, crime does occur, but the only thing an average citizen will encounter is the theft of an umbrella or bicycle.

There is no severe racism, and black people or residents of anti-Japanese countries are not shot to death in the middle of the day.

Unlike in the West, the police rarely shoot and kill criminals.

Japan is a rare country in the world, with its own unique culture fused with that of China and Europe.

Agent_NeoOct. 11 11:37 pm JST

There is no severe racism, and black people or residents of anti-Japanese countries are not shot to death in the middle of the day.

You have to have lots of visible minorities to comment on the treatment of visible minorities.

Unlike in the West, the police rarely shoot and kill criminals.

They have no need to with firearms being as rare as they are in Japan.