Livability Report
Shizuoka
Shizuoka·Pop. 693,389·Data: 2024·Updated Mar 2026
Analyzing Shizuoka City (Shizuoka Prefecture) livability across safety, transport, education, and healthcare. Objective scores based on Japanese government open data (e-Stat).
Overall Score
/ 100
5-Axis Score Breakdown
Basic Information
Population
693,389
Prefecture
Shizuoka
Data Year
2024
Detailed Data
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Clinics | 568 |
| Clinics (per 10,000) | 8.19 |
| Crime Rate (per 1,000) | 4.39 |
| Hospitals | 27 |
| Hospitals (per 10,000) | 0.39 |
| Total Population | 693,389 |
| Public Transit Usage (%) | 10.8 |
| Schools (elementary + junior high + high) | 145 |
| Schools (per 1,000) | 0.21 |
Q&A with Kai
Alex, Yuki, and Kai discuss what it's really like to live here.
Overall
Alex
Shizuoka has Mt. Fuji views and great climate — how does it look in the data?
Yuki
Overall 46.5, with safety at 85.9 standing way out. How's the balance?
Kai
Looking at e-Stat data, Shizuoka City stands out with safety at 85.9 and education at 76.9. The crime rate is just 4.39 per 1,000 — very low — and school density at 0.21 per 1,000 is above average. However, transport at 11.4 is a major challenge, with only 10.8% public transit usage indicating a car-dependent society. If safety and education are your priorities, Shizuoka is extremely attractive — but living without a car would be quite difficult.
Safety
Alex
Safety at 85.9 is remarkably high! How safe is it really?
Yuki
How does a 4.39 crime rate compare to other cities?
Kai
The crime rate of 4.39 per 1,000 residents is among the lowest in our comparison set. For a city of 690,000, that's impressive. Shizuoka is known for its easygoing culture, with limited large entertainment districts, making it comfortable even at night. The data firmly backs up Shizuoka's reputation as a safe, family-friendly city.
Cost of Living
Alex
The cost score is null — what are rents actually like in Shizuoka?
Yuki
How much cheaper is it compared to Tokyo or Yokohama?
Kai
Land price data hasn't been collected yet so the score is null, but typical rents run about ¥35,000-50,000 for a 1K and ¥60,000-80,000 for a 2LDK. That's roughly one-third of Tokyo — remarkably affordable. Shizuoka's food scene is a major bonus too: sakura shrimp, shirasu, and tea from Suruga Bay at local prices. Total living costs including food are dramatically lower than the Tokyo metro area.
Transport
Alex
Transport at 11.4 is really low. Do you absolutely need a car?
Yuki
There's a Shinkansen station — why is the score so low?
Kai
The 10.8% public transit usage rate tells the story. Shizuoka is a quintessential car-dependent city — roughly 90% of residents use automobiles for daily travel. The Shinkansen gets you to Tokyo in about an hour, but that's for intercity trips. For daily life within the city, bus service is limited and a car is essentially mandatory. If you're remote-first and only visit Tokyo a few times a month, the Shinkansen works fine — but planning a car-free lifestyle isn't realistic here.
Education
Alex
Education at 76.9 is quite high. Are schools well distributed?
Yuki
So the school-to-population density is above average?
Kai
With 145 schools and 0.21 per 1,000 residents, school density is among the highest in our comparison. For a population of 690,000, schools are well distributed. Shizuoka University and the prefectural university provide solid academic foundations. The mild climate enables year-round sports education — Shizuoka is famous as a soccer city. Children being able to play outdoors throughout the year is a genuine educational advantage.
Healthcare
Alex
Healthcare at 11.9 seems low. Are hospitals sufficient?
Yuki
Only 27 hospitals for 690,000 people — is that enough?
Kai
At 27 hospitals and 0.39 per 10,000 residents, it's admittedly not generous. However, there are 568 clinics (8.19 per 10,000), which is relatively well-covered for routine medical visits. Major facilities like Shizuoka Prefectural General Hospital exist, but for highly specialized care, residents sometimes turn to hospitals in Hamamatsu or Tokyo. The score is low, but factoring in clinic coverage, everyday healthcare needs are reasonably met.