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Tokyo, which held the top spot last year, was pushed to the fourth position after Thailand's Bangkok and Singapore.
Kyoto is Japan's cultural capital, renowned for its 14 UNESCO world heritage sites, centuries-old Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines.
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| Women wearing kimonos pose for a souvenir photo with blooming cherry blossoms in Kyoto. Photo by Reuters |
American travel magazine Travel + Leisure called Kyoto a feast for the senses with its vermilion shrine gates, graceful geisha, bamboo forests, vibrant matcha culture, exquisite kaiseki cuisine, fragrant incense and resonant temple bells.
The city is celebrated for preserving traditional arts and customs, including the geisha culture of the Gion district, historic cobblestone streets and the refined kaiseki cuisine that originated there.
Visitors to the city in 2025 hit a record 62.79 million, topping 60 million for the first time, while overnight stays also reached a record 16.59 million, Japanese newspaper The Mainichi reported.
The annual best Asian city awards recognize the region's leading destinations, hotels and travel experiences based on factors such as visitor satisfaction, hospitality standards, service quality and overall tourism offerings.
10 best cities in Asia-Pacific:
1. Kyoto
2. Bangkok
3. Singapore
4. Tokyo
5. Hong Kong
6. Sydney
7. Ho Chi Minh City
8. Seoul
9. Kuala Lumpur
10. Chiang Mai
