Gunma Prefecture was the most desired relocation destination in Japan in 2024, according to a survey by a nonprofit organization.
The survey, conducted by Furusato Kaiki Shien Center, which provides information and support to people who want to move to the countryside, also saw a record number of consultations about relocating out of cities for the fourth year in a row.
The survey was conducted among 19,021 respondents who either consulted the center or participated in information sessions it hosted in 2024. While Gunma ranked top among participants of information sessions in 2023, this is the first time that it took first place among people who consulted the center as well.
Besides Gunma, other top destinations included the prefectures of Shizuoka, Tochigi, Nagano and Fukuoka. Gunma ranked top among people under the age of 60, while Shizuoka was the most popular among people above that age, the survey found.
The survey noted a rise in inquiries from people in their 20s and 30s who aspire to relocate to Gunma. Respondents mentioned a better environment to raise children, its rich natural surroundings and relatively easy access to the Tokyo metropolitan area as reasons for their choice.
Located about 100 kilometers northwest of Tokyo, Gunma has been leveraging its adjacency to the capital to attract new residents, touting “relocation without changing jobs” as its catchphrase.
A recent survey conducted by the internal affairs ministry ranked Gunma's cost of living as the third-cheapest among Japan’s 47 prefectures in 2023. Gunma also became one of the few prefectures that year to cover medical bills for children up to high school age without income restrictions.
While survey rankings don’t mean everything, many in the prefecture hope it will gain more attention from people who are looking for a place to move, said Shigeyasu Kanaya, an official at the prefecture’s Gunma Living and Foreigners Promotion Division.
“Gunma has a lot to offer," Kanaya said, noting "relocation without changing jobs" and the low cost of living, as well as "easy access to top-tier tourist destinations like (national park) Oze and (onsen resort) Kusatsu.”
“There are many other attractive aspects as well, and I’m happy that more people are becoming aware of them.”
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