Esaka Ranks No. 1 for Most Inquired-About City to Live In; Umeda, Kyoto, and Kobe Maintain Top 3 as Dream Cities!

Key facts

  • Esaka Ranks No. 1 for Most Inquired-About City to Live In; Umeda, Kyoto, and Kobe Maintain Top 3 as Dream Cities!
  • CHINTAI Corporation has released its 'Top Cities to Live in Ranking 2026 - Kansai Edition.' Based on the number of inquiries for rental properties, 'Esaka,' which balances accessibility to central Osaka with daily conveniences, took the top spot. Meanwhile, in a survey of unmarried women aged 18-39, 'Umeda,' 'Kyoto,' and 'Kobe' maintained their positions as the top three 'dream cities.' The results reveal a trend where 'livability' is prioritized for realistic housing choices, while 'brand image' is valued for aspirations.
  • Source: PR Times
  • Date: May 27, 2026

Direct answer

CHINTAI Corporation has released its 'Top Cities to Live in Ranking 2026 - Kansai Edition.' Based on the number of inquiries for rental properties, 'Esaka,' which balances accessibility to central Osaka with daily conveniences, took the top spot. Meanwhile, in a survey of unmarried women aged 18-39, 'Umeda,' 'Kyoto,' and 'Kobe' maintained their positions as the top three 'dream cities.' The results reveal a trend where 'livability' is prioritized for realistic housing choices, while 'brand image' is valued for aspirations.

Citation
Esaka Ranks No. 1 for Most Inquired-About City to Live In; Umeda, Kyoto, and Kobe Maintain Top 3 as Dream Cities! (May 27, 2026), PR Times
Source
PR Times
Date
May 27, 2026
CHINTAI Corporation has released its 'Top Cities to Live in Ranking 2026 - Kansai Edition.' Based on the number of inquiries for rental properties, 'Esaka,' which balances accessibility to central Osaka with daily conveniences, took the top spot. Meanwhile, in a survey of unmarried women aged 18-39, 'Umeda,' 'Kyoto,' and 'Kobe' maintained their positions as the top three 'dream cities.' The results reveal a trend where 'livability' is prioritized for realistic housing choices, while 'brand image' is valued for aspirations.
localNQ 45/100出典：PR Times

📋 Article Processing Timeline

  • 📰 Published: May 27, 2026 at 10:00
  • 🔍 Collected: May 31, 2026 at 22:58 (108h 58m after Published)
  • 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 2, 2026 at 09:03 (34h 5m after Collected)
CHINTAI Corporation (HQ: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Tomoya Okuda), a leading company in apartment hunting, announces the "Top Cities to Live in Ranking 2026 - Kansai Edition," compiled from inquiries for rental properties listed on the women-focused rental property search site 'Woman.CHINTAI' in the Kansai region (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hyogo, Shiga, Wakayama). Additionally, we surveyed unmarried women aged 18-39 residing in Kansai about the dream cities they would like to live in at least once, and ranked the results. Overall Ranking Results Here Summary of Top Cities to Live in & Women's Dream Cities Ranking 2026 - Kansai Edition - "Esaka" climbed from 4th place last year to claim the top spot. - Areas like "Juso," "Amagasaki," and "Nishinomiya," which offer both access to the city center and a calm living environment, ranked high. - A trend was observed where people choose cities based on "livability that suits them," considering factors like rent and access. - Major Kansai cities such as "Umeda," "Kyoto," and "Kobe" remained in the TOP 3 for the second consecutive year. - Popular residential areas with a calm living environment like "Ashiya" and "Nishinomiya-kitaguchi" also maintained high rankings. - Interest in dream cities expanded beyond glamour and fame to include cities where one can easily imagine their daily life. "Want to live in" = Livability, "Dream of" = Brand and Image In the "Top Cities to Live in Ranking," areas like "Esaka," "Nakatsu," and "Awaza," which have good access to major Osaka areas and are equipped with essential daily facilities like supermarkets and restaurants, ranked high. This year's ranking particularly showed a tendency to prioritize efficiency in daily movements, such as commuting and shopping, with cities that balance accessibility to the city center and livability gaining support. Meanwhile, in the "Popular Rental Cities Ranking 2026," which tallied stations with the most inquiries on 'CHINTAI Net,' areas in the Hanshin region like "Ashiya" and "Nishinomiya," known for their calm environment and attractive townscapes, ranked high. While popular residential areas tend to rank, this ranking shows a more pronounced trend towards convenience for single living. In the "Dream Cities Ranking," well-known areas that are also developed as commercial and tourist hubs, such as "Umeda," "Kyoto," and "Kobe," lined the top. These cities are characterized by their convenience, brand image, and a sense of "specialness" from their vibrancy. This suggests that while practical aspects like ease of daily life and convenience are valued for actual living, factors like fame and city image have a stronger influence on dream cities. "Top Cities to Live in Ranking 2026 - Kansai Edition" TOP 10 - Stations with easy access to major areas and high living convenience rank high Stations with easy access to central Osaka like Umeda and Namba, such as "Esaka," "Nakatsu," "Honmachi," and "Higashi-Mikuni," ranked high. Another feature is that many of these stations, including "Awaza" and "Midoribashi," make it easy to shop and dine out. For women who travel frequently for work and private life, being able to lead a smooth daily life while minimizing commute time is considered a crucial condition for choosing a city. - Areas balancing ease of commute and a calm living environment are popular Many stations along the Hankyu Kobe Line and JR lines with easy access to central Osaka, such as "Juso," "Amagasaki," "Tachibana," "Nishinomiya," and "Mukonoso," also ranked high. These cities are attractive for their ability to balance access to the city center with reasonable rent and a good living environment. This reflects a trend among women who value a calm environment to relax in after returning home and a reasonable rent range, rather than pursuing convenience alone. - Cities chosen for "livability that suits me" are rapidly rising Stations that significantly jumped in the rankings, such as "Sango" (+336), "Midoribashi" (+142), and "Tachibana" (+53), were seen in the upper ranks. Notably, "Sango" has a rent market price of 29,000 yen and "Tachibana" 59,000 yen, which are relatively low among the top-ranking areas. On the other hand, highly convenient stations like "Midoribashi" and "Honmachi" also rose in the ranks, suggesting a growing movement to prioritize whether a place is "convincing for me," considering not just low rent but also access and living convenience. "Top Cities to Live in Ranking 2026 - Kansai Edition" Top 5 Rising Stations From the Top 50 cities, we picked stations that rose significantly in rank compared to the previous year. Here are the Top 5 cities with rapidly growing attention this year. The results of this year's rising stations ranking suggest a growing trend of choosing a city that fits one's lifestyle. "Sango," which ranked 1st, jumped from 346th last year to 10th. It is characterized by its livability as a quiet residential area while maintaining access to Osaka city. Although it lacks large commercial facilities, it seems to be attracting interest from those who prioritize daily stability over glamour. "Mondo-Yakujin," ranked 2nd, is located in the Nishinomiya area and features a calm living environment. It likely gained support from women who want to live peacefully in a not-too-bustling environment. "Deyashiki," ranked 3rd, offers access to Osaka and a downtown atmosphere with a huge arcade shopping street, likely chosen by those who prioritize ease of daily life. "Fukushima" (4th) and "Ishibashi handai-mae" (5th) rose as choices that emphasize the fulfillment of time spent in the city. "Fukushima" is known as an area with many restaurants, attracting attention from those who want to enjoy their daily life, including after work and on holidays. "Ishibashi handai-mae" has a lively, unpretentious student town atmosphere, gaining interest from women who want to live at their own pace without overreaching. This year's rising stations ranking is characterized by the simultaneous selection of different types of cities, such as "quiet residential areas," "life-focused areas," and "bustling urban areas." The results show that the significant shifts in rankings reflect a trend of valuing not just convenience but also a lifestyle and daily routine that suits oneself. "Dream Cities Ranking 2026 - Kansai Edition" TOP 10 - Top 3 Dream Cities are "Umeda," "Kyoto," and "Kobe," with major Kansai cities dominating the top ranks In the Dream Cities Ranking, major terminal areas representing Kansai, such as "Umeda," "Kyoto," and "Kobe," ranked high. These cities are characterized by their transportation convenience, concentration of large commercial facilities and restaurants, and the variety of ways to spend time, including on holidays. It seems many women feel they would "like to live there at least once," considering not just convenience but also the city's image and glamour. - Popular residential areas like "Ashiya," "Nishinomiya," and "Nishinomiya-kitaguchi" maintain high rankings Areas like "Ashiya" and "Nishinomiya-kitaguchi" continued to rank high from last year. These cities are characterized by their well-maintained townscapes, calm living environments, and a reputation for safety and as high-quality residential areas. It is thought that the aspiration for a safe, long-term living environment and a high quality of life, not just convenience, leads to their support. - Attention on cities chosen based on "individuality," not just the classics Cities where one can concretely imagine their daily life, such as "Fukushima," with its abundance of restaurants for enjoying after-work hours and holidays, and "Morinomiya," close to Osaka Castle Park offering nature and a sense of openness in the city center, have ranked. The selection of these areas, in addition to the usual top contenders like "Umeda" and "Kobe," suggests that interest is expanding beyond a city's fame and glamour to a perspective of "whether I can live comfortably as myself." Notably, "Fukushima" also ranked among the rising stations in the "Top Cities to Live in" ranking, being evaluated for both livability and aspiration. "Dream Cities Ranking 2026 - Kansai Edition" Top 3 Rising Stations In this year's Dream Cities Ranking, "Karasuma," "Namba," and "Shin-Osaka" tied for the biggest jump in rankings. All are areas where commercial facilities and restaurants are concentrated, with many people coming and going daily. While they were previously seen as places for commuting, shopping, or transferring, this year's ranking saw them all rise by 86 places, indicating growing interest as "dream cities." "Karasuma" is located in the center of Kyoto, offering the convenience of department stores, commercial facilities, and restaurants, as well as a calm townscape. It is thought to be supported for its image as a city where one can spend high-quality time daily amidst the bustle, with a Kyoto-like atmosphere. "Namba" is one of Kansai's leading entertainment districts with a concentration of commercial facilities and restaurants, but in recent years, well-maintained spaces like the area around Namba Parks have also emerged. As a city where vibrancy and comfort coexist, it is likely gaining interest from women who aspire to an urban lifestyle. "Shin-Osaka" boasts high transportation convenience, including the Shinkansen, and its living convenience is gradually improving with development around the station. In addition to its previous image as a business hub, the ability to imagine an urban life leveraging its ease of travel to wider areas likely made it an object of aspiration. While classic areas like "Umeda" continue to dominate the top, commonly used areas like "Namba," "Shin-Osaka," and "Karasuma" also rose in the ranks. While dream cities have traditionally been valued for their non-daily and glamorous aspects, this year's results suggest that the charm of cities closer to everyday life is also beginning to be seen as aspirational.

FAQ

What is the most desirable city to live in Kansai right now?

According to a survey by CHINTAI, 'Esaka' ranked number one in the 2026 'Most Desirable Cities to Live In' ranking for the Kansai region.

What are the dream cities for women in Kansai?

'Umeda,' 'Kyoto,' and 'Kobe' are the top three in the 'Dream Cities' ranking, chosen by unmarried women aged 18 to 39.

Why is Esaka popular?

It is popular for its good access to central Osaka areas like Umeda and its high level of daily convenience, with supermarkets and restaurants located around the station.

What is the difference in reasons for choosing a 'desirable city' versus a 'dream city'?

For 'desirable cities,' practical aspects like rent and accessibility are prioritized, whereas for 'dream cities,' the city's brand image and glamour tend to be more important.

Who was surveyed for this ranking?

The 'Most Desirable Cities' ranking is based on inquiry data from users of the rental site 'Woman.CHINTAI,' while the 'Dream Cities' ranking is based on a survey of unmarried women aged 18-39 living in the Kansai region.

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