Sapporo vs Yokohama
Yokohama leads Sapporo by 3 points on the CIRA Index, 73 to 70. Sapporo grades better on 5 measures, Yokohama on 9; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.
Scores by each organisation's criteria
- CIRA Index: Sapporo 70, Yokohama 73
- OECD: Sapporo 69, Yokohama 73
- UN Tourism: Sapporo 80, Yokohama 78
- UNDRR: Sapporo 65, Yokohama 66
Theme by theme
- Demand and seasonality: Sapporo 63, Yokohama 71
- Economy and jobs: Sapporo 69, Yokohama 81
- Climate and hazards: Sapporo 65, Yokohama 60
- Water and environment: Sapporo 100, Yokohama 81
- Community and housing: Sapporo 63, Yokohama 88
- Access and continuity: Sapporo 75, Yokohama 75
Where Sapporo is stronger
- Recovery against 2019: 105.2 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (City of Sapporo, 観光統計データ / 2025年度札幌の観光動向に関する調査結果について, FY2025 (April 2025 – March 2026)). Between 100 and 110: grade 3/4.
- Tropical nights: 25 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 10 and 30: grade 3/4.
- Water scarcity: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
- Green space: 54.3 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (City of Sapporo (札幌市), Sapporo Greenery Basic Plan Survey (緑被率調査), 2007). At or above 40: grade 4/4.
- Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source such as a tourist tax or levy (Hokkaido Prefectural Government & City of Sapporo, 2026). Grade 2/4.
Where Yokohama is stronger
- Nights in the three busiest months: 27.3 % of annual nights (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: UN Tourism by United Nations World Tourism Organization), 2024, 2025 moving average). At or below 30: grade 4/4.
- Average length of stay: 2.1 nights per visitor (City of Yokohama, '2025年の観光入込客数、観光消費額 ともに過去最高値を更新！' (令和7年度観光動態消費動向調査), 2025). Between 1.8 and 2.2: grade 1/4.
- Hotel bed or room occupancy: 84.7 % average annual occupancy (City of Yokohama (Culture and Tourism Bureau), '横浜市内主要ホテル平均稼働率', 2025). At or above 75: grade 4/4.
- Jobs in tourism industries: 4.1 % of employment in accommodation and food services (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: Travel & Tourism Economic Impact Research by World Travel & Tourism Council; Travel & Tourism by World Travel & Tourism Council), 2026). At or below 8: grade 4/4.
- Economic diversity: 73.6 % of employment outside accommodation, food, retail and transport (City of Yokohama Policy Bureau, 'Yokohama Economy by the Numbers', 2016). Between 72 and 80: grade 3/4.
- Wildfire and storm hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
- Tourism intensity: 2.6 visitor nights per resident per year (City of Yokohama Culture and Tourism Bureau, 'Yokohama Tourism Attraction Indicators' & Statistics Division Population Data, 2024). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
- Rent growth: 4.5 % change in rents over the last 12 months (A-Realty, Yokohama Average Rent 2025: Lifestyle & Price Trends, 2025). Between 3 and 6: grade 3/4.
- Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A written destination crisis plan (Yokohama Convention & Visitors Bureau / PACIFICO Yokohama, 2024–2025). Grade 2/4.
Country context (World Economic Forum)
- Japan: #1 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
- Japan: #1 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
Sapporo in full · Yokohama in full
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