The Japanese cities of Toyama and Osaka have been designated as two of the "52 Places to Go" in 2025 by the New York Times. The inclusion of two destinations within Japan on this prestigious list further solidifies the country's perennial status as on the world's most popular destinations; this comes alongside the official U.S.-Japan Tourism Year in 2024, which runs until March 2025, as declared by the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA), JNTO and their U.S. counterparts, to further enhance mutual tourism and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Toyama, which is getting popular for its easy accessibility by Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo in 2 hours, has risen to become a top off-the-beaten-path destination. Famous for the UNESCO-listed, thatched-roof Gokayama villages, Toyama is rich with cultural experiences, like the Owara Kaze no Bon Festival in early September which displays synchronized traditional dances to pray for an abundant harvest. For adventurous travelers, the Tateyama Mountain Range boasts the highest hotel in Japan at the mid-point Murodo, and natural wonders like the Spring Quartet of Asahi, where cherry blossom trees, rapeseed flowers and tulips bloom in a burst of colors to mark the start of spring.

Osaka is focusing on bringing sustainability to the forefront with the lifestyle project Grand Green Osaka, which will establish a green space at the bustling entry of the Japan Rail Osaka Station, alongside Japan's first Waldorf Astoria hotel to 22-acre space. Additionally, this year Osaka will host Expo 2025, inviting the world to explore the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations and focusing on three major topics: “Saving Lives,” “Empowering Lives” and “Connecting Lives”, leading participants to experience breakthrough technologies, innovate with new ideas, and absorb the wealth of Japan's culture. This will mark 55 years after Japan was home to its first world exposition in 1970. Expo 2025 will run from April 13 through October 13, 2025.

“The demand for travel from the United States to Japan has seen the highest record in 2024. We are honored to receive this recognition on two important cities in Japan, one from a central city destination like Osaka and another from the off-the-beaten path destination Toyama,” says Susumu Matsumoto, Director of the Japan National Tourism Organization's (JNTO) New York office. JNTO NY Office will join New York Travel & Adventure Show at Javits Convention Center on January 25-26 showcasing various destinations including both Toyama, Osaka and Osaka Expo.

For more information about travel to Japan, visit https://www.japan.travel/en/us.