Objectives: This study aimed at clarifying the factors associated with people's belief in the possibility of remaining at home at the end of life in semi-urban (City A) and rural (Town B) areas in Japan. Method: A questionnaire survey was conducted by mail to residents using age classification random sampling in City A (N = 1,800) and Town B (N = 1,800) in Japan. We performed multivariate logistic regression analysis on semi-urban and rural groups while using all potentially significant predictors that were identified by the univariate analysis (p < 0.05). Results: A total 620 subjects in City A group (34.8%) and 493 subjects in the Town B group (29.0%) completed the questionnaire. 117 (18.9%) in City A and 68 (13.8%) in Town B believed in the possibility of remaining at home at the end of life. City A residents who had knowledge of the end of life medical care resources in the community (OR = 3.28, 95%CI : 1.94-5.53), were confident about the cost-saving aspect of home care (OR = 0.33, 95%CI : 0.18-0.61), thought that their community members would help them in care giving (OR = 2.09, 95%CI : 1.11-3.90), and had experienced bereavement during the last five years (OR = 0.55, 95%CI : 0.34-0.89) were more likely to believe in the possibility of remaining at home at the end of life. Among Town B resident, the ones who perceived end of life home care positively (OR = 2.88, 95%CI : 1.58-5.23) thought that their community members would help them in care giving (OR = 2.67, 95%CI : 1.40-5.08), and had experienced bereavement during the last five years (OR = 0.52, 95%CI : 0.29-0.93). Conclusion: The factors related to belief in the possibility of remaining at home at the end of life differed in semi-urban and rural areas. In order to foster residents' belief in the possibility of remaining at home at the end of life, specific intervention might be effective in each community.