Japan by prefecture: all 47 guides
Japan is divided into 47 prefectures in eight regions. Each guide covers what the prefecture is known for, what to eat and buy there, the best time to go and how to get there — plus the official visitor statistics, so you can tell a crowded favourite from a quiet one.
Last checked
The three most visited prefectures in 2025 were Tokyo, Osaka and Chiba. The table below shows the top ten; the regions further down show what each part of the country does best, including the many prefectures that still see few foreign visitors.
The 10 most visited prefectures
| # | Prefecture | Foreign visitors | Spend per visitor (yen) | Total spend (billion yen) | Avg nights | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tokyo | 20,892,000 | 157,000 | 3,286.7 | 5.4 | |
| 2 | Osaka | 16,996,000 | 98,000 | 1,668.8 | 3.5 | |
| 3 | Chiba | 14,456,000 | 19,000 | 276.3 | 0.6 | |
| 4 | Kyoto | 12,228,000 | 56,000 | 680.2 | 2.3 | |
| 5 | Fukuoka | 4,513,000 | 105,000 | 472.8 | 4.4 | |
| 6 | Kanagawa | 3,810,000 | 54,000 | 206.9 | 2.9 | |
| 7 | Nara | 3,709,000 | 10,000 | 36.7 | 0.4 | |
| 8 | Yamanashi | 3,337,000 | 24,000 | 79.7 | 1.0 | |
| 9 | Hokkaido | 3,009,000 | 150,000 | 451.2 | 6.0 | |
| 10 | Aichi | 2,826,000 | 96,000 | 271.0 | 4.7 |
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Consumption Trend Survey for Foreigners Visiting Japan, 2025 annual (final), summary report (regional survey) (都道府県別 訪問者数・消費単価・旅行消費額・平均泊数（地域調査）). Period: 2025-01 to 2025-12. Unit: visitors_10k = 10,000 persons; spend_per_person_10k_yen = 10,000 yen; spend_100m_yen = 100 million yen; nights = average nights.
All 47 prefectures ranked by foreign visitors →
Hokkaido 北海道
Tohoku 東北
Kanto 関東
Chubu 中部
Kansai 関西
Chugoku 中国
Shikoku 四国
Kyushu & Okinawa 九州・沖縄
Kyushu & Okinawa region guide →
How these guides are made
Every prefecture page follows the same structure, so you can compare places quickly: an overview, the top places to see, local food and souvenirs, experiences, festivals, the best season (with the Japan Meteorological Agency’s monthly averages), access from Tokyo, where to stay, practical tips and the official visitor statistics.
The facts come from official and primary sources — prefectural tourism organisations, the Japan Tourism Agency’s visitor surveys, the Japan National Tourism Organization and the Japan Meteorological Agency — and every page lists its sources with the date they were last checked. We do not publish invented reviews, star ratings or “hidden gems” nobody has verified. If a figure matters to your plans, follow the source link: opening hours and prices change.
A region page gives the bigger picture — how its prefectures differ, how to travel between them and how busy each one gets — which is the best place to start if you have a week or more and want to go beyond the big three.