Tokyo – City Performance, Brand Strength and Reputation

Tokyo, together with the Greater Tokyo Area, is the most populous metropolitan area in the world, with 39 million residents. Japan‘s capital city since 1869, it has extensive economic, political, and social power in the Asian region. But how does the Japanese metropolis perform in global rankings that measure the competitiveness of cities in terms of innovation, reputation and influence, business attractiveness, and sustainability?

Let’s take a closer look at:

• Tokyo’s competitiveness and financial performance
• Its brand strength and global attractiveness
• Livability: how appealing for talent, visitors, and locals?

Economic Competitiveness and Financial Performance

The Global Financial Centres Index 34 ranks Tokyo 20^th, jumping one position from the previous ranking—currently between Amsterdam (19^th) and Dubai (21^st). The city holds a strong standing in the following areas of competitiveness: Human Capital (13^th) and Reputational & General (13^th). It also performs very well in the following industry sectors: Government & Regulatory (6^th) and Trading (12^th). Tokyo holds the seventh place in the Asia-Pacific region, comparable with Beijing and Sydney.

According to 2thinknow’s Innovation Cities Index 2022-2023, Tokyo maintains the 1st position globally.

Tokyo’s Brand Strength and Global Attractiveness 

According to Brand Finance’s City Index 2023, Tokyo ranks 7^th globally, comparable with Singapore (6^th) and San Francisco (8^th).

Resonance’s 2023 World’s Best Cities Report ranks Tokyo 4^th, scoring 11^th in Prosperity, 4^th in Lovability, and 3^rd in Livability. It ranks first for restaurants and shopping. Overall, it currently sits between New York City (3^rd) and Singapore (5^th).

Kearney’s 2023 Global Cities Report continues to rank Tokyo 4^th globally and 23^rd in its Global Cities Outlook—a slight improvement of two positions from the previous ranking.

The Global Power City Index ranks Tokyo 3^rd. In terms of function-specific rankings, the city ranks 10^th in Economy, 4^th in R&D, 5^th in Cultural Interaction, 3^rd in Livability, 16^th in Environment, and 8^th in Accessibility. Tokyo ranks 22^nd in Variety of Workplace Positions, 12^th in Winners of Prizes in Science and Technology, 30^th for Nightlife Options, 4^th for Number of Retail Shops, 40^th for Urban Greenery, and 37^th for Average Speed. Lastly, its appeal is 17^th among Highly-skilled Workers, 12^th among Corporate Executives, 5^th among Residents, and 2^nd among Tourists.

Livability: How Attractive as a Place to Live, Work, and Study?

The Mercer Quality of Living City Ranking places Tokyo 50^th, sitting between Aberdeen (49^th) and Edinburgh (51^st). Mercer’s Cost of Living Ranking puts it 19^th, a drop of ten positions from the previous ranking. It now sits between Dubai (18^th) and Shenzhen (20^th).

According to the Best Urban Cities for Digital Nomads list by Spot a Home, Tokyo ranks 53^rd out of 56 global cities. It currently sits between Dubai (52^nd) and New York (54^th).

Lastly, Tokyo is home to some of the best universities in the world. According to The Times Higher Education Ranking, the University of Tokyo ranks 29^th globally. The QS World University Ranking positions the same institution 28^th, and Tokyo Institute of Technology 91^st.

Urban Sustainability

The Arcadis Sustainability City Index 2022 ranks Tokyo 3^rd overall, comparable with Stockholm (2^nd) and Copenhagen (4^th). Its pillar rankings are the following: Planet 7^th, People 7^th, Profit 20^th. Its strengths are transport, connectivity, and green finance. Employment and affordability are two areas that could be improved, according to the study.

Last updated in January 2024. Explore more city profiles in our City Observatory.

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Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended to provide a general overview of Tokyo’s economic and cultural landscape and facilitate comparison over time. While we strive for accuracy and completeness, we are not responsible for any typographical errors or inaccuracies. The data is provided ‘as is’ without warranty of any kind. Users should verify any information before relying on it for decision-making purposes.