According to a demographic survey published by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, based on resident registration data, Japan’s three cities with the largest populations as of January 1, 2024, were Yokohama (3,752,969), Osaka (2,757,642), and Nagoya (2,297,745). (Administratively, Tokyo is considered to be a special kind of prefecture rather than a city.) Yokohama’s population was larger than the total for the whole of Shizuoka Prefecture (3,606,469) and the city of Osaka had nearly the same population as Ibaraki Prefecture (2,865,690) There were 11 cities with populations greater than 1 million there were 37 cities that had populations of fewer than 20,000 This was an increase from 33 cities in 2023 as within the last year Shimoda in Shizuoka and Furano in Hokkaidō Prefectures all shrank to this level Utashinai in Hokkaidō had the smallest population with just 2,668 people which is 1,406 times smaller than that of Yokohama The five cities with the smallest populations were all located in Hokkaidō Japan’s municipalities also fall into the categories of towns (machi) and villages (mura); the 23 central ku of Tokyo There were 12 villages with less than 500 inhabitants Aogashima and Mikurajima are located on the Izu Islands but as they are under the administration of Tokyo it leads to the unusual situation of Japan’s least populous village being run from one of the world’s most inhabited megacities In a nation known for its dramatically shrinking population one city in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido owns the dubious distinction of being the least populous of them all is fighting for its survival by highlighting the educational benefits that come from schools having small class sizes as well as providing financial incentives to encourage residents of major cities to relocate a city is generally defined as having a population of at least 50,000 with the majority living in a central urban area There is also a requirement that a majority of the residents be employed in commerce located in the mountains of central Hokkaido its population peaked at 46,000 but has been on a decline since the waning of the coal industry The National Institute of Population and Social Security Research has forecast that the city's population will decline further "We have failed to develop a replacement industry," said the city's mayor But the population decline is creating both challenges and benefits for the local education system a combined elementary and junior high school run by the city's municipal government roughly the same number it had at its pre-integration junior high school around a decade ago the three boys sat at the front of the classroom as electric fans whirred quietly nearby "Sometimes it's quite lonely at school events I wish we had more students," said Takayuki Togashi Although the lack of students poses a challenge not only in terms of learning but also for club activities Shibata emphasized that the city will "do everything possible to overcome this educational challenge." That means taking advantage of the small student population by focusing on providing personalized instruction in single-grade classes Even the three-child third-grade class remains separate from the other grades school meals are free and excursions are fully covered by subsidies from the municipal government many initiatives give the kids opportunities to have contact with children in other grades with social interaction among students of different ages being a big selling point of the school "It's nice to be able to interact with people of all ages from elementary through middle school," seventh-year student Karin Sakai A better learning experience for school children is attractive to new residents but city Mayor Shibata knows it is not enough "We will push ahead with policy measures to prevent our population from further decreasing," he said The city is promoting the improvement of services It opened a publicly funded supermarket with a community space in April to give residents somewhere to shop after the closure of the city's sole supermarket in 2009 Utashinai shows off its beautiful natural setting and offers a financial incentive of up to 5 million yen ($33,400) to attract home buyers from big cities Utashinai once considered downgrading its status to a town or village but eventually decided to remain a city to maintain greater autonomy in its ability to make policy decisions Speaking about whether Utashinai can survive as a city one senior official of the municipal government said "There should be no problem if we can get people to realize the happiness that residing here can bring while meeting their needs." People aged 80 and over top 10% of Japan's population for 1st time Fast-graying Japan's births fall 3.6% to 370,000 in Jan.-June To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible Exhibition / Utashinai City This local history museum introduces the history and culture of Utashinai which flourished as a coal town from the Meiji era (1868-1912) through video clips and a wealth of other materials In addition to video exhibits such as a coal mine theater that shows life in a coal mine tenement and changes in coal mining sites the museum also displays coal mining equipment such as coal picks actually used in the mines the second railroad line opened in Hokkaido after the opening of the line between Temiya and Horonai and a variety of daily utensils including black-and-white televisions You can experience a sense of nostalgia as if you were back in time to the 1950s Akahira City Coal Mine Heritage Guidance Facility The Smallest Photo Contest in Japan 2025 in Utashinai "Sora★Star 2025" Stamp Rally 2025 Takikawa Rape Flower Festival ~Rape flowers blooming in the hills~ Seasonal “news” of Hokkaido can be checked by category You can check the information of your “town” in one place Events” held throughout the province are easy to find and can be saved This page has been automatically translated by Google Translate service Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times Spots Cherry Blossom・Autumn Leaves There are many cherry blossom spots in the northern Hokkaido area near Asahikawa where you can enjoy the outdoors while admiring the cherry blossoms There are facilities for walking and cycling as well as sports and playground equipment that even small children can enjoy we will introduce 10 cherry blossom and flower viewing spots in the northern Hokkaido area near Asahikawa that are perfect for this coming season you can see the Furano Basin and the Tokachi mountain range This scenic spot was selected as one of Japan's 100 most scenic spots in 1950 and is affectionately known by local residents as "Namakoyama." There is a park golf course and athletic facilities nearby Kaguraoka Park is located in a hilly area just south of JR Asahikawa Station it is a famous cherry blossom spot in the city where many Siberian wild cherry trees bloom all at once many people from inside and outside the city visit the park and the park is bustling with cherry blossom viewers Haboro Park Golf Course is a generally flat course with 18 holes and is a park golf course that can be enjoyed by beginners the Sakuraike Course is filled with cherry blossoms in full bloom in spring allowing you to enjoy park golf in a beautiful setting Palette Hills is a place of relaxation that makes use of the rich nature of Takasu Town From the observation deck you can get a panoramic view of the Daisetsuzan mountain range and in May the hills are decorated with cherry blossoms in full bloom during which time the Sakura Festival and Night Cherry Blossom Illumination events are held music events and other activities that make use of the natural environment are also held Shiokari Pass has long been known as a famous cherry blossom viewing spot the pass is covered with approximately 1,600 Ezoyama cherry trees Cherry trees are also planted on both sides of the 14km round trip road from Shiokari to Minamioka Forest Park and special JR trains are also operated there so Shiokari Pass is bustling with cherry blossom viewers The cycling road that runs through the city is lined with Ezo Yamazakura trees the warm weather tempts the buds to burst into full bloom You can enjoy walking or cycling through the tunnel of cherry blossoms that envelops the cycling road Sakurayama Park is a natural park known as one of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in the city the "Citizens' Cherry Blossom Festival" is held and the park is crowded with many cherry blossom viewers who enjoy barbecues while looking at the cherry blossoms there is also a park golf course and the Sakurayama Power Up running course is known as the best place in the Sorachi region to see cherry blossoms and azaleas including Somei Yoshino and Siberian cherry trees You can enjoy a panoramic view of the Sorachi Plain from the Space Carillon which plays beautiful melodies for every season and the "Hometown View Hill Observatory." you will find the rural landscape and flower gardens that spread out before you and then you will reach Nakafurano Forest Park you might even encounter a Hokkaido squirrel Murakamiyama Park opened as a park in May 1963 about 400 cherry trees and azaleas bloom in profusion all of which were planted to commemorate the establishment of the town in 1962 you can get a panoramic view of the town center and in front of you you can see the majestic Daisetsuzan mountain range [7 minutes walk from Sapporo Station] Enjoy hot springs A comfortable stay at the 605-room "Sapporo Hotel by Granbell" [Updated for 2025] A complete guide to accessing Daiwa House Premist Dome (Sapporo Dome) and nearby hotels "So cute it's unfair" - Feel the healing power of a sleeping miniature horse [Information on the early opening on April 25th] Sapporo Odori's newest attraction Floor details and highlights of "4PLA" opening in summer 2025 A hotel in the center of Sapporo with a superb sauna and large public bath Experience the warmth that is unique to Hokkaido at "Danyuki Sapporo" [2025 Edition] 7 recommended cherry blossom spots in the Kitami and eastern Hokkaido areas Enjoy cherry blossom viewing in the great outdoors Metrics details governments need new ways to deal with garbage David Cyranoski visits a plant in Japan where plasma technology is turning waste into energy Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout Reprints and permissions Download citation Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science A government survey found that the nationwide population ratios as of January 1 2020 were split between 12.30% children (0–14 years old) a 59.29% working population (15–64 years old) The ratio of children has been falling annually since the survey was first conducted in 1994 the working population has also been decreasing every year the population of seniors has been increasing annually and since 2015 stands at more than double that of the population of children Tomigusuku in Okinawa had the highest ratio of children at 19.85% Eight out of the top ten cities were located in Okinawa Created by Nippon.com based on data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ resident registration (as of January 1 Hokkaidō had the highest population ratio of seniors and in two cities—Yūbari and Utashinai—more than 50% of the population was over 65 years old Five out of the top ten municipalities with the highest rate of elderly people were located on the northern island Eight local authorities had both the highest ratio of seniors and lowest ratio of children Chūō in Tokyo had the lowest ratio of seniors and many other urban areas and nearby commuter towns had similarly low rates Spots Ski/Snowboard Snow accumulates early in the Asahikawa area and northern Hokkaido and many ski resorts open early in Hokkaido skiers and snowboarders can enjoy a variety of snow conditions and the courses that take advantage of the area's geographical location are also one of the attractions we will introduce ski resorts where you can enjoy a wide variety of snow conditions and courses