Tokyo tumbles to 25

[ramchop]

After enjoying last year's highs of being in the Top-20 cities ranked by "quality of life", Tokyo slips back to 25th this year.

Tokyo still outranks some notable cities like Yokohama, London, Paris and Winston Salem (?)

[gomichild]

Wow 3 Australian cities in the top 25 - damn even Adelaide made 35!!!

*is feeling a little homesick*

[GomiGirl]

Well Brisvegas is below Tokyo so looks like I am in the right place.

[ramchop]

[Maciamo]

I wonder what are their criteria for the overall ranking. Tokyo is safer, more convenient, has a milder climate, lower unemployement, better food, kinder and more respectful people than almost all other cities in the list (well, Yokohama and Kobe are similar of course). The air is not polluted at all compared to most other big cities I know (London, Paris, Rome, Athens, Berlin, Madrid, most other Asian cities...). I never get a headache just by walking an hour in the streets in Tokyo, which otherwise is common in London or Bangkok. Quality of life is probably more related to safety and confort (including food, stress, cleanliness...) than the city's beauty. I know Brussels quite well, but I wouldn't want to live there. Luxembourg is boring (just a small town, not much to do), eventhough it's rich and close to the nature. That's true for lot's of other top ranking cities.
What's funny is that Tokyo's population exceeds that of half of the 24 previous cities put together. No kidding, Bern, Zurich and Geneva are so close, they could just say "Switzerland", which only has 7m people, compared to 30m for the greater Tokyo.

[Jack]

Or a city like Lexington. Where the hell is that? I agree with Maciamo that most of the cities are rather small and perhaps teribly boring places to live. I have been to Scandinavia and Northern Europe. I am sorry but maybe those are nice places with fresh air, but after a year of boredom I might take my own life.

Fact is, Tokyo ranks a lot higher in my book than many of the cities listed. I challenge anyone to find a city that is not more, but just as boring as Vancouver. There is none. Spare me "the view is nice" crap.

[Andocrates]

Winston Salem is in NC, I'm not sure why it's on any list. Since I travel for a living I'll tell you my favorite cities.

Pittsburgh, PA - it's a great "walking around" town. Has a subway (always a plus)

San Francisco - Well, duh a no brainer.

Manhatten - (but you can keep the rest of the New York City)

Birmingham AL is really quite nice, but you need a car.

Boston - Good, but can be dangerous.

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Cities I hate!

Dallas

New Orleans (yuck!)

Any city that ends in NJ

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When my Japanese gets good enough to find my way around and instruct people in basic speech I will travel to Japan with my company. I'm sure I will like Tokyo and I'm sure I will dislike Kochi and Okinawa (the 3 places I will work in)

[Jack]

Androcates,

You mention Kochi at the bottom of your e-mail as a place you are sure to dislike. I can tell you that my most memorable adventure was with a girl I met in Kochi. So I have a soft spot for that place.