Tokyo Journal's 2016 Polling Results
What are your favorite things about Japan and Japanese culture?
You vote. You decide!
In April of 2016 Tokyo Journal announced the first ever Top 10 Ranking for the reader's favorite Japanese entertainment icons, food, pop-culture, and travel locations. Over the course of 2016 we asked Tokyo Journal readers to vote for their favorite things in Japanese entertainment, food, pop-culture, and travel locations. This first year proved to be successful with over 500,000 votes submitted by readers from all over the world. Here are the top 3 winners for each category and stay tuned for the 2017 rankings.
Categories
Japanese Entertainmant / Food in Japan / Japanese Pop Culture / Japan Travel
Japanese TV & Dramas
Best J-Drama Actress
1. Satomi Ishihara
2. Akari Hayami
3. Haruka Ayase
Best J-Drama from 2015-2016
1. Flowers for Algermon
2. Mysterious Thief Yamaneko
3. From Five to Nine
Best J-Drama Actor
1. Tomohisa Yamashita
2. Takuya Kimura
3. Kazuya Kamenashi
Best J-Drama of All Time
1. Nobuta wo Produce (2005)
2. Long Vacation (1996)
3. Hana Yori Dango (2005)
Best Variety Show
1. Smap x Smap
2. Momoclo Chan
3. Shabekuri 007
Japanese Movies
Best Horror Movie
1. Ring
2. Ju-On
3. Sadako 3D
Best Japanese Movie
1. Battle Royale (2000)
2. Seven Samurai (1954)
3. Godzilla (1954)
Best Japanese Movie Actor/Actress Worldwide
1. Ken Watanabe
2. Takuya Kimura
3. Takeshi Kitano
Best Japanese Film Director of All Time
1. Hayao Miyazaki
2. Akira Kurosawa
3. Takeshi Miike
Best Akira Kurosawa Film of All Time
1. Seven Samurai
2. High and Low
3. Hidden Fortress
Japanese Music
Best J-Rock Band
1. X Japan
2. The GazettE
3. Babymetal
Best Japanese Female idol Group
1. Momoiro Clover Z
2. Morning Musume
3. *C-ute
Best Japanese Female Singer
1. Miwa
2. Yui
3. Ayumi Hamasaki
Best Male idol Group
1. SMAP
2. KAT-TUN
3. ARASHI
Best Japanese Male Singer
1. Tomohisa Yamashita
2. Gackt
3. Jin Akanishi
Japanese Sports
Best Favorite Japanese Male Athlete
1. Yuzuru Hanyu (Figure Skater)
2. Kei Nishikori
3. Kohei Uchimura
Best Favorite Japanese Female Athlete
1. Mao Asada (Figure Skater)
2. Ai Fukuhara
3. Saori Yoshida
Japanese Food
Best Street Food
1. Ramen
2. Takoyaki
3. Yakitori
Best Favorite Sushi
1. Salmon
2. Toro (Fatty Tuna)
3. Tuna
Best Japanese Sake
1. Dassai
2. Kubota
3. Hakkaisan
Restaurant in Japan
Best Theme Restaurant
1. Kawaii Monster Cafe
2. Robot restaurant
3. Maidreamin Cafe
Best Japanese Fast Food
1. Mos Burger
2. Yoshinoya
3. Pepper Lunch
Best Kobe Beef Restaurant
1. Ishida
2. Houki
3. Wakkoqu
Best French Restaurant in Tokyo
1. Les Cristallines
2. Troisgros Japon
3. Joel Robuchon
Best Italian Restairant in Tokyo
1. Pizzeria Da Napolistaca
2. Elio Locanada Italiana
3. Bulgari ll Ristorante
Best U.S. Restaurant
1. Outback Steakhouse
2. Hard Rock cafe
3. Denny's
Best Izakaya (Japanese Pub)
1. Hibiki
2. Gonpachi
3. Nihonbashi-tei
Best Mexican Restaurant
1. Fonda de la Madrugada
2. La Jolla
3. El Caliente
Best Curry Rice Restaurant
1. CoCo Ichibanya
2. Manten Curry Rice
3. Curry House TIRI TIRI
Best Tonkatsu Restaurant
1. Wako
2. Maisen
3. Katsuzen
Best Craft Brewery
1. Miyashita Sake Brewery
2. Baird Brewery Company
3. Abashiri Brewery
Best Asian Restaurant in Tokyo
1. Asian Palm
2. Monsoon Cafe
3. Mango Tree
Best Kaiseki Restaurant (Japanese Traditional Multi-Course Dinner)
1. Gion Karyo, Kyoto
2. Nakamura, Kyoto
3. Ogata, Kyoto
Best Tempura Restaurant in Tokyo
1. Tempura Kondo
2. Ten-ichi Ginza Honten
3. Tempura Motoyoshi
Best Sushi Restaurant
1. Sukiyabashi Jiro
2. Sushi no Midori
3. Sushi Dai
Best Tonkotsu Ramen Restaurant in Tokyo
1. Ichiran
2. Shibaraku
3. Botan
Japanese Sweets
Best Sweets
1. Melon Pan
2. Crepes
3. Taiyaki
Best Wagashi Shop
1. Higashiya Ginza
2. Tokyo Mise
3. Toraya Tokyo
Best Bakery & Dessert Shop
1. Sweets Paradise
2. Rose Bakery
3. Ice Monster Omotesando
Best Chocolate Snack
1. Pocky
2. Choco Pie
3. ALMOND
Japanese Anime & Manga
Best Shonen Manga
1. One Piece
2. Fairy Tail
3. Full Metal Alchemist
Best Shojo Manga
1. Akatsuki no Yona
2. Kimi ni Todoke
3. Orange
Best Kawaii Cartoon Character
1. Pika-chu
2. Totoro
3. Rilakkuma
Best Studio Ghibli Movie
1. Howl's Moving Castle
2. Spirited Away
3. My Neighbor Totoro
Best Anime 2012-2016
1. Attack on Titan
2. One-Punch Man
3. Tokyo Ghoul
Best Animated Movie
1. Wolf Children
2. Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
3. The Girl Who Leapt Though Time
Best Anime of All Time
1. Dragon Ball Z
2. One Piece
3. Death Note
Best Gotochi Character (Regional Mascot Character)
1. Kumamon
2. Funassyi
3. Gunma-chan
Cosplay
Best Famous Cosplayer 2016
1. Touga
2. Reika
3. Linda Le(Vampy Bit Me)
Japanese Fashion
Best Harajuku Fashion
1. Galaxxxy
2. Angelic Pretty
3. 6% Doki Doki
Best Women's Fashion Brand
1. Cecil McBee
2. Olive des Olive
3. Freak's Store
Best Japanese Fashion Brand
1. Comme Des Garcons
2. Junko Koshino
3. Kenzo
Best Female Model
1. Kiko Mizuhara
2. Mirei Kiritani
3. Rola
Japanese Video Games
Best J-RPG of All Time
1. Final Fantasy VII
2. Kingdom Hearts 2
3. Persona 4
Japanese Destinations
Best Theme Park
1. Tokyo Disneyland
2. Universal Studios Japan
3. Tokyo Disneysea
Best "Day Trip" from Tokyo
1. Yokohama
2. Kamakura
3. Mt. Fuji
Best Vacation Spot
1. Kyoto
2. Ishigaki Island
3. Nara
Best Famous Landmark in Tokyo
1. Tokyo Tower
2. Shibuya Crossing / Hachiko Statue
3. Tokyo Skytree
Best Distinctive Building
1. Tokyo Station
2. Nakagin Capsule Tower
3. Omotesando Hills
Best Area for Hot Spring
1. Hakone Onsen
2. Kurokawa Onsen
3. Beppu Onsen
Best Ryokan (Traditional Japanese Hotel)
1. Takinoya
2. Shuhokaku Kogetsu
3. Hotel Hanayura
Best Ski Resort
1. Niseko Grand Hirafu
2. Fujiten Snow Resort
3. Hakuba Happo One Ski Resort
Best Japanese Architect
1. Tadao Ando
2. Kenzo Tange
3. Kisho Kurosawa
Best Place to Visit in Tokyo
1. Harajuku
2. Asakusa Temple
3. Odaiba
Best International School
1. Tokyo International School
2. The American School in Japan
3. Yokohama International School
Best Language School
1. Sendagaya Japanese Institute
2. Akamonkai
3. Coto Language Academy
Japanese Hotels
Best Five Ster Hotel in Tokyo
1. Park Hyatt Tokyo
2. Palace Hotel Tokyo
3. Imperial Hotel Tokyo
Best Hotel for Young Travelers
1. Kyoto Guesthouse Roujiya
2. Nui. Hotel & Bar Lounge
3. Hostel Haruya Aqua, Kyoto
Japanese Leisure & Recreation
Best Place to Karaoke
1. Shidax
2. Big Echo
3. Karaoke-kan
Best Game Center
1. Club SEGA
2. SEGA GiGO
3. Shinjuku Playland Carnival
Best Japanese Festival
1. Sapporo Snow Festival
2. Awa Odori Tokushima
3. Gion Matsuri
Best Fireworks Show
1. Tokyo Bay Fireworks
2. Sumidagawa Fireworks
3. Edogawa Fireworks
Best Department Store
1. Mitsukoshi
2. Matsuya Ginza
3. Isetan
Best Shopping Complex/Mall
1. Shibuya 109
2. Roppongi Hills
3. Omotesando Hills
Best Art Museum
1. National Museum Tokyo
2. Japan Ukiyo-e Museum
3. National Art Center
Best History & Science Museum
1. Tokyo National Museum
2. Edo Tokyo Museum
3. Samurai Museum
Best Special Interest Museum
1. Ghibli Museum
2. Cupnoodle Museum
3. Sapporo Beer Museum