FUKUOKA -- The southwestern city of Kitakyushu has achieved two consecutive victories in the "New Three Japanese Cities with the Most Spectacular Night Views" ranking, followed by Yokohama and Nagasaki.

The Tokyo-based Yakei Convention & Visitors Bureau on Dec. 17 announced the latest ranking, which is selected every three years to promote night view tourism. This time, 4,322 out of about 6,610 night view appreciation experts across the country voted.

Kitakyushu has now placed among the top three cities with a spectacular night view three consecutive times since ranking third in 2018. The city was recognized for its comprehensive appeal, with the most registered Japan Night View Heritage locations, including industrial sites, Mount Sarakura, Mount Takato and the Mojiko Retro area, and for how the city is also focusing on developing new nightscape resources. At the award ceremony, Mayor Kazuhisa Takeuchi said, "I'm relieved we could win the top spot in a row. The night view encapsulates the history, life and energy of Kitakyushu. We want to continue refining it."

Yokohama, which had previously ranked sixth, was praised for the expansion of nighttime events like the "Yorunoyo" waterfront illumination, with the dynamic changes in the night view adding new charm as the city evolves.

Nagasaki, which has held third place since 2021, was recognized for the night view from Mount Inasa, the diverse lighting of historical buildings such as the cathedral of Oura Catholic Church, and the high expectations for night views in line with urban developments like Nagasaki Stadium City.

Traditionally, Japan's top three night views included Mount Hakodate in the Hokkaido city of Hakodate and Nagasaki's Mount Inasa, but a different basis for recognition in the new view ranking kicked off in 2015.

Other cities and regions comprising the top 10, with their previous rank from 2021 in parenthesis, are:

Fourth place: Metropolitan Tokyo (seventh)

Fifth place: Kobe (fourth)

Sixth place: Sapporo (second)

Seventh place: Hakodate (eighth)

Eighth place: Osaka (ninth)

Ninth place: Sendai (previously unranked)

10th place: Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture (previously unranked)

(Japanese original by Kenji Kii, Kyushu News Department)