Sunday 26 June 2016

Tokyo ranks as top livable city

Monocle has released the results of its 10th annual Quality of Life survey, declaring that for the second year running Tokyo offers citizens the most comfortable lifestyle as the No.1 most liveable city in the world.

Monocle magazine, which looks at global affairs, design, business and culture around the world, focused this year on cities able to accommodate not only daytime lifestyles, but those which provide entertainment and relaxation opportunities for night owls keen to stay awake until the early hours. Monocle states “pulling people into the city at night makes the streets feel safer”, suggesting curfews imposed by cities in relation to drinking, clubs and bars, are not to be lauded as a positive implementation.

Cities were compared on their international connection, quality of the architecture, transport, retail scene, general safety and the quantity of independent bookshops and cafes. Tyler Brûlé, editor-in-chief at Monocle magazine, says “we have focused on the pleasures of being up all hours, noting the places that still serve a good meal after 22:00 and have transport that keeps going through the night”.

On Tokyo, Brûlé says: “where other cities talk a good game about being 2/7, Tokyo delivers”.

In Tokyo, which frequently is rated as one of the safest cities in the world, fun after dark is a way of life for most expats, visitors and workers. The all-night restaurants, convenience stores and cheap hotel options, including manga cafes and capsule hotels, help to make the city accessible at all hours of the day – even for those not living within reach of its major hubs.

Monocle’s survey highlights Tokyo as the most round-the-clock city in the world, followed by Berlin in second place, and Vienna in third.

Also in the top ten are two other Japanese cities; Fukuoka, which made 7th place, and Kyoto, which came in at 9th.

The full rankings are as follows:
1. Tokyo
2. Berlin
3. Vienna
4. Copenhagen
5. Munich
6. Melbourne
7. Fukuoka
8. Sydney
9. Kyoto
10. Stockholm

Monocle’s 2016 Quality of Life Survey can be found in issue 95 of the magazine, which was published on 16 June 2016.

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