The 2nd place station is surprisingly unexpected.

Recruit Co., Ltd. released the “SUUMO 2024 Kansai Edition – Rankings of Cities People Want to Continue Living In.” A very surprising station appeared in the rankings.

Rankings like these are usually quite similar, with familiar cities and stations frequently appearing in the top spots. In short, there’s not much change. People use these rankings to grasp societal trends over time or to investigate what has caused a sudden rise in a particular location’s ranking.

However, this year’s “Cities People Want to Continue Living In” ranking included some rather unusual cities (and stations). The “rapidly rising” city usually has an influx of new condominium developments, but the reasons behind this particular rise is unclear. The station that jumped from 78th place in 2022 to 2nd place this year is “Mototanaka” Station on the Eizan Electric Railway. Why “Mototanaka”?

Mototanaka Station is located on the Eizan Electric Railway, a scenic route that connects the starting station, “Demachiyanagi” on the Keihan Railway, with places like Mount Hiei and Kurama. To the south, there is Kyoto University, and to the north, the famous “Ramen Street” in Ichijouji. A 15-minute walk leads to the Kamo River Delta, which is bustling with families and couples, and the Shimogamo Shrine, known for its Tadasu no Mori (forest). It’s a neighborhood with a lot of character. Compared to popular tourist spots like Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji, Gion, and Nishiki Market, there are fewer tourists, making it easy to understand why residents want to continue living there.

However, Mototanaka Station stands out from the top 10 stations in this ranking for its unique atmosphere. Other stations are located in upscale residential areas, such as “Okamoto” and “Shukugawa” along the Hankyu Kobe Line, or in urban centers with many high rises like “Nakazaki-cho” and “Abeno.” On the other hand, Mototanaka is not exactly an upscale area and offers a diverse and livable environment for families, students, and the elderly. It clearly stands out in this ranking.

Additionally, while other neighborhoods are known for having many condominiums, Mototanaka has almost none in stock. It also lacks large shopping centers, with only small supermarkets and convenience stores, unlike the usual “desirable neighborhoods.” It is a very unique area.

The ranking of such a neighborhood is, on one hand, a good opportunity for people to get to know the area. However, one concern that if it becomes more popular, condominium developments and commercial facilities will increase, and its uniqueness may gradually be lost.

The neighborhoods at the top of the “Most Desirable Places to Live” rankings are typically those that are aspirational and popular. Many people may consider moving to these areas after seeing the rankings. However, the places people most want to continue living in are those that are highly rated by the people who actually live there. A higher percentage of people who want to continue living in a place may also mean fewer newcomers. Mototanaka Station likely follows this pattern, with a low number of new housing supplies.

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