Slovenia made it to a new foreign list: the Japanese tourist board has revealed which it thinks are the prettiest towns in Europe – and there is one Slovenian town among them. Piran, Slovenia’s loveliest coastal town, made the list of 30 most beautiful European towns and villages.

The picturesque medieval walled town with Venetian architecture, which sits on the Adriatic coast is now being promoted as a must-visit destination for Japanese tourists, after being picked as one of 30 recommended small destinations by 300 Japanese travel agents. The agents were presented with the challenge to pick the 30 best by the Japanese Association of Travel Agents (JATA), which wants to promote travel to attractive little places in Europe. “Piran, a small town at the Adriatic coast built in the Venetian style, is a fishing port with wonderful squares, churches, a maze of narrow streets and exquisite fish restaurants at the seashore,” the JATA association substantiated their decision.

Officials and locals in Piran were thrilled to hear that they had made the cut and have begun to prepare for the arrival of coach parties of Japanese tourists, who they hope will sightsee, eat and drink in the town, bringing in trade for local businesses.

Besides Piran, Rovinj (Croatia), Kotor (Montenegro), Ohrid (Macedonia), Kilkenny (Ireland), Setenil de las Bodegas (Spain), Vlkolinec (Slovakia), Saint-Cirq-Lapopie and Riquewihr (France), Sint-Martens-Latem (Belgium), Zalipie (Poland), Marianske-Lazne (the Czech Republic), Quedlinburg and Bernkastel-Kues (Germany), Golyazi (Turkey), Reine (Norway), Civita di Bagnoregio and Procida (Italy), Conwy (Wales), Lech (Austria), Hindeloopen (the Netherlands), Lefkara (Cyprus), Soglio (Switzerland), Visby (Sweden), Sopron (Hungary), Koprivščica (Bulgaria), Porvoo (Finland), Berat (Albania), Monsanto (Portugal) and Gura Humorului (Romania) are also included in the list.

Piran (photo: Piotr Skrzypiec)