The ten most popular cities for 2024 have been revealed, three of which are in Japan

Japan was slightly later than most other countries in recovering tourism from the pandemic and only reopened its borders last year.

But it’s clear that travelers have been happy to wait as interest in the country continues to grow.

So much so that not just one destination in Japan has been named among the top 10 most popular destinations for 2024.

Skyscanner’s latest research compiled statistics from a survey of 2,000 participants, as well as flight and hotel data, to determine the rankings.

in sixth place and Tokyo in tenth place.

And as someone who just returned from a two-week trip to Japan, I can attest that these places are worth considering (along with countless other cities – but that’s a topic for another time).

Sapporo

Although Sapporo wasn’t on my own busy route, the capital of the mountainous northern Japanese island of Hokkaido is well worth a visit – especially if you like skiing.

The resort is known for having some of Japan’s best skiing, as well as an annual snow festival, and attracts travelers from far and wide during the winter months. So if you’re looking to change up your European ski holiday next year, this could be an alternative to try.

Other notable attractions in this area include the Sapporo Beer Museum, the only one of its kind in Japan, and the Jozankei Onsen – a steaming natural hot spring.

Osaka

Osaka is another lively place with lots to do. Just a two and a half hour ride from Tokyo by bullet train, it’s easy to combine the two cities into one vacation.

Osaka really comes alive at night. The Dotombori district is a neon playground for nightlife – and the bar scene is one you’ll definitely want to visit, full of speakeasy-style establishments and more traditional watering holes.

If you’re more of an early riser, there’s plenty of culture to explore elsewhere in this city, including Osaka Castle and Universal Studios Japan.

Tokyo

It may be tenth on the list, but Tokyo is not to be missed – even if it seems like an obvious choice.

The size of this city alone is worth a visit and can be viewed in all its glory from observation decks around the city (Shibuya Sky, Tokyo Tower and Skytree to name a few). Elsewhere, there are Michelin-starred restaurants, award-winning bars, gaming cafes and fascinating museums to explore.

When night falls, be sure to head to Omoide Yokocho or Memory Lane, where you’ll find rows of vendors selling ramen, yakitori, and many more delicious treats. A pub crawl in Golden Gai is also guaranteed to be a great evening.

If Japan isn’t for you next year, check out the full list of popular destinations below…