■Introduction
My name is Araki, and I joined the Hokkaido Government Representative Office in April. I look forward to working with you.
In late May, I had the opportunity to visit Bangkok on a business trip. As both Singapore and Bangkok are major cities in ASEAN where Hokkaido frequently conducts promotional activities and events, I have prepared a brief comparison of the two cities based on my personal observations and impressions.
■Comparison (Please note that the following observations are based on information gathered during the business trip and are intended to illustrate general trends only.)
| City | Singapore | Bangkok |
| Population | Approximately 6.11 million | Approximately 5.42 million |
| GDP／Person | Approximately 100,000 USD | Approximately 18,000 USD |
| Cityscape Profile | Luxury cars, electric vehicles (e.g BYD, Tesla, etc.), and minivans (primarily used as Grab taxis) are commonly seen. | Motorcycles and Japanese cars are commonly seen. (According to local sources, Japanese brands once accounted for around 90% of the market, but now represent approximately 70%) |
| Popular dinning options among locals | 1st：Chinese cuisine（including local chinese dishes）
2nd：Japanese cuisine（approximately 1500 restaurants） 3rd：Korean cuisine Japanese cuisine has established itself as a premium foreign dinning option, second only to chinese cuisine, which forms the basis of the local food culture of Singapore’s predominantly ethinc chinese population. |
1st：Thai cuisine
2nd：Japanese cuisine（approximately 2600 restaurants） 3rd：Chinese cuisine
▲ Restaurants in a shoppping mall The restaurants highlighted in blue are Japanese restaurants, which are the second most common after local Thai restaurants. They range from upscale establishments to more affordable casual dining options.
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| Price of Japanese Cuisine (Lowest-priced plate at a selected conveyor-belt sushi chain) | Approximately 2–3 times higher than in Japan (Approx. JPY 280 per plate) |
Comparable to, or slightly higher than, prices in Japan |
| Popular tourism destination among locals | 1st：Malaysia
2nd：Japan 3rd：Thailand
Malaysia is generally regarded as a destination for weekend getaways, Thailand for resort holidays, and Japan for an annual long-haul vacation. Approximately 80% of visitors from Singapore to Japan are repeat visitors who have travelled to Japan at least twice. (However, Thailand has a higher proportion of very frequent repeat visitors who have visited Japan four or more times.) |
1st：Japan
2nd：China 3rd：South Korea
Japan consistently ranks as the most popular overseas travel destination in virtually every survey. However, China has been gaining popularity rapidly since the introduction of mutual visa exemptions in 2024. In addition to being a more affordable destination than Japan, China’s growing appeal is also attributed to the strong influence of Chinese pop culture, which has become a major trend in Thailand. |
■Conclusion
Although Singapore and Bangkok are both dynamic cities that continue to experience strong growth and therefore share many similarities, I also observed distinct characteristics and underlying differences between them. As we continue to implement Hokkaido’s initiatives in the region, I will keep gathering local insights to ensure that these differences are taken into account when planning and carrying out future projects.
