Tokyo

Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital and most populous city of Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is one of the most populous urban areas in the world. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes Tokyo and parts of six neighboring prefectures, is the most populous metropolitan area in the world, with 41 million residents as of 2024^[update].

Lying at the head of Tokyo Bay, Tokyo is part of the Kantō region, on the central coast of Honshu, Japan's largest island. It is Japan's economic center and the seat of the Japanese government and the Emperor of Japan. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government administers Tokyo's central 23 special wards, which formerly made up Tokyo City; various commuter towns and suburbs in its western area; and two outlying island chains, the Tokyo Islands.

Tokyo, originally known as Edo, rose to political prominence in 1603 when it became the seat of the Tokugawa shogunate, and by the mid-18th century, Edo had evolved from a small fishing village into one of the largest cities in the world, with a population surpassing one million. After the Meiji Restoration (1868), the imperial capital in Kyoto was moved to Edo, and the city was renamed Tokyo (lit. 'Eastern Capital'). Tokyo was greatly damaged by the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake and by allied bombing raids during World War II. Beginning in the late 1940s, Tokyo underwent rapid reconstruction and expansion, which fueled the Japanese economic miracle, in which Japan's economy became the second-largest in the world at the time, behind that of the United States.

Tokyo was the first city in Asia to host the Summer Olympics and Paralympics, in 1964, and also hosted in 2021. Tokyo is an international hub of research and development and an academic center, with several major universities, including the University of Tokyo, the top-ranking university in Japan. Tokyo Station is the central hub for the Shinkansen, the country's high-speed railway network, and the city's Shinjuku Station is the world's busiest train station. Tokyo Skytree is the world's tallest tower.

Etymology

Tokyo used to be called Edo. This name means "estuary" and refers to where the Sumida River meets Tokyo Bay.

In 1868, during a big change called the Meiji Restoration, the city's name was changed to Tokyo. This name means "eastern capital", showing that it had become the new capital of Japan. At first, some people called it "Tōkei", but that way of saying the name is no longer used.

History

Main article: History of Tokyo

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Tokyo.

Pre-Tokugawa period

Mitsukoshi stores in Nihonbashi, by Hiroshige, c. 1836

Tokyo has been home to people for thousands of years. Ancient sites from long ago can be found there. During a time when the sea level rose, the coastline of what is now Tokyo moved inland. Old shells mark where the shore used to be. Later, farming spread across the land.

In 534, a big fight happened in the area. A place called Senso-ji was built in 645. For a long time, most of Tokyo was part of an area called Musashi Province. After a big battle, many people moved there. In the late 1200s, a fort was built called Edo Castle. Later, different leaders took control of the area.

1590–1868: Tokugawa period

Main article: Edo

The Metropolitan Police headquarters ablaze following the earthquake. The fire triggered by the earthquake caused fire whirls.

After a big battle, a leader named Tokugawa Ieyasu moved to the area and became a very important ruler. The city grew during a time of peace. When he died, the city was still safe and calm for a long time. Many buildings went up, and the city became very big.

Then, a ship captain named Matthew C. Perry arrived and opened up the city to trade with other countries. This caused big changes and some people were unhappy. Finally, the old rulers were overthrown and the city was renamed Tokyo, meaning "Eastern Capital."

1868–1941

Tokyo became Japan’s capital. New schools, train lines, and important buildings were built. In 1923, a big earthquake caused a lot of damage, but the city rebuilt.

Later, Japan got ready for World War II. In 1940, big celebrations happened, and then Japan joined the war in 1941 after attacking a place called Pearl Harbor.

1942–1945

Shinjuku's development as a business district started in the 1970s.

Main article: Bombing of Tokyo

During the war, Tokyo was changed into a special area. Many people were sent away, and the city was attacked from the air. One night in 1945, many bombs were dropped and a large part of the city burned. Many buildings and people were lost.

1945–1972

After the war, Tokyo started to rebuild. The city grew fast with new trains and tall buildings. The 1964 Olympics showed how modern Tokyo had become.

1973–present

Even after a big change in the economy, Tokyo stayed important. New areas were built, and the city kept growing. In 2021, Tokyo hosted the Olympic Games again after they were delayed due to health concerns.

Administration

Tokyo is Japan's busy capital city. It has many people living there—over 6,000 in every square kilometer! Tokyo is split into different parts, like smaller towns and cities all working together. There are 23 special areas called wards, plus 26 cities, five towns, and eight villages. All these places have their own leaders and rules, but they are all part of bigger Tokyo.

Tokyo's leaders are chosen by the people. The leader, called the governor, is picked every four years. Right now, the governor is Yuriko Koike. There is also a group of people called the Metropolitan Assembly who help make important decisions for Tokyo. They meet and vote on things like money and new rules.

Tokyo also has many green spaces and trees. Leaders have worked hard to plant more trees and create parks. This helps keep the city cool and beautiful. One big park, called Kasai Marine Park, is special because it helps protect wildlife.

Tokyo is also where Japan's important government offices are located. This includes places where leaders make laws, run the country, and make big decisions. Many government workers have offices in an area called Kasumigaseki.

Geography

The mainland part of Tokyo lies to the northwest of Tokyo Bay. It stretches about 90 kilometers (56 miles) from east to west and 25 kilometers (16 miles) from north to south. The average height above sea level in Tokyo is 40 meters (131 feet). Chiba Prefecture is to the east, Yamanashi to the west, Kanagawa to the south, and Saitama to the north.

Tokyo also includes two groups of islands in the Pacific Ocean: the Izu Islands and the Ogasawara Islands, which are over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from the mainland.

Climate

Tokyo has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and cool winters. August is the warmest month, with an average temperature of 26.9°C (80.4°F). January is the coolest, averaging 5.4°C (41.7°F).

Rainfall is highest in the summer, and snow is rare but can happen. Tokyo experiences typhoons each year, though most are not very strong.

Natural disasters

Tokyo is located near the meeting point of three large pieces of Earth's crust, called plates. This makes the area active for smaller earthquakes. While these quakes are frequent, they are usually small and cause little damage.

In the past, powerful earthquakes have affected Tokyo, such as the one in 1923, which caused great loss of life.

Mount Fuji, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) southwest of Tokyo, has a low risk of eruption. The last eruption was in 1707.

Tokyo has many rivers and is built on a flat plain. Heavy rains and typhoons can sometimes cause flooding. The city has built large dams, levees, and underground tunnels to help manage floodwaters.

Architecture

Tokyo’s buildings reflect many different styles due to its history. The city was destroyed twice in recent history: once by a major earthquake in 1923 and later by fires during World War II.

Older buildings from the 1400s still exist, like Shofukuji temple. After Japan modernized in the late 1800s, many new brick and stone buildings were built. The 1923 earthquake led to the use of stronger concrete structures.

Today, Tokyo is famous for its skyscrapers. Since the 1960s, many tall buildings have been constructed. Notable modern buildings include Yoyogi National Gymnasium and Tokyo Skytree, the tallest tower in the world.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Tokyo

As of October 2012, Tokyo had about 13.5 million people living in its main area. During the day, the city’s population grows by over 2.5 million because many people come in to work or study. Some central parts of Tokyo see even bigger changes — areas like Chiyoda, Chūō, and Minato have far more people during the day than at night.

In April 2024, some of the biggest areas in Tokyo were Setagaya, Nerima, and Ota. Smaller places, like the remote islands of Aogashima, Mikurajima, and Toshima, have very few residents.

In 2021, the average age of people in Tokyo was 45.5 years. About 16.8% of people were younger than 15, and 34.6% were older than 65. Some smaller parts of Tokyo, like Mikura-jima, had younger average ages, while places like Okutama had older ones.

Tokyo has many people from other countries living there. By January 2024, over 647,000 foreign nationals were registered as residents. China, South Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, Nepal, Taiwan, and the United States each had more than 20,000 people living in Tokyo.

Japanese is the main language spoken in Tokyo, but there are some different ways people speak. Traditionally, there were two main ways of speaking — one used in richer areas and another in more working-class areas. Over time, these differences have become less noticeable, especially among younger people.

Some smaller islands near Tokyo have their own special ways of speaking. For example, the Hachijō dialect is spoken on Hachijōjima and Aogashima, and Bonin English is spoken on the Ogasawara Islands. Both of these are quite rare today, with very few people still using them.

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1872	859,345	—
1880	1,084,745	+26.2%
1890	1,385,700	+27.7%
1900	1,947,300	+40.5%
1910	2,706,800	+39.0%
1920	3,699,428	+36.7%
1930	5,408,678	+46.2%
1940	7,354,971	+36.0%
1945	3,488,284	−52.6%
1950	6,277,500	+80.0%
1955	8,037,084	+28.0%
1960	9,683,802	+20.5%
1965	10,869,244	+12.2%
1970	11,408,071	+5.0%
1975	11,673,554	+2.3%
1980	11,618,281	−0.5%
1985	11,829,363	+1.8%
1990	11,855,563	+0.2%
1995	11,773,605	−0.7%
2000	12,064,101	+2.5%
2005	12,576,601	+4.2%
2010	13,159,388	+4.6%
2015	13,515,271	+2.7%
2020	13,982,112	+3.5%
Source: Tokyo Metropolitan Government

Economy

Tokyo's big money-making was worth 120.2 trillion yen or about US$887.9 billion in 2022. That’s a huge chunk—21.2%—of all the money made in Japan that year! This means each person in Tokyo made about 8.43 million yen or US$62,291.

Shopping and selling things was the biggest money-maker, bringing in 21.5% of the total. Next came building and selling homes (13.5%), fancy jobs like science and tech (12.2%), and phone and internet services (11.7%). Banking and insurance added another 7.6%, while making things like cars and machines added 7.0%. Helping people, like doctors and nurses, added 6.7%. Only a tiny bit, less than 0.1%, came from growing food, cutting trees, or fishing.

Tokyo is one of the world’s biggest money centers, just after New York City. Many big companies pick Tokyo to set up their main offices, especially in areas like Marunouchi. In 2025, 26 of the world’s 500 biggest companies were based there. Tokyo used to be the most expensive city for years, but because of changes in money value, it’s now about the same cost as cities like New York, Beijing, and Manchester.

Finance

Tokyo is a big spot for money and banking. It’s home to some of the world’s biggest banks and insurance companies. After World War II, many big companies moved their offices to Tokyo to be closer to the government.

Tokyo grew into a major money center in the 1960s and is now one of the top three places for money in the world, along with New York City and London. In 2020, it was ranked the fourth most competitive money center globally and the second in Asia. Big banks like Mitsubishi UFJ, Sumitomo-Mitsui Banking Corporation, and Mizuho Financial Group have their main offices in Tokyo.

Media and communications

Tokyo is Japan’s big center for news, TV, and movies. Most of Japan’s national TV stations and big newspapers have their main offices in Tokyo. Big companies that make ads, like Dentsu and Hakuhodo, are also based there. The three biggest phone companies in Japan—NTT, KDDI, and SoftBank—are in Tokyo too. Tokyo is also famous for making anime, with studios like Studio Ghibli and MAPPA located there.

Tourism

In 2019, lots of visitors came to Tokyo—about 15 million from other countries. They spent a lot of money, about 1.26 trillion yen. Some of the most popular places to visit include Shibuya Crossing, Shinjuku, Ginza for shopping, Asakusa with Sensō-ji Temple, Akihabara for electronics and anime, and Ueno with its zoo and museums.

Agriculture, fishery, and forestry

Tokyo’s biggest market for fish and seafood is the Toyosu Market, which opened in 2018. It’s the largest market of its kind in the world, busy with buyers, sellers, and shoppers every day. Tokyo also has some farms, mostly in the western areas, growing vegetables, fruits, and flowers. The city has lots of forests with tall trees like cryptomeria and Japanese cypress, especially in the mountains. Though, making and selling wood has become harder because of costs and fewer people working in forestry. Tokyo used to get a lot of fish from Tokyo Bay, but now most comes from islands farther away, like Izu Ōshima and Hachijō-Jima. Popular fish include skipjack tuna, nori (seaweed), and aji (a type of small fish).

Transportation

Main article: Transport in Greater Tokyo

Tokyo is Japan’s biggest hub for trains and other ways to travel. The city has many clean and efficient trains and subways run by different companies. There are up to 62 train lines and more than 900 train stations. Shibuya Crossing is one of the busiest pedestrian crossings in the world, with around 3,000 people crossing at once.

JR East runs the largest network of trains in Tokyo, including the Yamanote Line that circles central Tokyo. The Shinkansen, Japan’s high-speed train, connects Tokyo with cities around the country. Tokyo also has many roads, though people there prefer using public transport. The city has two main airports: Haneda Airport and Narita International Airport. Water transport is important too, with the Port of Tokyo handling many ships and ferries connecting Tokyo to nearby islands.

Rail

JR East operates the largest commuter train network in Tokyo as well as intercity services.

The Shinkansen connects major cities around the country to Tokyo.

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 central Tokyo. It operates rail lines throughout the entire metropolitan area of Tokyo and the rest of northeastern Honshu. JR East is also responsible for the Shinkansen high-speed rail lines that link Tokyo and the Northeastern cities of Japan (Joetsu Shinkansen, Tohoku/Hokkaido Shinkansen, Yamagata Shinkansen, Akita Shinkansen, Hokuriku Shinkansen). The Tokaido Shinkansen, which links Tokyo and Osaka via Nagoya and Kyoto, as well as western cities beyond, is operated by JR Central. The Chuo Shinkansen, the first-ever long-distance high-speed floating maglev line currently under construction, will also be operated by JR Central. Both JR companies were created from the privatization of Japan National Railways in 1987. JR Freight does not own any part of the railway network but operates freight trains on the JR network. Two different entities operate Tokyo's underground railway network: the privatized Tokyo Metro, which operates Tokyo Metro lines, and the governmental Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation, which operates Toei lines. Tokyo Metro is a listed private company, although the Japanese Government and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government still jointly hold a 50% stake due to its history as a public entity called the Imperial Capital Rapid Transit Authority from 1941 to 2004. Other major railway operators in Tokyo include Odakyu, Tokyu, Keio, Seibu, Tobu, and Keisei. Although each operator directly owns its railway lines, services that travel across different lines owned by different operators are common.

Tokyo once had an extensive tram network, with a total distance of 213 km (Tokyo Toden). However, similar to other major cities worldwide, the age of motorization since the 1950s has made it considered unfit to share busy roads with cars. Today, only one line, the Arakawa line, remains.

Roads

Tokyo has the lowest car ownership rate among all prefectures in Japan, with 0.416 cars per household compared to the national average of 1.025 per household. This is despite Tokyo being one of the most affluent areas in the country. A 2021 survey found that 81% of respondents without a car were satisfied with public transport and saw no need to own one.

Each road in Tokyo falls into one of the following categories depending on the type of ownership: private roads, municipal roads, metropolitan roads, and expressways. As of April 1, 2022, the total length of roads in Tokyo is approximately 24,741 km (including 2,370 km of metropolitan roads), with a total area of approximately 190.31 km² (including 46.30 km² of metropolitan roads). Intercity expressways in and around Tokyo are managed by NEXCO East, while expressways that serve only within the Greater Tokyo Area (Shuto Expressway) are operated by the Metropolitan Expressway Company. Tolls are collected based on the distance travelled. The total length of the Shuto Expressway is 337.8 km, with speed limits usually set at 80 km/h or 60 km/h to reduce noise pollution and accommodate the relatively winding road shapes.

Aviation

The mainland portion of Tokyo is served by two international airports: Haneda Airport in Ōta and Narita International Airport in neighboring Chiba Prefecture. Haneda has served as the primary airport for Tokyo since 1931. However, the Jet Age saw an exponential increase in flights, prompting the government to build a second airport. Narita was chosen as the site for this second airport in 1966, but local farmers and left-wing activists who sympathized with them protested vehemently for more than a decade (the Sanrizuka Struggle), delaying the new airport's opening until 1978. Almost all international flights were transferred to Narita Airport upon its completion, and Haneda became primarily a domestic airport.

The situation changed when it was decided to expand Haneda Airport and build new runways in 2001. The new runway, Runway D, was constructed partly as a pier-like structure rather than a landfilled structure to avoid obstructing the flow of water in the bay. Its opening in 2010 marked the return of international flights to Haneda, which is much closer to central Tokyo. In 2023, Haneda handled 17.9 million international passengers and 60.8 million domestic passengers, while Narita was used by 25.4 million international passengers and 7.7 million domestic passengers. According to a 2023 survey, Haneda is the fifth busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic.

Hachijō-jima (Hachijojima Airport), Kōzu-shima (Kōzushima Airport), Miyakejima (Miyakejima Airport), Nii-jima (Niijima Airport), and Izu Ōshima (Oshima Airport), located on the Izu Islands, which are governed by the Tokyo Metropolis have services to Haneda and the Chōfu Airport located in Chōfu.

Water transport

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A Mitsui O.S.K. Lines container ship at the Port of Tokyo

A Jetfoil operated by the Tōkai Kisen, which serves between Tokyo and the Izu Islands

Water transport is the primary means of importing and exporting goods as well as connecting the Tokyo Islands to the mainland. According to Lloyd's List, the Port of Tokyo handled 4,430,000 TEU of containers in 2022, making it the 46th largest port in the world. The Greater Tokyo Area is served by other major ports such as the Port of Yokohama and the Port of Chiba as well. Takeshiba Pier (竹芝埠頭) in Minato is used by Tōkai Kisen, which serves islands such as Izu Ōshima, Miyakejima, Hachijojima, Kozushima, and Ogasawara Kaiun, which serves the Ogasawara Islands. Many of these islands are accessible only by ocean routes and helicopters, as they are too small or undulating for a landing ground, making these ships the primary means of inter-island transport. There are ferry routes that connect landmarks within the mainland portion of Tokyo as well; the Tokyo Cruise Ship and the Tokyo Mizube Line operate several routes between tourist attractions such as Asakusa, Hamarikyu, Odaiba, and Shinagawa Aquarium. The Symphony Cruise operates two large restaurant ships that can also be hired as party venues.

Education

Main article: Education in Tokyo

Tokyo is a major center for learning and culture in Japan, with many schools for children and students of all ages.

Tertiary education

Primary and secondary education

Tokyo has many schools for younger students. There are 429 high schools, with some offering programs that cover both junior and senior high school years. Examples include the Kaisei Academy, Komaba Junior & Senior High School, University of Tsukuba, Azabu High School, and Oin Junior and Senior High School. At the primary level, there are 1,332 elementary schools in Tokyo.

Some schools, like Gakushuin and Keio, offer education from primary school through university. There are also international schools that follow curricula from other countries, such as the British School in Tokyo, Tokyo Chinese School, the American School in Japan, and the Tokyo International School.

Learned societies

Almost all of Japan's major learned societies are in Tokyo. The Japan Academy, the country's academy of sciences, was founded in 1879. The Japan Art Academy was established in 1919. The newest, the Science Council of Japan, was created in 1949 to support scientific research. These academies are located in Ueno Park and Roppongi, Minato.

Culture

Museums, art galleries, libraries, and zoos

Tokyo has many museums, art galleries, and libraries for all kinds of interests. Ueno Park is home to the Tokyo National Museum, the largest museum in Japan for traditional Japanese art. The National Museum of Western Art in the park was designed by famous architect Le Corbusier and is a world heritage site. Ueno Zoo in the same park is famous and is one of only three zoos in Japan with giant pandas.

Other important museums include the Artizon Museum in Chūō, the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Odaiba, and the Edo-Tokyo Museum in Sumida, which shows the history and culture of Tokyo. The Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum has real buildings from different times in Tokyo’s past.

Leisure and entertainment

Tokyo has many places for fun and entertainment. The city has theatres for traditional Japanese plays like Noh at the National Noh Theatre and Kabuki at Kabuki-za. The New National Theatre Tokyo in Shibuya has opera, ballet, and other shows. Big concert halls like Nippon Budokan and Tokyo Dome host popular music performances.

Tokyo’s nightlife is lively, especially in areas like Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Roppongi, with many bars, clubs, and music spots. The city has colorful festivals such as the Sannō Matsuri and the Kanda Matsuri. Harajuku is famous for its fashion, while Akihabara is a place for technology fans with shops for anime and games. Upscale shopping can be found in Ginza, and Odaiba has attractions like the teamLab Planets art museum and Joypolis amusement park. Families love the Tokyo Disney Resort with Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea.

Food

Tokyo is known for its wonderful restaurants. In 2007, a famous guide called Michelin gave out 191 top ratings to Tokyo restaurants, more than any other city at the time.

Recreation

Tokyo has many beautiful green spaces for outdoor fun. Okutama and Mount Takao are great for hiking. Ueno Park is famous for its cherry blossoms and has museums and a zoo. Other parks like Inokashira Park and Yoyogi Park are perfect for picnics. The city also has many lovely traditional gardens.

In popular culture

Tokyo is a favorite setting for stories. Japanese writers like Natsume Sōseki and Mori Ōgai wrote about life in Tokyo. Later authors such as Yasunari Kawabata, Kenzaburō Ōe, and Haruki Murakami also set their books in Tokyo. Western authors, including Ian Fleming and David Mitchell, have also used Tokyo in their stories. The city appears in films, anime, manga, and video games, with real and imaginary parts of Tokyo as settings for many different kinds of stories.

Sports

Main article: Sports in Tokyo

Tokyo is a great city for sports! It has many teams and events that people love to watch. The city has two famous baseball teams, the Yomiuri Giants who play at the Tokyo Dome, and the Tokyo Yakult Swallows at Meiji-Jingu Stadium. Tokyo is also home to sumo wrestling, with three big tournaments held every year at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.

There are soccer teams like FC Tokyo and Tokyo Verdy, and rugby teams such as Black Rams Tokyo, Tokyo Sungoliath, and Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo. Basketball fans can cheer for teams like the Hitachi SunRockers, Toyota Alvark Tokyo, and Tokyo Excellence.

Tokyo has hosted big international events, including the 1964 Summer Olympics and the 2020 Summer Olympics, which took place in 2021 because of health concerns. The city has many top sports venues and often holds events like basketball games, volleyball matches, tennis tournaments, swim meets, marathons, rugby games, soccer exhibitions, judo, and karate. The Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in Shibuya is a large sports complex with swimming pools and an indoor arena.