what is the best city in japan

if you had to pick the bes tcity to live in what would it be and why?

Uh so far, I like the looks of Yokohama, Tokyo is ok for visiting, but not to live. Maybe my visit to Osaka and Kyoto in the next week will change my mind?

Osaka is one massive, noisy pile of concrete and plastic, I don't think anybody would rank that very high as a city to live in. Downtown Kyoto isn't much to write home about either, but the areas on the periphery of the city centre where all the major temples and shrines are located are quite nice.

I would rank these cities pretty highly:

Nara: smaller city filled with tons of beautiful temples and shrines and with that great park right in the middle of town. Also close to Osaka for commuting.

Kobe: Relatively attractive city with the mountains close by and tons of stuff to do.

Himeji: (the city I live in) Himeji just has the castle going for it, but thats good enough for me.

Hiroshima: A very vibrant city with tons of stuff to do and a surprising amount of greenery downtown.

senseiman said:

Osaka is one massive, noisy pile of concrete and plastic, I don't think anybody would rank that very high as a city to live in.

Click to expand...

Unless, like me, they are crazy Takoyaki freaks Osaka has some great food!

PS: Takoyaki = little balls of fried octopuss.

Oh yeah, and the "thread":

Kyoto has my vote. There are a lot of young people out there (lots of Universities), great night life, and plenty of breathtaking temples... but I have not yet been to Nara (and actually, am yet to visit a great many places in this country), so I speak in recognition of my ignorance...

Uhm, I just arrived in Yokohama, I am staying in Pan Pacific... one word...

Yokohama = #1 by far... The giant ferris wheel is right outside my window, once I got to Yokohama train stations they became so much nicer then others. So if you want to visit Japan I suggest Yokohama, #1 all the way Views are soooo Beautiful outside on my balcony, Im in love