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Tokyo became the number one Asian destination in TripAdvisor, the globally respected consumer-based travel guide website. Their latest Travelers Choice 2010 chose Tokyo for the number 1 destination in its Top 25 Destinations in Asia for the energetic urban culture, art and design, high-level culinary experience and the exceptional public safety.

This is the second major title for Japan in TripAdvisor’s annual ranking, following Kyoto that was chosen as the number 1 destination in Asia in the same category in 2008. This year’s list also chose Kyoto for the 4th best Asian destination, and the 5th position is taken by Nara, the city that celebrates the historic 1300th anniversary of the foundation of Japan’s first capital this year.

Tokyo continues to add more contents: Marunouchi, an old commercial district that surrounds the historic Tokyo train station, has completed the decade-long redevelopment. The most recent completion includes Brick Square, signified with the recent opening of Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum in a uniquely renovated 100-year-old brick building, and a state-of-the-art commercial center that showcases the trendiest lifestyle to Tokyoites such as international high-quality dining experiences, Japanese traditional cultural beauty, modern design, fashionable stores and eco-friendly and wellness-conscious comfort.

Marunouchi traffic junctionThe historic Sumida-ward of Tokyo is reaching up to the sky with new construction: Tokyo Sky Tree is emerging in the eastern Tokyo as the city’s new digital broadcast antenna tower, and is scheduled to be completed in 2012. The tower will be the world’s tallest free-standing tower once it is completed at 2,080 feet high, and the top observation deck at 1,476 feet high would look down the entire Tokyo. The new tower has a unique design with changing cross section at different level, and this development also urges the tower’s neighborhoods for redevelopment at the same time for more cultural and commercial destinations.

Japanese cuisine became the number 1 motivation for traveling to Japan among the Americans, according to the annual survey on foreign visitors to Japan in 2009. This is the first time that “culinary” is ranked as the number 1 in the annual survey among those who stayed for between 2 to 30 days in Japan. The survey was conducted at their departure at Japan’s major ports and airports by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).

The voters for Japanese Cuisine also voted following dishes as what they really enjoyed during their stay: Sushi (50%), sashimi and tempura (17.8%), ramen noodle soup (9.6%), and udon noodle (7.5%). These breakdowns show that more varieties of Japanese food are becoming popular among Americans to the level that Japanese food attracts many travelers to Japan as a leisure destination.

“Culinary” had been in the top 5 travel purposes in the previous years: the 3rd place in 2007 and the 2nd place in 2008. However, with 70.7%, “culinary” significantly outnumbered the previous number 1 category “visiting historic landmarks.” This year’s result strongly reflects the soaring popularity of Japanese cuisine in the United States. Other categories that follow “culinary” is: “visiting historic landmarks” (59.5%), “shopping” (49.6%), “local life, local experience” (47.2%), and “natural beauty, scenery” (45.3%).

Japanese CuisineAmericans are not the only people lured to Japan for authentic Japanese food: The result of the entire survey shows that the 58.5% of answers chose “culinary” as the number 1 purpose for the trip to Japan. The survey also proves that their interest goes beyond sushi and tempura, with wider varieties of Japanese food preferences from more local everyday food such as gyoza dumplings, onigiri (rice ball), noodles, yakitori (chicken skewers), and okonomiyaki (grilled concoction).

Japanese culinary popularity is obtaining a solid status of popular food worldwide, and Japan tourism is growing with gourmands who seek out authentic experience with food and culture.