List of city nicknames in Japan

Cities by prefecture

Aichi

Takahama
- City of Kawara (roof tiles)
Toyota, Nagoya
- Castle Town of Toyota
Yatomi
- City of Goldfish

Akita

Aomori

Chiba

Ehime

Matsuyama
- Town of Botchan (Botchan by Natsume Sōseki)
Imabari
- City of Towels
- City of Kawara (roof tiles) (Kikuma)
Uchiko
- City of Kite
- City of White Walled
Uwajima
- City of Bullfighting
- Hometown of Pearl

Fukui

Sabae
- City of Glasses

Fukuoka

The Land of Bloodbath

Fukuoka
- City of Yatai (street stalls)
Yanagawa
- Venice of Japan
- City of Water
Yame
- Place of Yame-tea
Munakata (Okinoshima)
- Island of Gods

Fukushima

Utsukushima Fukushima (Beautiful Fukushima)

Gifu

Gifu
- City of Fashion
Ōgaki
- City of Water
Ena (Akechi)
- Taishō Romantic Town

Gunma

Empire of Gunma

Maebashi
- City of Water
Shimonita
- Town of Konnyaku

Hiroshima

Fukuyama
- City of Roses (Rose City)^[1]
- City of Geta (Japanese footwear), mostly referred to the Matsunaga area of the city^[2]
Fuchū
- Home of Oomurasaki (great purple, the national butterfly of Japan)
- Town of White Walled (Jyougecho)
Onomichi
- City of Hills (City of Slopes)
- City of Movies
Innoshima
- Island of Flower
- Home of Hassaku
Akitakata
- City of Kagura (Yachiyo-Kagura, Midori-Kagura)
Kitahiroshima (Chiyodacho)
- Town of Kagura (Chiyoda-Kagura)
Kure
- City of Hills (City of Slopes)
Hiroshima
- City of Peace (International City of Peace and Culture)
- City of Rivers
- City of Water
- Venice of Japan
Hatsukaichi (Miyajima)
- Itsukushima
- Island of God
Kumano
- City of Brush

Hokkaidō

Kushiro (Akan)
- Hometown of Tanchō (wintering ground of red-crowned crane)
Furano
- City of Flowers
Hakodate
- City of Lights
Otaru
- City of Hills (City of Slopes)
- Venice of Japan
Teshikaga (Mashuko)
- Lake of God
Rishiri, Rishirifuji (Rishiritou)
- Island of Flower
Rebun (Rebuntou)
- Island of Flower
Haboro (Yagishiritou)
- Island of Flower
Kaibatou
- Island of Flower

Hyōgo

Takarazuka
- City of Music
Kōbe
- City of Lights
- City of Fashion^[3]
- Town of Shoes (Nagata)
- Million Dollar Lights
Minamiawaji
- City of Kawara (roof tiles)
Tatsuno
- City of Aka-tombo (red dragonfly) (Japanese nursery song)
Awaji, Sumoto, Minamiawaji (Awajishima)
- Island of Flower
- Island of Mythologies
Minamiawaji (Nushima)
- Island of Mythologies

Ibaraki

Ishikawa

Kaga Millon Koku

Iwate

Tono
- City of Folktales
Hanamaki (Ohasama)
- Town of Hayachine-Kagura

Kagawa

Udon Prefecture

Ayagawa
- Home of Sanuki Udon
Mitoyo
- Home of Urashima Tarō
Takamatsu
- Home of Momotarō story
- Town of Bonsai
Marugame
- City of Uchiwa (Japanese rigid paper fan)

Kagoshima

Kagoshima
- Naples of the Orient
- Venice of Japan
- City of Ishin (Meiji Restoration)
- City of Streetcars
Tokunoshima, Isen, Amagi, Kagoshima (Tokunoshima)
- Town of Bullfighting
Izumi
- Hometown (wintering ground) of Nabezuru (hooded crane), Kurozuru (common crane), Manazuru (white-necked crane)
Ōshima-gun (Okinoerabujima)
- Island of Flower

Kanagawa

Kamakura
- Ancient City
- City of History
Minamiashigara
- Home of Kintaro (a Japanese folk hero)

Kōchi

Kōchi
- Birthplace of Yosakoi-Matsuri (traditional summer dance festival)

Kumamoto

Kumamoto
- City of Woods
Nagasu
- Town of Goldfish
Uki
- City of Dekopon (a Japanese orange_

Kyoto

Kyoto
- Kyo
- Ancient City
- City of History
Ine
- Home of Urashima Tarō
Uji
- Place of Uji-tea
Maizuru (Kammurijima)
- Island of God

Mie

Iga
- Hometown of Ninja
Shima
- Home of Urashima Tarō
- Hometown of Pearl

Miyagi

Sendai
- City of Trees (City of Green) (Capital with the Groves)
Shibata
- City of Chrysanthemum

Miyazaki

Takachiho
- Town of Mythologies
- Town of Takachiho-Kagura

Nagano

Nagasaki

Nagasaki
- City of Peace
- City of Hills (City of Slopes)
- City of Lights
- City of Streetcars
- Naples of the Orient (Naples of Japan)
Iki (Iki Island)
- Island of Mythologies

Nara

Nara
- Ancient City
Yamatokoriyama
- City of Goldfish

Niigata

Ojiya
- Home of Nishikigoi
- City of Bullfighting
Niigata, Shirone
- City of Kite
Sado
- Island of Flower

Ōita

Onsen Prefecture

Beppu
- Naples of the Orient
- Hot spring Capital of the World
Bungotakada
- City of Shōwa

Okayama

Okayama
- Hometown of Momotarō
Kurashiki
- City of White Walled
- Venice of Japan
Bisei
- Home of Stars
Kasaoka (Manabeshima, Takashima)
- Island of Flower
- Island of Mythologies
Takahashi (Nariwacho)
- Town of Bitchu-Kagura

Okinawa

Naha
- Capital of the Ryūkyū Kingdom
Itoman
- City of Peace
Uruma
- City of Bullfighting
Nanjo (Kudakajima)
- Island of God
- Island of Mythologies
Uruma (Hamahigashima)
- Island of God
- Island of Mythologies
Nakijin (Kourijima)
- Island of God
Kohama
- Hometown of Churasan

Osaka

Osaka
- Naniwa
- City of Water
- Venice of Japan
- City of Business
- City of Kuidaore (eat until you drop)
Sakai
- Venice of Japan
Izumisano
- Rinku Town
- City of Towels
Kishiwada
- City of Danjiri Matsuri

Saga

Karatsu
- City of Karatsu Kunchi
Kawasoe
- City of Nori

Saitama

Saitama
- Town of Bonsai
Kazo
- City of Koinobori
Kounosu, Iwatsuki
- Town of Dolls
- Town of Hina-ningyo (dolls for Girls' Dayy)
- Town of Gogatsu-ningyo (dolls for Children's Day)

Shiga

Kōka
- Hometown of Ninja

Shimane

Matsue
- City of Water
- Venice of Japan
- City of Kawara (roof tiles)
Izumo
- City of Mythologies
Gotsu (Sakuraecho)
- Town of Kagura (Omoto-Kagura)
Hamada (Kanagi)
- Town of Iwami-Kagura
Oda
- City of Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine
Okinoshima
- Island of Pictures
- Island of Flower
- Town of Bullfighting

Shizuoka

Atami
- City of Lights
- Naples of the Orient
Fuji
- City of Paper
Hamamatsu
- City of Music
Oyama
- Hometown of Kintaro (a folk hero)
Shizuoka, Okabe, Fujieda
- Places of Shizuoka-tea

Tochigi

Tokushima

Tokushima
- Birthplace of Awa Dance Festival

Tokyo

Flowery City

Shibuya, Harajuku
- Town for Young People
Sugamo
- Obaachan no Harajuku (Grandma's Harajuku)
Akihabara
- Town for Otaku
- The Electric Town
Katsushika-Shibamata
- Hometown of Tora-san (from the film series Otoko wa Tsurai yo)
Fuchū
- City of Woods
Shinjuku
- City of the Beasts (from manga and anime series Hyper Police)

Tottori

Kurayoshi
- City of White Walled
- City of Red Roof
Sakaiminato
- City of Yōkai (from the manga series Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro)

Toyama

Toyama
- City of Medicine

Wakayama

Yamagata

Higashine
- City of Cherries
Nanyō
- City of Chrysanthemum

Yamaguchi

Hagi
- City of "Ishin" (Meiji Restoration)
Yanai
- City of White Walled
Iwakuni
- Taishō Romantic Town
Shimonoseki
- City of Fuku (pufferfish) ("Fuku": Happiness)
Shimonoseki (Futaoijima)
- Island of Mythologies
Shunan
- Hometown of Nabezuru (wintering ground of hooded crane)

Yamanashi

Hokuto (Nagasaka)
- Town of Oomurasaki (great purple, the national butterfly of Japan)

Cities referred to as Little Kyoto, by region

In Japanese Little Kyoto (小京都, Sho-Kyoto).

Tōhoku

Kantō, Kōshinetsu

Chūbu (Hokuriku, Tōkai)

Kinki

Chūgoku (San'in, San'yō)

Shikoku

Kyūshū

Cities referred to as Little Edo, by region

In Japanese Little Edo (小江戸, Ko-Edo).

Kantō

Tōkai

Iwata, Shizuoka (Asaba, Shizuoka)

Kinki

Hikone, Shiga

See also

Lists of nicknames – nickname list articles on Wikipedia

^ Muraoka, Maiko (10 March 2022). "Fukuyama, City of Roses, to host world convention and expo". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
^ "Discover Fukuyama" (PDF). City of Fukuyama. p. 8. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
^ "Kobe Fashion Museum". Google Arts & Culture. 25 April 1997. Retrieved 2 February 2024.

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