How to say "outskirts" in Japanese

• 周辺しゅうへんJLPT N2approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)Covers 'outskirts' as the area around or surrounding a place — the environs. Unlike 近郊, it is not tied to cities, so it suits any reference point.
  北極圏ほっきょくけんとは北極ほっきょく周辺しゅうへんの地域ちいきの事ことである。↗

  The Arctic is the area round the North Pole.
• 近郊きんこうJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounSpecifically the outskirts or environs of a city — the surrounding area just outside it. Use it when saying that a place lies on the outskirts of a city.
  彼かれは東京とうきょう近郊きんこうに住すんでいる。↗

  He lives in the suburbs of Tokyo.
• 町外れまちはずれCommon
  nounCovers the outskirts of a town as its edge — just outside the city limits. It points to a specific spot on the edge of town rather than the surrounding region as a whole.
  私わたしたちは町まちはずれの小ちいさなホテルに泊とまった。↗

  We put up at a small hotel just on the edge of the town.
• 場末ばすえCommon
  no-adjectiveCovers the outskirts of a town, but with the nuance of a run-down district: it is not a neutral word for 'outskirts', and suits a shabby edge-of-town area.
  私は場末ばすえのジャズクラブに行いって、ライブミュージックを楽たのしみます。↗

  I like to go to a local jazz club where I can enjoy live music.
• 外れはずれCommon
  nounIts basic sense is the end, verge or extremity of something — the far edge or tip of an area; for 'outskirts' as a surrounding district it is seldom the word you want.
  ゴールは町まちのはずれに向かい合むかいあうように置おかれていたのです。↗

  The goals were placed at the opposite ends of the town.

Choose 近郊 for a city's outskirts, 周辺 for the area around something, not necessarily a city, 「町外れ」 for the edge of a town, 場末 for a run-down edge-of-town district; 「外れ」 means an end or extremity.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 周辺しゅうへんcircumference
• 近郊きんこうoutskirts
• 町外れまちはずれoutskirts (of a town)
• 場末ばすえoutskirts (of a town)
• 外れはずれend
• 外辺がいへんoutskirts
• 周縁しゅうえんfringe
• 外周がいしゅうoutskirts
• 野外やがいfields
• 在ざいoutskirts