Who Replaced Hakodate? The "New Top Three Night Views in Japan" List Is Announced

By Reporter Cai Wenjun / Comprehensive Report

Japan’s Top Three Night View Titles Have New Winners! The Japan Night View Conference recently announced the latestTop Three Night View Cities in Japan, with Sapporo replacing Hakodate, joining Nagasaki and Kobe.

The new top three night views in Japan were selected through a vote by 4,500 night view connoisseurs nationwide. Each participant could choose up to five locations. The final results were categorized by city and tallied based on vote counts to determine Japan’s new top three night views.

▲ Night view of Nagasaki. (Photo / fromRetrip)

1st Place: Nagasaki City
Located in Kyushu, Nagasaki City boasts popular night view spots such as Mount Inasa, Mount Konpira, and Glover Garden. Other attractions include illuminated churches and the Nagasaki Lantern Festival, making it the top vote-getter in this selection.

▲ Night view from Mount Moiwa in Sapporo. (Photo / from the official website of Moiwa Ropeway)

2nd Place: Sapporo City
Hokkaido is home to many well-known night view cities, including the famous Hakodate and Muroran. What sets Sapporo apart is its recently renovated Mount Moiwa, which is especially popular. Other scenic spots like Mount Okura and the Sapporo TV Tower are also renowned for their night views. Many believe that the crystal-clear night skies of Hokkaido offer some of the most stunning views. Coupled with events like the Sapporo Snow Festival and the Sapporo White Illumination, the city’s rich nighttime activities helped it secure second place.

▲ Night view of Kobe. (Photo / from Wikipedia)

3rd Place: Kobe City
Whether viewed from Mount Rokko or Mount Maya, or admired through the illuminated Kobe Port Tower and Kobe Harborland Bridge, the harbor night view—where city lights twinkle like stars—is an unforgettable highlight of visiting Kobe, earning it third place among Japan’s new top three night views.

The Japan Night View Conference also stated that as domestic competition for night view tourism intensifies, they have decided to re-certify and publish the ranking of Japan’s top three night views every three years going forward.

The Night View Conference also released the“New Top Ten Night Views in Japan”ranking, as voted by night view connoisseurs:

1. Nagasaki City
2. Sapporo City
3. Kobe City
4. Hakodate City
5. Kitakyushu City
6. Osaka City
7. Yokohama City
8. Tokyo Metropolis
9. Kyoto City
10. Nagoya City