TORONTO — It’s impress enough when a destination wins one spot in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers Choice Awards.

But having three cities in the same country take the top three spots in the same awards list is a feat unto itself.

JNTO Canada is understandably proud to share that Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto earned the first, second and third spots respectively on Condé Nast Traveler’s 2021 list of the best major cities in the world.

The list is compiled based on a poll of more than 800,000 Condé Nast readers as part of the publication’s long-running Readers’ Choice Awards.

Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto won acclaim for their world-class cuisine, inspiring cultural attractions and seamless blending of tradition and modernity.

“On behalf of the entirety of JNTO, I can say that we are excited and deeply honoured that Japan’s urban destinations have been recognized and applauded by travellers from around the world,” said Ken Toyoda, Executive Director of JNTO Canada.

“We are so pleased to learn that travellers are thinking about Japan despite the challenges of the pandemic, and we are eager to welcome Canadians to experience our cities for themselves.”

Japan, as a whole, also claimed the number three spot on the reader-selected list of best countries in the world. The accolades come as global travel slowly resumes and Japan makes a concerted push to provide a refreshed post-pandemic travel experience.

On the heels of hosting the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the country has pursued increased investment in tourism attractions and infrastructure.

With July’s addition of two new UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites, Amami Oshima and Tokunoshima, bringing the country’s total to 25, Japan has solidly established its status as more than just a metropolitan marvel. A slate of recent property openings headlined by the eco-friendly Treeful Treehouse Heritage Resort and the traditional tatami-style NIPPONIA Shirataka, spotlight the current growth in Japan’s tourism industry despite the pandemic.

The full list of winners in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2021 Reader’s Choice Awards can be seen here.

And for more information on travelling to Japan check out japan.travel/en/ca.