Takayama — Traditional Mountain Town & Sake District

Nara’s strongest claim is housing the world’s largest bronze Buddha—15 meters tall and 250 tons—inside Todai-ji Temple. Evidence: Over 1,000 sacred sika deer roam Nara Park freely, and the entire area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 3+ million annual visitors. Its population is only 360,000, making it the smallest city in the top 10. Compared to #5 Nagoya’s 7 million tourists, Nara attracts half that number, but its cultural density per visitor is unmatched, with ancient temples dating back to the 8th century.