[Hida Takayama, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture] Takayama City selected as the only city in Japan for the 2026 "Most Welcoming Cities on Earth"!

Takayama City has been selected as the only city in Japan for "Most Welcoming Cities on Earth" in the "Traveller Review Awards 2026" by the major accommodation booking site Booking.com. The award ceremony was held in Takayama City on February 18, 2026.

Overview of the Award Ceremony and Background of the Award Based on over 370 million verified reviews from travelers worldwide, Booking.com recognizes accommodations and other facilities that provide outstanding hospitality in the "Traveller Review Awards." The top 10 "Most Welcoming Cities on Earth" were selected based on the proportion of accommodations that received this award in those destinations.

Speeches at the Award Ceremony

Mr. Luis Rodriguez, Country Manager of Booking.com Japan "Takayama City has provided attractive experiences for travelers while balancing sustainable tourism with the local way of life. We believe this result is what led to this award."

Akira Tanaka, Mayor of Takayama City "Takayama City has actively welcomed foreign tourists for over 40 years. Accepting foreigners with diverse backgrounds is by no means an easy task. Precisely because of this, rather than perceiving it as a burden, we have worked on improving the welcoming environment across the entire city, including private businesses, aiming for a region where everyone can spend their time comfortably. We believe that the accumulation of these continuous efforts has led to this award.

This award is a gift made possible by the support of the citizens who cooperate with accepting tourists on a daily basis."