December 05, 2025
City of Yamagata named The Japan Times’ Destination Region 2025
The Japan Times has announced that Yamagata city, Yamagata Prefecture, has been selected as the Destination Region of the Year 2025, a new annual recognition given to a Japanese region that The Japan Times wishes to showcase to the world for its exemplary cultural, social and environmental initiatives.
The Destination Region program, launched with Koosuke Motani, the chief senior economist at The Japan Research Institute, as an adviser, identifies municipalities that are advancing sustainable regional development from three key perspectives:
1. Preserving and passing on their regions’ cultural and historical heritages to future generations.
2. Fostering sustainable local economies and communities that make effective use of regional resources.
3. Demonstrating the potential to contribute to solving regional and global challenges through their initiatives.
Yamagata city was chosen for its outstanding integration of culture, nature and creativity. The city is home to the internationally acclaimed Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival and the Yamagata Symphony Orchestra, as well as iconic destinations such as Mount Zao and the temple Yamadera. Its vibrant culinary scene, rich in seasonal and regional flavors, further reflects Yamagata’s deep connection to its natural environment. Part of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network, Yamagata embodies the values of innovation and sustainability that align with the goals of the Destination Region initiative.
Since 2018, The Japan Times has been promoting sustainable development through its Sustainable Japan Network, which highlights the efforts of Japanese companies, organizations and local governments. The network’s activities include the Sustainable Japan Award and the Sustainable Japan Practitioners Networking, launched in 2019. Each year, the forum selects one region to feature, organizing a two-day program of lectures, field visits and cultural exchange, followed by global media coverage through The Japan Times.
This year, the forum will take place in Yamagata city under the theme “Satoyama × Creative: Regional Culture and International Exchange.” By showcasing the city’s cultural richness, creative energy and deep-rooted traditions, The Japan Times aims to raise global awareness of Yamagata’s appeal, strengthen inbound engagement and foster meaningful dialogue between Japan’s regions and the wider world.
