Gunma Prefecture Ranks Second Among The Most Desirable Relocation Destinations

On March 1st, the NPO Hometown Return Support Center, headquartered in Tokyo and providing assistance to rural relocation seekers, announced the rankings of desired relocation destinations for each prefecture. Shizuoka Prefecture retained its top position for the fourth consecutive year, while Gunma Prefecture surged from ninth place last year to second, with Tochigi Prefecture maintaining its third position from the previous year.

According to the center, Gunma Prefecture's low seismic activity and comparatively lower costs of living and education have led to a rapid increase in inquiries from individuals raising children. Gunma Prefecture is particularly popular among those considering remote work within a 100-kilometer radius of Tokyo.

Hokkaido climbed from 12th place last year to 7th. With the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a recovery in the number of people traveling for vacations or returning to their home countries. The center's analysis suggests that the growing desire to relocate to Hokkaido seems to have contributed to the increase in inquiries.

Yamaguchi Prefecture rose from 15th to 9th place, attributed to its efforts in social media (SNS) and online advertising, resulting in an increase in attendees at its relocation seminars.

A survey collected opinions from 8,164 respondents regarding their desired relocation destinations. Rankings below 21st place are not disclosed.

[Top 20 most wanted to move in 2023] * The previous year's ranking is in parentheses

1st place: Shizuoka Prefecture (1)
2nd place: Gunma Prefecture (9)
3rd place: Tochigi Prefecture (9)
4th place: Nagano Prefecture (2)
5th place: Miyagi Prefecture (7)
6th place: Fukuoka Prefecture (5)
7th place: Hokkaido (12)
8th place: Yamanashi Prefecture (4)
9th place: Yamaguchi Prefecture (15)
10th place: Hiroshima Prefecture (6)
11th place: Wakayama Prefecture (8)
12th place: Fukushima Prefecture (―)
13th place: Toyama Prefecture (13)
14th place: Kanagawa Prefecture (9)
15th place: Chiba Prefecture (16)
16th place: Gifu Prefecture (11)
17th place: Kumamoto Prefecture (14)
18th place: Hyogo Prefecture (18)
19th place: Kagoshima Prefecture (17)
20th place: Ibaraki Prefecture (18)