My second choice is Istanbul, because the food there is brilliant as well.

There's just too much traffic in Tokyo to suit me, though I'll bet the Japanese would think of EVERYTHING!

There was a "supermarket" (a grocery store) and a single small apartment building at the beach there--nothing else.

Now it's buildings--vacation apartments, hotels, shops, restaurants, etc. all along the shore, but a half century ago it was white sand, blue sky and not much else... as far as the eye could see.

I say Madrid!

Good with Madrid or Istanbul though.

Not a congested mess, reasonably affordable for travelers to visit. And, tapas.

Spain is still in economic crisis, Turkey shares a border with two unstable countries, and Tokyo is right next to the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl.

They do it seven years out to give the selected city time to build all the necessary venues for the events.