Best major cities to live in 2020
Every year an urban research think tank (based in Tokyo) publishes it’s report on the top 10 cities to live in the world. They collect data on 6 factors.
Q: What do you think the 6 factors are?
Q: Are there any other factors you would include?
In 2020 the top 5 cities were:
London
New York
Paris
Singapore
Tokyo
Q: Which do you think was first?
Q: In your opinion, what are the Pros and Cons of living in these cities?
London
#1 for culture and accessibility
#2 for economy and R and D
Q: We can always know where the Queen is! How?
+ musicals, access to Europe, good public transportation network
+ history, music, museums, premier league
- expensive rent, high cost of living, terrorism risks, bad weather
Q: Trafalgar Square used to have so many pigeons.
How did London get rid of them?
Why did London want to get rid of them?
If you feed the pigeons, how big is the fine?
2. New York
#1 for economy and R and D
#2 for culture
Q: Who gave the Statue of Liberty to New York? Why was it given as a present?
Q: Where was the Statue built?
Q: How do you think it got to New York?
+ many famous companies have HQ’s here, famous museums
+ musicals, baseball, basketball, many films are set here
- expensive rent, terrorism risk, pollution
Interesting fact: Since the 1960’s the price to ride the subway and the price of a slice of Pizza have roughly remained the same. It’s called the “Pizza Principle”
Timo Volz
3. Tokyo:
#3 for culture
#4 for economy and R and D
+ unique Japanese culture and food, Akihabara, temples
+ safe, convenient transportation, easy to travel outside the city, 24 hour city
- apartments are too small, trains are too crowded
True or False:
Tokyo has the tallest tower in the world
Tokyo has the most michelin 3 star restaurants in the world
Tokyo has the most visited mountain in the world. How many people visit it each year?
4. Paris:
#2 for accessibility
#3 for culture
#4 for livability
+ Easy access to all of Europe (without visa checks if you live in Paris)
+ short working hours
+ Shopping, cafe culture, food, museums, gardens, palaces
- Q: What is パリしょうこうぐん (= Paris Syndrome) ?
Q: How many people from Japan get it a year?
- lots of dog poop, hard to find a job if you don’t speak fluent French, high cost of living
5. Singapore
#5 for culture and economy
+ Extremely multicultural city
+ Easy to travel around South East Asia
+ Safe and clean
- Very small country!
Q: How big is it compared to Tokyo?
Q: In the last 30 years the city has grown by how many %?
- Rent is very expensive (about 40% more expensive than Tokyo)
- Strict government rules
Q: What will happen to you if you chew gum in Singapore?
Match the (maximum) FINE to the CRIME:
$500
$1000
$1000… $2000 for the 2nd time
feeding pigeons
spitting
jaywalking
$1000
$2000
$10,000
littering
using someone else’s wifi
being naked in your house with the windows open
Interesting fact: You can enjoy free movies screening in cinemas 24/7 at Changi Airport.
Answers:
The queen’s Royal Standard, flies over any building she is in
A hawk was hired and feeding pigeons is banned. You pay a 500 pound fine
France gave the statue to the US after the American Revolution. It was built in Paris and arrived in 350 pieces
All true. 2.6 million people visit Mt. Takao a year
Tokyo has 11 3 michelin starred restaurants, Paris only has 10. They aren’t happy to be losing
Paris Syndrome; depression caused by being extremely disappointed by Paris. It doesn’t fit their romantic image. It usually hits Asian visitors, especially Japanese
About 20 people get it a year
Singapore is 1/3 the size of Tokyo. It has grown by 25%
Nothing! It’s illegal to sell it in Singapore. It’s not illegal to chew it.
pigeons $500 / littering, spitting $1000 / jaywalking $1-2000 / nude in your house $2000 / wifi is considered hacking $10000
Sources:
https://japan-forward.com/tokyo-is-the-3rd-most-attractive-city-in-the-world-says-think-tank/
http://mori-m-foundation.or.jp/english/ius2/gpci2/index.shtml
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2011/10/paris-syndrome-a-first-class-problem-for-a-first-class-vacation/246743/
https://www.businessinsider.com/things-that-are-illegal-in-singapore-2015-7