10th Meeting of Tokyo Treasure Islands Promotion Committee

Governor Koike attended the 10th meeting of the Tokyo Treasure Islands Promotion Committee on December 18, 2025.

 The committee was launched by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in March 2017 to polish and promote the tourism assets of the 11 inhabited islands stretching south from the capital city.

“Tokyo boasts many islands, and each one is a treasure island,” the governor said in her opening remarks. “Speaking from a tourism standpoint, Tokyo won the top prize in the ‘TOURISE Awards 2025’ organized by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Tourism.”

“Also, in the recently released Global Power City Index, Tokyo overtook New York to rank second. It received high praise for the completeness of its tourist attractions and for its nightlife,” she added. “Furthermore, it has topped the Condé Nast Traveler magazine's list of ‘The Best Cities in the World’ for two consecutive years.”

Noting that the islands have a “unique charm and character” distinct from the urban areas, the governor said, “By further leveraging that quality to attract people and investment, we may enhance the appeal of Tokyo as a whole, and by extension, Japan.” She went on, “We aim to do more and more to polish the treasure islands, which Tokyo is proud of, and make them shine even more brilliantly."

At the meeting, the committee listened to a report from university students in Tokyo who had participated in a “Brand Supportership” training program on the islands to promote their specialty goods. 

Governor Koike praised the students for visiting the islands by themselves and thinking deeply about how to make them better known to the outside world. “Your fresh perspectives, initiatives and ideas will be a major driving force in livening up Tokyo's treasure islands,” she said.