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{{otheruses}} {{otheruses}}
<div style="float:right; width:325px;"><!-- necessary to force right margin alignment of the image below the infobox for Mac/Safari, the width needs to be slightly larger than the infobox and image widths for IE and Firefox-->{{Tokyo-Infobox}}</div>


{{Infobox Prefectures of Japan
{{nihongo|'''Tokyo'''|東京|Tōkyō}}, the common ] name for the {{nihongo|'''Tokyo Metropolis'''|東京都|Tōkyō-to}}, is one of the 47 ] of ] and, unique among the prefectures, provides certain municipal services characteristic of a ].
| name = Tokyo
| image = Rainbow Bridge Odaiba.jpg
| capital = n/a
| region = ]
| island = ]
| governor = ]
| area = 2,187.08 km² (45th)
| population = 12,570,000<br />(8,520,000 in special wards)<br />(1st)
| density = 5796 /km²
| districts = 1
| municipalities = 62
| isocode = JP-13
| website =
| symbol = PrefSymbol-Tokyo.svg
| tree = ]
| bird = ]
| flower = ]
| map = Map of Japan with highlight on 13 Tokyo 東京都.svg
}}


'''Tokyo''' (東京) {{Audio|ja-Tokyo.ogg|listen}} is Japan's capital and the country's largest city. A general English names '''Tokyo Metropolis'''.
Because it is the seat of the ] and the ], and the home of the ], Tokyo is the de facto capital of Japan.<ref name="capital">See ] for the debate on whether Tokyo is also the de jure capital.</ref>


Tokyo is also one of Japan's 47 prefectures, but is called a metropolis (to) rather than a prefecture (ken). The metropolis of Tokyo consists of 23 city wards (ku), 26 cities, 5 towns and 8 villages, including the Izu and Ogasawara Islands, several small Pacific Islands in the south of Japan's main island Honshu.
It is also the most populous prefecture and city in the country, and the center of the ] which is the most ] with a population of over 35 million people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://esa.un.org/unup/|title=esa.un.org/unup/}}</ref> It has been the world's most populous urban area ever since between 1965 and 1970, and despite Japan's declining population, is still growing.


The 23 city wards (ku) are the center of Tokyo and make up about one third of the metropolis' area, while housing roughly eight of Tokyo's approximately twelve million residents.
The twenty-three ], although each administratively a city in its own right, constitute the area informally considered as the "city of Tokyo" and are collectively one of the largest cities in the world with a total population of over 8 million people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/bigcities.htm|title=www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/bigcities.htm<!--INSERT TITLE-->}}</ref>


Prior to 1868, Tokyo was known as Edo. A small castle town in the 16th century, Edo became Japan's political center in 1603 when Tokugawa Ieyasu established his feudal government there. A few decades later, Edo had grown into one of the world's most populous cities.
Tokyo has the largest metropolitan ] in the world for a city, and it held the title of the world's most expensive city for over a decade from 1992 through 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/4669400.stm|title=news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/4669400.stm<!--INSERT TITLE-->}}</ref>

Tokyo is considered one of the world's major ] and a megacity. The name "Tokyo" refers variously to Tokyo Metropolis (the prefecture) as a whole, or only to the main urban mass under its jurisdiction (thus excluding west Tama and Izu / Ogasawara Islands), or even the whole of Greater Tokyo Area, which includes Tokyo, ], ], ], ], ], ], and ] prefectures, depending on context.

This article uses the name to refer to Tokyo Metropolis unless otherwise stated.


== History == == History ==
{{main|History of Tokyo}} {{main|History of Tokyo}}
]]]
Tokyo's rise to importance can be largely attributed to two men: ] and ]. Tokugawa Ieyasu made ] (the forerunner of Tokyo) his base. When he became ] in 1603, the town began to grow into the capital of his nationwide military government. It became one of the largest cities in the world with a population topping one million by the 18th century. It became the de facto capital of Japan even while the emperor lived in ], the imperial capital.


Tokyo's rise to importance can be largely attributed to two men: Tokugawa Ieyasu and Emperor Meiji. Tokugawa Ieyasu made Edo (the forerunner of Tokyo) his base. When he became shogun in 1603, the town began to grow into the capital of his nationwide military government.
After about 263 years, the shogunate was overthrown under the banner of ]. In 1869, the 17-year-old ] moved to Edo, which was ] "Tokyo" ("Eastern Capital") the year before. Tokyo was already the nation's political, economic, and cultural center, and the emperor's residence made it a de facto imperial capital as well with the former Edo Castle becoming the ]. The ] was established, and continued to be the capital until it was abolished as a municipality in 1943 and merged with the "Metropolitan Prefecture" of Tokyo.


It became one of the largest cities in the world with a population topping one million by the 18th century. It became the de facto capital of Japan even while the emperor lived in Kyoto, the imperial capital.
Central Tokyo, like ], has been designed since about the turn of the century (1900) to be centered around major train stations in a high-density fashion, so suburban railways were built relatively cheaply at street level and with their own ]. This differs from other world cities, such as ], that are low-density and automobile-centric. Though ] have been built, the basic design has not changed to this day.


]
Tokyo went on to suffer two major catastrophes in the 20th century, but it recovered from both. One was the ] in 1923, and the other was ]. The ], with 75,000 to 200,000 killed and half of the city destroyed, were almost as devastating as the atomic bombs of ] and ] combined.<ref>{{cite book |title=Modern Japan: A Social and Political History |author=Tipton, Elise K. |publisher=Routledge |year=2002 |pages=p. 141}}</ref> After the war, Tokyo was completely rebuilt, and showcased to the world during the city's ]. The 1970s brought new high-rise developments such as ], a new and controversial ] at ] (well outside Tokyo)<!-- in 1978 [[can't think of a neat way to integrate that into the sentence -->, and a population increase to about 11 million (in the metropolitan area).


After about 263 years, the shogunate was overthrown under the banner of restoring imperial rule. In 1869, the 17-year-old Emperor Meiji moved to Edo, which was renamed Tokyo the year before. Tokyo was already the nation's political, economic, and cultural center, and the emperor's residence made it a de facto imperial capital as well with the former Edo Castle becoming the Imperial Palace.
Tokyo's subway and commuter rail network became the busiest in the world as more and more people moved to the area. In the 1980s, real estate prices skyrocketed during an economic ]. The bubble burst in the early 1990s and many companies, banks, and individuals were caught with real estate shrinking in value. A major recession followed, making the 1990s Japan's "]" from which it is now slowly recovering.


The city of Tokyo was established, and continued to be the capital until it was abolished as a municipality in 1943 and merged with the Metropolitan Prefecture of Tokyo.
] and ] as seen from ] at night.]]


Central Tokyo, like Osaka, has been designed since about the turn of the century to be centered around major train stations in a high-density fashion, so suburban railways were built relatively cheaply at street level and with their own right-of-way. This differs from other world cities, such as Los Angeles, that are low-density and automobile-centric. Though expressways have been built, the basic design has not changed to this day.
Tokyo still sees new urban developments on large lots of less profitable land. Recent projects include ] Garden Place, Tennozu Isle, Shiodome, ], Shinagawa (now also a ] station), and Tokyo Station (Marunouchi side). Buildings of significance are demolished for more up-to-date shopping facilities such as ]. Land reclamation projects in Tokyo have also been going on for centuries. The most prominent is the ] area, now a major shopping and entertainment center.


Tokyo went on to suffer two major catastrophes in the 20th century, but it recovered from both. One was the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, and the other was World War II. The Tokyo in World War II in 1945, with 75,000 to 200,000 killed and half of the city destroyed. After the war, Tokyo was completely rebuilt, and showcased to the world during the city's 1964 Summer Olympics.
Tokyo was hit by powerful ]s in 1703, 1782, 1812, 1855 and 1923. The ], with an estimated magnitude of 8.3, killed 142,000 people.


The 1970s brought new high-rise developments such as Sunshine 60, a new and controversial airport at Narita (well outside Tokyo), and a population increase to about 11 million (in the metropolitan area).
There have been various plans proposed for transferring national government functions from Tokyo to secondary capitals in other regions of Japan, in order to slow down rapid development in Tokyo and revitalize economically lagging areas of the country. These plans have been controversial within Japan and have yet to be realized.


On March 20, 1995, Tokyo became the focus of international media attention in the wake of the Aum Shinrikyo cult terrorist organisation attack with Sarin nerve gas on the Tokyo subway system in which 12 people were killed and thousands affected.
An older method of ] Japanese resulted in "Tokio" as an earlier spelling.


== Details ==
During the early Meiji period, the city was also called "Tōkei", an alternative pronunciation for the same Chinese characters representing "Tokyo". Some surviving official English documents use the spelling "Tokei".<ref name="Tōkei">{{cite web|url=http://www.soumu.metro.tokyo.jp/01soumu/archives/tokei_ibun.htm|title=www.soumu.metro.tokyo.jp/01soumu/archives/tokei_ibun.htm<!--INSERT TITLE-->}}</ref> This pronunciation is now obsolete.
=== The 23 special wards ===

== Geography and administrative divisions ==
<!--Please add new information into relevant articles of the series-->
{{main|Politics of Tokyo}}

]

The mainland portion of Tokyo lies northwest of ] and measures about 90&nbsp;km east to west and 25&nbsp;km north to south. It borders ] to the east, ] to the west, ] to the south, and ] to the north. Mainland Tokyo is further subdivided into the special wards (occupying the eastern half) and the Tama area (多摩地方) stretching westwards.

Also within the administrative boundaries of Tokyo Metropolis are two island chains in the ] directly south: the ], which are almost parallel to the Izu Peninsula; and the ], which stretch more than 1,000&nbsp;km away from mainland Japan.

Under ], Tokyo is designated as a '']'' (], often translated "]"). Its administrative structure is similar to that of Japan's other ]. Within Tokyo lie dozens of smaller entities, most of them conventionally referred to as cities. It includes ] (特別] -ku) which until 1943 comprised the ] but are now separate, self-governing municipalities, each with a mayor and a council, and having the status of a city. In addition to these 23 municipalities, Tokyo also encompasses 26 more cities (] -shi), five towns (] -chō or machi), and eight villages (] -son or -mura), each of which has a local government. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is headed by a publicly elected governor and metropolitan assembly. Its ] are in the ward of ]. They govern all of Tokyo, including lakes, rivers, dams, farms, remote islands, and ] in addition to its famous neon jungle, skyscrapers and crowded subways.

=== The twenty-three special wards ===
The ] (''tokubetsu-ku'') of Tokyo comprise the area formerly incorporated as Tokyo City, usually simply known as "Tokyo". On ], ], Tokyo City was merged with Tokyo Prefecture (東京府, ''Tōkyō-fu'') forming the current "metropolitan prefecture". As a result of this merger, unlike other ] in Japan, these wards are not part of any larger incorporated city. The ] (''tokubetsu-ku'') of Tokyo comprise the area formerly incorporated as Tokyo City, usually simply known as "Tokyo". On ], ], Tokyo City was merged with Tokyo Prefecture (東京府, ''Tōkyō-fu'') forming the current "metropolitan prefecture". As a result of this merger, unlike other ] in Japan, these wards are not part of any larger incorporated city.


Each ward is a ] with its own elected mayor and assembly like the other cities of Japan. The wards differ from other cities in that certain governmental functions are handled by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Each ward is a ] with its own elected mayor and assembly like the other cities of Japan. The wards differ from other cities in that certain governmental functions are handled by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.


{| class="wikitable"
The special wards of Tokyo are the following:
| ]

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The term "central Tokyo" today may refer to the 23 special wards, the centres of ], ], ] and ] connected and enclosed by the ], or to the three centrally located wards of ], ] and ].


<!-- Do not remove this line --><div style="clear: both;"></div>


=== Western Tokyo === === Western Tokyo ===
]'s ].]]

To the west of the special wards, Tokyo Metropolis consists of cities, towns and villages that enjoy the same legal status as those elsewhere in Japan. To the west of the special wards, Tokyo Metropolis consists of cities, towns and villages that enjoy the same legal status as those elsewhere in Japan.


While serving a role as "]" for those working in central Tokyo, some of these also have a local commercial and industrial base. Collectively, these are often known as '''Tama Area''' or ''']'''. While serving a role as "]" for those working in central Tokyo, some of these also have a local commercial and industrial base. Collectively, these are often known as Tama Area or ].


==== Cities ==== ; Cities
Twenty-six cities lie within the western part of Tokyo Prefecture: Twenty-six cities lie within the western part of Tokyo Prefecture.

{|
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; Districts, towns and villages
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has designated Hachiōji, Tachikawa, Machida, Ōme and Tama New Town as regional centres of the Tama area, as part of their plans to disperse urban functions away from central Tokyo.
The far west is occupied by the district (gun) of Nishitama. Much of this area is mountainous and unsuitable for urbanization.


The highest mountain in Tokyo, Mount Kumotori, is 2,017 m high; other mountains in Tokyo include Mount Takasu (1737 m), Mount Odake (1266 m), and Mount Mitake (929 m). Lake Okutama, on the Tama River near Yamanashi Prefecture, is Tokyo's largest lake.
==== Districts, towns and villages ====
The far west is occupied by the district (''gun'') of ]. Much of this area is mountainous and unsuitable for urbanization. The highest mountain in Tokyo, ], is 2,017&nbsp;m high; other mountains in Tokyo include Mount Takasu (1737&nbsp;m), Mount Odake (1266&nbsp;m), and ] (929&nbsp;m). ], on the ] near ], is Tokyo's largest lake.


{| class="wikitable"
* ]
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|-
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|}


=== Islands === === Islands ===
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In Izu Islands, there are 2 towns and 6 villages. In Ogasawara Islands, there is only 1 village. In Izu Islands, there are 2 towns and 6 villages. In Ogasawara Islands, there is only 1 village.


==== Izu Islands ==== ; Izu Islands
The ] are a group of volcanic islands and form part of the ]. The islands in order from closest to Tokyo are: The ] are a group of volcanic islands and form part of the ]. The islands in order from closest to Tokyo are.


{| class="wikitable"
{{col-begin}}
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{{col-end}}


; Ogasawara Islands
] (south) are part of Tokyo Prefecture.]]
] - ] includes, from north to south, ], Nishinoshima, ], Kita Iwo Jima, ], and Minami Iwo Jima.


Ogasawara also administers two tiny outlying islands: ], the easternmost point in Japan and at 1,850&nbsp;km the most distant island from central Tokyo, and ], the southernmost point in Japan.
Izu Ōshima and Hachiojima are towns. The remaining islands are six villages, with Niijima and Shikinejima forming one village.


The last island is contested by the ] as being only uninhabited rocks.
==== Ogasawara Islands ====
* ]—] includes, from north to south, ], Nishinoshima, ], Kita Iwo Jima, ], and Minami Iwo Jima. Ogasawara also administers two tiny outlying islands: ], the easternmost point in Japan and at 1,850&nbsp;km the most distant island from central Tokyo, and ], the southernmost point in Japan. The last island is contested by the ] as being only uninhabited rocks. The Iwo chain and the outlying islands are uninhabited, except of ] personnel. Local populations are only found on ] and ]. The islands form the Ogasawara village.


The Iwo chain and the outlying islands are uninhabited, except of ] personnel. Local populations are only found on ] and ].
=== National Parks ===
There are four national parks in Tokyo Prefecture:
* ], in Nishitama and spilling over into ] and ] Prefectures
* ], around ] to the south of Hachioji.
* ], which includes all of the Izu Islands.
* ]. ] 2006, efforts were being made to make Ogasawara National Park a ] natural ].
<!-- Do not remove this line --><div style="clear:both;"></div>


The islands form the Ogasawara village.
== Climate ==
Tokyo lies in the ] zone (] ''Cfa''), with hot humid summers and generally mild winters with cool spells. Its location on the coast of the ] affords Tokyo a milder climate than other cities worldwide at a similar latitude. Annual rainfall averages 1,380&nbsp;mm (55&nbsp;inches), with a wetter summer and a drier winter. Snowfall is sporadic, but does occur almost annually.


== Economy == == Economy ==
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Tokyo Bay was once a major source of fish. Presently, most of Tokyo's fish production comes from the outer islands, such as Izu Ōshima and Hachijōjima. ], ], and ] are among the ocean products. Tokyo Bay was once a major source of fish. Presently, most of Tokyo's fish production comes from the outer islands, such as Izu Ōshima and Hachijōjima. ], ], and ] are among the ocean products.

== Climate ==
Tokyo lies in the ] zone (] ''Cfa''), with hot humid summers and generally mild winters with cool spells.

Its location on the coast of the ] affords Tokyo a milder climate than other cities worldwide at a similar latitude. Annual rainfall averages 1,380&nbsp;mm (55&nbsp;inches), with a wetter summer and a drier winter. Snowfall is sporadic, but does occur annually.


== Demographics == == Demographics ==
As one of the ], Tokyo has over eight million people living within its 23 wards, and during the daytime, the population swells by over 2.5 million as workers and students commute from adjacent areas. This effect is even more pronounced in the three central wards of ], ], and ], whose collective population is less than 300,000 at night, but over two million during the day. The entire prefecture has 12,696,000 residents in March 2007, with an increase of over 3 million in the day. As one of the ], Tokyo has over eight million people living within its 23 wards, and during the daytime, the population swells by over 2.5 million as workers and students commute from adjacent areas.
This effect is even more pronounced in the three central wards of ], ], and ], whose collective population is less than 300,000 at night, but over two million during the day.
The entire prefecture has 12,696,000 residents in March 2007, with an increase of over 3 million in the day.

<center>
{| class="wikitable" {| class="wikitable"
|+ Population of Tokyo Prefecture |+ Population of Tokyo Prefecture
|-
! By area<sup>1</sup> ! By area<sup>1</sup>
| Tokyo Prefecture<br />Special wards<br />Tama Area<br />Islands
|
| 12.6 million<br />8.64 million<br />4 million<br />27,000
Tokyo Prefecture<br />
''Special wards''<br />
Tama Area<br />
Islands
|
12.6 million<br />
''8.64 million''<br />
4 million<br />
27,000
|- |-
! By age<sup>2</sup> ! By age<sup>2</sup>
| Juveniles (age 0-14)<br />Working (age 15-64)<br />Retired (age 65+)<br />
|
| 1.433 million (12%)<br />8.507 million (71.4%)<br />2.057 million (16.6%)
Juveniles (age 0-14)<br />
Working (age 15-64)<br />
Retired (age 65+)<br />
|
1.433 million (12%)<br />
8.507 million (71.4%)<br />
2.057 million (16.6%)
|- |-
! By hours<sup>3</sup> ! By hours<sup>3</sup>
| Day<br />Night
|
| 14.667 million<br />12.017 million
Day<br />
Night
|
14.667 million<br />
12.017 million
|- |-
! By nationality ! By nationality
| Foreign residents
|
| 353,826<sup>4</sup>
Foreign residents
|
353,826<sup>4</sup>
|- |-
|colspan="3" style="font-size:90%;"| |colspan="3" style="font-size:90%;"|
<sup>1</sup> as of June 1, 2007.<br /> <sup>1</sup> as of June 1, 2007.<br /><sup>2</sup> as of January 1, 2003.<br /><sup>3</sup> as of 2000.<br /><sup>4</sup> as of January 1, 2005.
<sup>2</sup> as of January 1, 2003.<br />
<sup>3</sup> as of 2000.<br />
<sup>4</sup> as of January 1, 2005.
|} |}

</center>
The five most common foreign nationalities found in Tokyo are Chinese (120,331), Korean (103,191), Filipino (31,505), American (18,043) and British (7,585). The five most common foreign nationalities found in Tokyo are Chinese (120,331), Korean (103,191), Filipino (31,505), American (18,043) and British (7,585).


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== Transportation == == Transportation ==
] ]
] ]
]


{{main|Transportation in Greater Tokyo}}<!-- Note to editors: Transportation in Greater Tokyo is a comprehensive article. The Transportation section of the article on Tokyo (this article) is a very brief introduction and includes very few specific details. Transportation in Tokyo contains a wealth of detail and can accommodate more so please contribute there! --> {{main|Transportation in Greater Tokyo}}<!-- Note to editors: Transportation in Greater Tokyo is a comprehensive article. The Transportation section of the article on Tokyo (this article) is a very brief introduction and includes very few specific details. Transportation in Tokyo contains a wealth of detail and can accommodate more so please contribute there! -->
Tokyo is Japan's largest domestic and international hub for rail, ground, and air transportation. Public transportation within Tokyo is dominated by an extensive network of clean and efficient trains and subways run by a variety of operators, with buses, monorails and trams playing a secondary feeder role. Railway stations are not only transport, but the center of Tokyo and Japanese urban life, as everything is judged in relation to it, taking on the significance of highways in the United States and elsewhere. Tokyo is Japan's largest domestic and international hub for rail, ground, and air transportation. Public transportation within Tokyo is dominated by an extensive network of clean and efficient trains and subways run by a variety of operators, with buses, monorails and trams playing a secondary feeder role. Railway stations are not only transport, but the center of Tokyo and Japanese urban life, as everything is judged in relation to it, taking on the significance of highways in the United States and elsewhere.


Within the 23 wards of Tokyo, ] ("Haneda") offers mainly domestic flights. Outside Tokyo, ], in ], ], is the major gateway for international travelers. Within Tokyo, ] ("Haneda") offers mainly domestic flights. Outside Tokyo, ], in ], ], is the major gateway for international travelers.

Various islands governed by Tokyo have their own airports with service to Tokyo International Airport and other airports. ] is served by ]. ] serves ]. ] is served by ].


Rail is the primary mode of transportation in Tokyo, which has the most extensive urban railway network in the world and an equally extensive network of surface lines. ] operates Tokyo's largest railway network, including the ] loop that circles the center of downtown Tokyo. ] and ] operate the subway network. The metropolitan government and private carriers operate bus routes. Local, regional, and national services are available, with major terminals at the giant railroad stations, including ] and ]. Rail is the primary mode of transportation in Tokyo, which has the most extensive urban railway network in the world and an equally extensive network of surface lines. ] operates Tokyo's largest railway network, including the ] loop that circles the center of downtown Tokyo. ] and ] operate the subway network. The metropolitan government and private carriers operate bus routes. Local, regional, and national services are available, with major terminals at the giant railroad stations, including ] and ].
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Taxis operate in the special wards and the cities and towns. Long-distance ferries serve the islands of Tokyo and carry passengers and cargo to domestic and foreign ports. Taxis operate in the special wards and the cities and towns. Long-distance ferries serve the islands of Tokyo and carry passengers and cargo to domestic and foreign ports.

== Education ==

Being the nation's center of education, Tokyo has many universities, junior colleges, and vocational schools. Many of Japan's most prestigious universities are in Tokyo, ] being the most prestigious of all. National universities located in Tokyo include ], ], ], ] and ]. There is only one ] (i.e., not national): the ]. ] and ] are located in Tokyo; these universities are top private universities in Japan. Tokyo also has a few universities well-known for classes conducted in English. They include ], ], ] and ]. For an extensive list of universities in Tokyo, see ].

Publicly run kindergartens, ]s (years 1 through 6), and ]s (7 through 9) are operated by local wards or municipal offices. Public ]s in Tokyo are run by the ] and are called "Metropolitan High Schools". Tokyo also has a great number of privately run schools from kindergarten through high school. For a list of high schools in Japan, see .


== Culture == == Culture ==
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* ] (]) * ] (])
* ] (]) * ] (])

=== Tennis ===
Tokyo hosts one of the ten prestigious Tier I tournaments on the women's tennis tour (]) and it takes place directly after the ], near the beginning of the tennis season. It attracts a vast number of top players each year, including ], ], ], ], ] and ]. Tokyo also hosts another tennis event later in the year, after the US Open.

On the men's ] tour Tokyo also hosts a tennis event, won in 2006 by ].

=== Olympics ===
The city hosted the ], the first modern olympiad held in ]. Tokyo is also bidding for the ].


== Tourism == == Tourism ==
{{main|Tourism in Tokyo}} {{main|Tourism in Tokyo}}
Tokyo has many tourist sightseeing, cultural and sport attractions. These include famous temples, shrines, annual festivals and events, parks, scenic views, popular shopping and nightlife districts. Cultural highlights of Tokyo include museums, concert halls, and theaters. Tokyo has many tourist sightseeing, cultural and sport attractions. These include famous temples, shrines, annual festivals and events, parks, scenic views, popular shopping and nightlife districts.


Cultural highlights of Tokyo include museums, concert halls, and theaters.
== Tokyo in popular media ==
{{main|Tokyo in pop culture}}
As the largest city in Japan and the location of the country's largest broadcasters and studios, Tokyo is frequently the setting for many Japanese movies, television shows, animated series ('']''), and comic books ('']''). The best-known outside Japan may be the '']'' (monster movie) genre, in which landmarks of Tokyo are routinely destroyed by giant monsters such as ]. Many comics and animated series are set in Tokyo, such as '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']''<!--Page 87, Volume 2 of the English-language editions of the manga--> and even the western animation '']'', have become popular across the world as well. Some futuristic ] and ] such as '']'' often depict Tokyo as a sprawling metropolis in a post-apocalyptic setting; some often go so far as to have numbers designating different Tokyos.


== Sister Cities ==
Some Hollywood directors have turned to Tokyo as a filming location for movies set in Tokyo. Well-known examples from the postwar era include '']'', '']'', and the ] film '']''; well-known contemporary examples include '']'', '']'' and '']''.
{|

| valign="top" |
== Sister relationships ==
* {{flagicon|China}} ], ]
<!-- Note to editors: Please do not put a link in a header. -->
* {{flagicon|Germany}} ], ]
Tokyo has ] with eleven places worldwide:
* {{flagicon|Egypt}} ], ]

* {{flagicon|Indonesia}} ], ]
<!-- Note to editors: before adding to this list, be sure to check Tokyo's official site and make sure the place you're adding is on Tokyo's list at http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/PROFILE/policy11.htm -->
* {{flagicon|Russia}} ], ]
* ], ]
| valign="top" |
* ], ]
* {{flagicon|Australia}} ], ]
* ], ]
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In addition, Tokyo has a "partnership" agreement with the cities of ], ] and ]. and many of the wards and cities within Tokyo maintain sister-city relationships with other foreign cities.


== Gallery == == Gallery ==
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Image:TokyoDome8946.jpg|Tokyo Dome
Image:Tokyo tower oge.jpg|Tokyo Tower
Image:Wako ginza.jpg|Ginza Image:Wako ginza.jpg|Ginza
Image:Akiba denkigai.jpg|Akihabara Image:Soridaijinkantei3.jpg|Kantei
Image:Shibuya crossing.jpg|Shibuya
Image:Shinjuku night view.jpg|Shinjuku
Image:Signboard of Tokyo Midtown.jpg|Tokyo Midtown
Image:Tokyo station01 1920.jpg|Tokyo Station
Image:TokyoTocho Office Building.jpg|Tokyo Metropolitan Government building
Image:Kokyo0057.jpg|Entrance to Imperial Palace
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Revision as of 15:09, 7 October 2007

For other uses, see Tokyo (disambiguation).

Template:Infobox Prefectures of Japan

Tokyo (東京) listen is Japan's capital and the country's largest city. A general English names Tokyo Metropolis.

Tokyo is also one of Japan's 47 prefectures, but is called a metropolis (to) rather than a prefecture (ken). The metropolis of Tokyo consists of 23 city wards (ku), 26 cities, 5 towns and 8 villages, including the Izu and Ogasawara Islands, several small Pacific Islands in the south of Japan's main island Honshu.

The 23 city wards (ku) are the center of Tokyo and make up about one third of the metropolis' area, while housing roughly eight of Tokyo's approximately twelve million residents.

Prior to 1868, Tokyo was known as Edo. A small castle town in the 16th century, Edo became Japan's political center in 1603 when Tokugawa Ieyasu established his feudal government there. A few decades later, Edo had grown into one of the world's most populous cities.

History

Main article: History of Tokyo

Tokyo's rise to importance can be largely attributed to two men: Tokugawa Ieyasu and Emperor Meiji. Tokugawa Ieyasu made Edo (the forerunner of Tokyo) his base. When he became shogun in 1603, the town began to grow into the capital of his nationwide military government.

It became one of the largest cities in the world with a population topping one million by the 18th century. It became the de facto capital of Japan even while the emperor lived in Kyoto, the imperial capital.

Bombing of Tokyo in World War II

After about 263 years, the shogunate was overthrown under the banner of restoring imperial rule. In 1869, the 17-year-old Emperor Meiji moved to Edo, which was renamed Tokyo the year before. Tokyo was already the nation's political, economic, and cultural center, and the emperor's residence made it a de facto imperial capital as well with the former Edo Castle becoming the Imperial Palace.

The city of Tokyo was established, and continued to be the capital until it was abolished as a municipality in 1943 and merged with the Metropolitan Prefecture of Tokyo.

Central Tokyo, like Osaka, has been designed since about the turn of the century to be centered around major train stations in a high-density fashion, so suburban railways were built relatively cheaply at street level and with their own right-of-way. This differs from other world cities, such as Los Angeles, that are low-density and automobile-centric. Though expressways have been built, the basic design has not changed to this day.

Tokyo went on to suffer two major catastrophes in the 20th century, but it recovered from both. One was the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, and the other was World War II. The Tokyo in World War II in 1945, with 75,000 to 200,000 killed and half of the city destroyed. After the war, Tokyo was completely rebuilt, and showcased to the world during the city's 1964 Summer Olympics.

The 1970s brought new high-rise developments such as Sunshine 60, a new and controversial airport at Narita (well outside Tokyo), and a population increase to about 11 million (in the metropolitan area).

On March 20, 1995, Tokyo became the focus of international media attention in the wake of the Aum Shinrikyo cult terrorist organisation attack with Sarin nerve gas on the Tokyo subway system in which 12 people were killed and thousands affected.

Details

The 23 special wards

The special wards (tokubetsu-ku) of Tokyo comprise the area formerly incorporated as Tokyo City, usually simply known as "Tokyo". On July 1, 1943, Tokyo City was merged with Tokyo Prefecture (東京府, Tōkyō-fu) forming the current "metropolitan prefecture". As a result of this merger, unlike other city wards in Japan, these wards are not part of any larger incorporated city.

Each ward is a municipality with its own elected mayor and assembly like the other cities of Japan. The wards differ from other cities in that certain governmental functions are handled by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Adachi Arakawa
Bunkyō Chiyoda
Chūō Edogawa
Itabashi Katsushika
Kita Kōtō
Meguro Minato
Nakano Nerima
Ōta Setagaya
Shibuya Shinagawa
Shinjuku Suginami
Sumida Taitō
Toshima

Western Tokyo

To the west of the special wards, Tokyo Metropolis consists of cities, towns and villages that enjoy the same legal status as those elsewhere in Japan.

While serving a role as "bed towns" for those working in central Tokyo, some of these also have a local commercial and industrial base. Collectively, these are often known as Tama Area or Western Tokyo.

Cities

Twenty-six cities lie within the western part of Tokyo Prefecture.

Akiruno Akishima
Chōfu Fuchū
Fussa Hachiōji
Hamura Higashikurume
Higashimurayama Higashiyamato
Hino Inagi
Kiyose Kodaira
Koganei Kokubunji
Komae Kunitachi
Machida Mitaka
Musashimurayama Musashino
Nishitōkyō Ōme
Tachikawa Tama
Districts, towns and villages

The far west is occupied by the district (gun) of Nishitama. Much of this area is mountainous and unsuitable for urbanization.

The highest mountain in Tokyo, Mount Kumotori, is 2,017 m high; other mountains in Tokyo include Mount Takasu (1737 m), Mount Odake (1266 m), and Mount Mitake (929 m). Lake Okutama, on the Tama River near Yamanashi Prefecture, is Tokyo's largest lake.

Hinode Mizuho
Okutama Hinohara

Islands

Tokyo's outlying islands extend as far as 1850 km from central Tokyo. Because of the islands' distance from the city, they are locally run by branches of the metropolitan government. The islands are organized into two towns and seven villages.

In Izu Islands, there are 2 towns and 6 villages. In Ogasawara Islands, there is only 1 village.

Izu Islands

The Izu Islands are a group of volcanic islands and form part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. The islands in order from closest to Tokyo are.

Izu Ōshima Toshima
Niijima Shikinejima
Kozushima Miyakejima
Mikurajima Hachijojima
Ogasawara Islands

Ogasawara - Ogasawara includes, from north to south, Chichi-jima, Nishinoshima, Haha-jima, Kita Iwo Jima, Iwo Jima, and Minami Iwo Jima.

Ogasawara also administers two tiny outlying islands: Minami Torishima, the easternmost point in Japan and at 1,850 km the most distant island from central Tokyo, and Okino Torishima, the southernmost point in Japan.

The last island is contested by the People's Republic of China as being only uninhabited rocks.

The Iwo chain and the outlying islands are uninhabited, except of Japanese Self-Defense Forces personnel. Local populations are only found on Chichi-jima and Haha-jima.

The islands form the Ogasawara village.

Economy

Tokyo has the largest metropolitan economy in the world. According to a study conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Tokyo urban area (35.2 million people) had a total GDP of US$1,191 billion in 2005 (at purchasing power parity), ranking again as the largest urban agglomeration GDP in the world.

Tokyo is a major international finance center, houses the headquarters of several of the world's largest investment banks and insurance companies, and serves as a hub for Japan's transportation, publishing, and broadcasting industries. During the centralized growth of Japan's economy following World War II, many large firms moved their headquarters from cities such as Osaka (the historical commercial capital) to Tokyo, in an attempt to take advantage of better access to the government. This trend has begun to slow due to ongoing population growth in Tokyo and the high cost of living there.

Tokyo was rated by the Economist Intelligence Unit as the most expensive (highest cost-of-living) city in the world for 14 years in a row ending in 2006. Note that this is for living a Western corporate executive lifestyle, with items typically considered luxuries in large cities, like a detached house and several automobiles. Many Japanese get by fine on a budget in Tokyo, underpinning the high national savings rate.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange is the second largest in the world by market capitalization of listed shares, at $4.99 trillion. Only the New York Stock Exchange is larger. However, its prominence has fallen significantly since early 1990s asset bubble peak, when it accounted for more than 60% of the entire world's stock market values.

Tokyo had 8,460 ha (20,900 acres) of agricultural land as of 2003, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, placing it last among the nation's prefectures. The farmland is concentrated in Western Tokyo. Perishables such as vegetables, fruits, and flowers can be conveniently shipped to the markets in the eastern part of the prefecture. Japanese leaf spinach and spinach are the most important vegetables; as of 2000, Tokyo supplied 32.5% of the Japanese leaf spinach sold at its central produce market.

With 36% of its area covered by forest, Tokyo has extensive growths of cryptomeria and Japanese cypress, especially in the mountainous western communities of Akiruno, Ōme, Okutama, Hachiōji, Hinode, and Hinohara. Decreases in the price of lumber, increases in the cost of production, and advancing old age among the forestry population have resulted in a decline in Tokyo's output. In addition, pollen, especially from cryptomeria, is a major allergen for the nearby population centers.

Tokyo Bay was once a major source of fish. Presently, most of Tokyo's fish production comes from the outer islands, such as Izu Ōshima and Hachijōjima. Skipjack tuna, nori, and aji are among the ocean products.

Climate

Tokyo lies in the humid subtropical climate zone (Koppen climate classification Cfa), with hot humid summers and generally mild winters with cool spells.

Its location on the coast of the Pacific Ocean affords Tokyo a milder climate than other cities worldwide at a similar latitude. Annual rainfall averages 1,380 mm (55 inches), with a wetter summer and a drier winter. Snowfall is sporadic, but does occur annually.

Demographics

As one of the major cities of the world, Tokyo has over eight million people living within its 23 wards, and during the daytime, the population swells by over 2.5 million as workers and students commute from adjacent areas.

This effect is even more pronounced in the three central wards of Chiyoda, Chūō, and Minato, whose collective population is less than 300,000 at night, but over two million during the day.

The entire prefecture has 12,696,000 residents in March 2007, with an increase of over 3 million in the day.

Population of Tokyo Prefecture
By area Tokyo Prefecture
Special wards
Tama Area
Islands 		12.6 million
8.64 million
4 million
27,000
By age Juveniles (age 0-14)
Working (age 15-64)
Retired (age 65+)
 1.433 million (12%)
8.507 million (71.4%)
2.057 million (16.6%)
By hours Day
Night 		14.667 million
12.017 million
By nationality Foreign residents 353,826

as of June 1, 2007.
as of January 1, 2003.
as of 2000.
as of January 1, 2005.

The five most common foreign nationalities found in Tokyo are Chinese (120,331), Korean (103,191), Filipino (31,505), American (18,043) and British (7,585).

The 1889 Census recorded 1,389,600 people in Tokyo city, Japan's largest city at the time.

Transportation

JR Yamanote Line.
Map of Tokyo Subway system, with transfer stations labeled.
Tokyo International Airport
Main article: Transportation in Greater Tokyo

Tokyo is Japan's largest domestic and international hub for rail, ground, and air transportation. Public transportation within Tokyo is dominated by an extensive network of clean and efficient trains and subways run by a variety of operators, with buses, monorails and trams playing a secondary feeder role. Railway stations are not only transport, but the center of Tokyo and Japanese urban life, as everything is judged in relation to it, taking on the significance of highways in the United States and elsewhere.

Within Tokyo, Tokyo International Airport ("Haneda") offers mainly domestic flights. Outside Tokyo, Narita International Airport, in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, is the major gateway for international travelers.

Rail is the primary mode of transportation in Tokyo, which has the most extensive urban railway network in the world and an equally extensive network of surface lines. JR East operates Tokyo's largest railway network, including the Yamanote Line loop that circles the center of downtown Tokyo. Tokyo Metro and Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation operate the subway network. The metropolitan government and private carriers operate bus routes. Local, regional, and national services are available, with major terminals at the giant railroad stations, including Tokyo and Shinjuku.

Expressways link the capital to other points in the Greater Tokyo area, the Kantō region, and the islands of Kyūshū and Shikoku.

Taxis operate in the special wards and the cities and towns. Long-distance ferries serve the islands of Tokyo and carry passengers and cargo to domestic and foreign ports.

Culture

Tokyo is known for its many museums. Located in Ueno Park are the Tokyo National Museum, the country's largest museum and specializing in traditional Japanese art; the National Museum of Western Art; and the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, which contains collections of Japanese modern art as well as over 10,000 Japanese and foreign films. Ueno Park also contains the National Museum of Science and the municipal zoo. Other museums include the Nezu Art Museum in Aoyama; the Edo-Tokyo Museum in the Sumida Ward across the Sumida River from the center of Tokyo; and the National Diet Library, National Archives, and the National Museum of Modern Art which are located near the Imperial Palace.

Tokyo is the national center of performing arts as well. There are many theatres in the city in which traditional forms of Japanese drama (like noh and kabuki) as well as modern dramas. Symphony orchestras and other musical organizations perform Western and traditional music. Tokyo also plays host to modern Japanese and Western pop and rock music.

Tokyo is home to many different festivals that occur throughout the city. Major festivals draw people from all over the city including the Sanno Festival at Hie Shrine, and the Sanja Festival at Asakusa Shrine. Many Japanese cities hold festivals called matsuri. The Kanda Matsuri in Tokyo is held every two years in May. The festival features a parade with elaborately decorated floats and thousands of people. Annually on the last Saturday of July, an enormous fireworks display is held over the Sumida River and it attracts over 1 million viewers. Once cherry blossoms, or sakura, bloom in spring, many residents gather in parks such as Ueno Park, Inokashira Park, and the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden for picnics under the cherry trees.

Sports

The sports teams listed below are based in Tokyo.

Football (soccer)

Baseball

Ice Hockey

Basketball

Volleyball

Rugby

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Tokyo

Tokyo has many tourist sightseeing, cultural and sport attractions. These include famous temples, shrines, annual festivals and events, parks, scenic views, popular shopping and nightlife districts.

Cultural highlights of Tokyo include museums, concert halls, and theaters.

Sister Cities

Gallery

  • Tokyo Dome Tokyo Dome
  • Tokyo Tower Tokyo Tower
  • Ginza Ginza
  • Kantei Kantei

References

  1. PriceWaterhouseCoopers, "UK Economic Outlook, March 2007", page 5. ""Table 1.2 – Top 30 urban agglomeration GDP rankings in 2005 and illustrative projections to 2020 (using UN definitions and population estimates)"" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-03-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. "Oslo is world's most expensive city: survey". Reuters. January 31, 2006. Retrieved February 1. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help) (inactive).
  3. http://www.maff.go.jp/esokuhou/sei200305.pdf

External links

Preceded byHeian kyō Capital of Japan
1868– 		Succeeded by—
Tokyo Metropolis
Special Wards
of Tokyo
Western
(Tama area)
Core city
Cities
Nishitama District
Insular Area
Ōshima Subprefecture
Miyake Subprefecture
Hachijō Subprefecture
Ogasawara Subprefecture
Regions and prefectures of Japan
Regions &
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Hokkaidō
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* Disputed. See: Chagos Archipelago sovereignty dispute, Cyprus dispute, Status of Jerusalem, Abkhaz-Georgian conflict and Georgian-Ossetian conflict
Summer Olympic Games host cities
Cancelled due to World War I; Cancelled due to World War II; Postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic

35°41′N 139°46′E / 35.683°N 139.767°E / 35.683; 139.767

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