Special wards of Tokyo

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Special wards of Tokyo

The are 23 municipalitiesMunicipalities of Japan

Japan has three levels of government: national, prefectural, and municipal....
that together make up the core and the most populous part of TokyoTokyo

listen is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and is the location of its capital....
, JapanJapan

is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of China, Korea, and Russia, stretching from...
. Together, they occupy the land that was the city of TokyoTokyo City

was a municipality in Japan. It existed from May 1, 1889 to July 1, 1943, when it was merged with Tokyo Prefecture to form the To...
before it was abolished in 1943. Within the country, this type of administrative division is unique to Tokyo. In JapaneseJapanese language

Japanese is a language spoken by over 127 million people, mainly in Japan, but also by Japanese emigrant communities around...
, their formal name is , and collectively they are commonly known as the .

They are special because although they are autonomous local governments, they at the same time function seamlessly together as one large urban entity in central Tokyo. To this end, certain public services are handled by the government of the larger prefecture, whereas cities normally provide these services themselves. They include water supply, sewage disposal, and fire services. To finance the joint public services it provides to the twenty-three wards, the metropolitan government levies some of the taxes that would normally be levied by city governments, and also makes transfer payments to wards that cannot finance their own local administration.

The word "special" distinguishes them from the of other major Japanese cities. Before 1943, the wards of Tokyo CityTokyo City

was a municipality in Japan. It existed from May 1, 1889 to July 1, 1943, when it was merged with Tokyo Prefecture to form the To...
were no different from the wards of OsakaFacts About Osaka

listen is the capital of Osaka Prefecture and the third-largest city in Japan, with a population of 2.7 million....
or KyotoKyoto

is a city in Japan, which has a population close to 1.5 million....
. On March 15, 1943, when the Tokyo city government and prefectural government merged into a single prefectural government, the wards were placed under the direct control of the prefecture. Thirty-five wards of the former city were integrated into 22 on March 15, 1947 just before the legal definition of special wards was given by the Local Autonomy LawLocal Autonomy Law

The Local Autonomy Law of Japan was passed as Law No....
, enforced on May 3 the same year. The 23rd ward, Nerima, was formed on August 1, 1947.

Since the 1970s, the special wards of Tokyo have exercised a considerably higher degree of autonomy than the wards in other cities, making them more like independent cities than districts. Each special ward has its own elected and .

In 2000, the National DietDiet of Japan

The is Japan's legislature. It consists of two houses: the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors....
designated the special wards as , giving them a status similar to cities. Since then, they have been calling themselves "cities" instead of wards in English, even though the Japanese designation of tokubetsuku is unchanged. They have also taken over certain public services metropolitan government, such as garbage collection and disposal.

The wards vary greatly in area (from 10 to 60 km²Square kilometre

Square kilometre, symbol km, is an SI unit of surface area....
) and population (from less than 40,000 to 830,000), and some are expanding as artificial islands are built. SetagayaSetagaya, Tokyo

Setagaya is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan....
has the most people, while neighboring OtaOta, Tokyo

Ota is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan....
has the largest area.

The total population of the twenty-three special wards was 8,483,140 as of October 1, 2005 , about two-thirds of the population of Tokyo and a quarter of the population of the Greater Tokyo AreaGreater Tokyo Area

The Greater Tokyo Area is a large metropolitan area in Japan consisting of the Japanese prefectures Chiba, Kanagawa, Saitama...
. The twenty-three wards have a population density of 13,800 per square kilometre (35,600 per square mile).

List of special wards

*Population as of June 2007

Name	Kanji	Pop.*			Major districts
AdachiAdachi, Tokyo Adachi is one of the special wards of Tokyo, Japan....	???	629,392	11,830.68	53.20	Ayase, Kitasenju, Takenotsuka
ArakawaArakawa, Tokyo Arakawa is a special ward located in Tokyo, Japan....	???	194,777	18,262.25	10.20	ArakawaArakawa Overview Arakawa may refer to the family name of several people:... , Machiya, Nippori, Minamisenju
BunkyoBunkyo, Tokyo Bunkyo is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan....	???	194,933	16,009.28	11.31	HongoHongo Hongo is a district of Tokyo located in Bunkyo Ward, due north of the Imperial Palace and west of Ueno.... , YayoiYayoi, Tokyo Overview Yayoi is a neighborhood in Bunkyo, Tokyo.... , HakusanHakusan Hakusan can refer to:*Hakusan, Ishikawa, a city located in Ishikawa, Japan...
ChiyodaChiyoda, Tokyo Chiyoda is one of the 23 special wards in central Tokyo, Japan....	????	43,802	3,763.06	11.64	Nagatacho, KasumigasekiKasumigaseki Kasumigaseki is a district of Tokyo, Japan, located in Chiyoda Ward.... , OtemachiOtemachi Otemachi is a district of Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo.... , MarunouchiMarunouchi Marunouchi is a commercial district of Tokyo located in Chiyoda between Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace.... , AkihabaraAkihabara , also known as , is a neighborhood in Tokyo, Japan.... , YurakuchoYurakucho Yurakucho is a neighborhood of Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan situated in between the Ginza and Hibiya Park, near the neighborhood of... , IidabashiIidabashi Summary Iidabashi may refer to:, a bridge to the north of JR Iidabashi Station...
ChuoChuo, Tokyo Chuo is one of the 23 special wards that form the heart of Tokyo, Japan....	???	104,997	10,344.53	10.15	NihonbashiNihonbashi Overview , or Nihombashi, is a business district of Chuo Ward, Tokyo, Japan, surrounding a famous bridge of the same name.... , Kayabacho, GinzaGinza Ginza is a district of Chuo Ward, Tokyo, located south of Yaesu and Kyobashi, west of Tsukiji, east of Yurakucho and Uchisai... , TsukijiTsukiji Tsukiji is a district of Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan, the site of the Tsukiji fish market.... , Hatchobori, Shinkawa, TsukishimaTsukishima Summary Tsukishima is a place located in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, Japan.... , Kachidoki, Tsukuda,
EdogawaEdogawa, Tokyo Edogawa is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan....	????	661,386	13,264.86	49.86	KasaiKasai Kasai may be*Kasai, Hyogo in Japan... , Koiwa
ItabashiItabashi, Tokyo Summary Itabashi is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan....	???	529,059	16,445.72	32.17	Itabashi, Takashimadaira
KatsushikaKatsushika, Tokyo is one of the special ward of Tokyo, Japan....	???	428,066	12,286.62	34.84	TateishiFacts About Tateishi Tateishi is a neighborhood in Katsushika, Tokyo, Japan.... , Aoto
KitaKita, Tokyo Kita is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan....	??	330,646	15,885.67	20.59	Akabane, Oji, Tabata
KotoKoto, Tokyo Overview Koto is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan....	???	436,337	10,963.24	39.8	Kiba, Ariake, Kameido, Toyocho, Monzennakacho, Fukagawa, Kiyosumi, ShirakawaShirakawa Shirakawa can refer to:#Emperor Shirakawa, emperor of Japan.... , Etchujima, Sunamachi, Aomi
MeguroMeguro, Tokyo Meguro is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan....	???	267,798	18,217.55	14.70	Meguro, Nakameguro, JiyugaokaJiyugaoka is a residential and commercial place in Meguro, Tokyo, Japan....
MinatoMinato, Tokyo is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan....	??	205,196	10,088.30	20.34	OdaibaOdaiba Odaiba is a large artificial island in Tokyo Bay, Japan.... , ShinbashiShinbashi Overview Shinbashi is a district of Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, located south of Ginza, west of Tsukiji, east of Toranomon and north of ... , Shinagawa, RoppongiRoppongi is a district of Minato Ward, Tokyo, Japan, chiefly known for its nightlife and the presence of Western tourists and expatriates,... , Toranomon, AoyamaAoyama, Tokyo Aoyama is a neighborhood of Tokyo, located in the northeastern Minato Ward.... , AzabuAzabu Azabu is a district of Minato Ward in Tokyo, Japan, built on a marshy area of foothills south of central Tokyo.... , HamamatsuchoHamamatsucho is a town located in Minato ward of Tokyo.... , TamachiTamachi Tamachi is the informal name for the area surrounding Tamachi Station in Minato Ward, Tokyo, generally referring to the dist...
NakanoNakano, Tokyo Nakano is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan....	???	312,939	20,097.82	15.59	NakanoNakano Nakano may refer to:...
NerimaNerima, Tokyo Nerima is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan....	???	702,202	14,580.61	48.16	Nerima, Oizumi, Hikarigaoka
OtaOtaOta, Tokyo Ota is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan....	???	674,590	11,345.27	59.46	OmoriOmori Omori is a district located a few kilometers south of Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan accessed by rail via the Keihin Tohoku line, o... , KamataKamata, Ota, Tokyo is a neighborhood in Ota, Tokyo.Features include the Kamata Station, Kamata High School, and the headquarters of Toyoko Inn.... , Haneda, Den-en-chofuDen-en-chofu meaning "garden suburb," is a district in Ota in South Tokyo....
SetagayaSetagaya, Tokyo Summary Setagaya is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan....	????	855,416	14,728.23	58.08	Setagaya, Sangenjaya, ShimokitazawaShimokitazawa is a neighborhood in Setagaya, Tokyo. It consists of the neighborhood immediately surrounding Shimo-Kitazawa Station, where the Od... , TamagawaTamagawa Tamagawa may refer to the following places in Japan:...
ShibuyaShibuya, Tokyo This article is about the city in Tokyo....	???	205,512	13,337.13	15.11	ShibuyaShibuya, Tokyo This article is about the city in Tokyo.... , EbisuEbisu, Tokyo Ebisu is a quiet neighborhood in the Shibuya ward of Tokyo, Japan.... , HarajukuHarajuku Harajuku is the common name for the area around Harajuku Station on the Yamanote Line in the Shibuya ward of Tokyo, Japan.... , Hiroo, SendagayaSendagaya Summary Sendagaya is an area within Shibuya ward ???), one of Tokyo, Japan's special 23 wards.... , YoyogiYoyogi is a neighborhood in the northern part of Tokyo, Japan's Shibuya Ward....
ShinagawaShinagawa, Tokyo Shinagawa is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan....	???	353,887	15,576.01	22.72	Shinagawa, GotandaGotanda Gotanda is a busy but unfashionable neighborhood in the Shinagawa ward of Tokyo, Japan....
ShinjukuShinjuku, Tokyo Shinjuku is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan....	???	309,463	16,975.48	18.23	Shinjuku, TakadanobabaTakadanobaba Summary Takadanobaba is a neighborhood in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. ... , Okubo, KagurazakaKagurazaka Kagurazaka is a trendy neighbourhood in Tokyo, near Iidabashi Station.... , IchigayaIchigaya Ichigaya is an area in the eastern portion of Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. ...
SuginamiSuginami, Tokyo Suginami is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan....	???	534,981	15,725.49	34.02	KoenjiKoenji Koenji is a suburb of Tokyo in Suginami ward, west of Shinjuku. ... , AsagayaAsagaya Asagaya , a suburb of Tokyo located in the Suginami ward west of Shinjuku .... , Ogikubo
SumidaSumida, Tokyo Sumida is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan....	???	237,433	16,079.49	13.75	Kinshicho, Morishita, RyogokuRyogoku is a neighborhood in Sumida, Tokyo. It is surrounded by various neighborhoods in Sumida, Chuo, and Taito wards: Yokoami, Midori, C...
Toshima	???	256,009	19,428.44	13.01	IkebukuroIkebukuro Ikebukuro, a part of Toshima ward, is a large commercial and entertainment district of Tokyo, Japan.... , Senkawa, Komagome
TaitoTaito, Tokyo Taito is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan....	???	168,277	16,139.38	10.08	UenoUeno, Tokyo ----Ueno is a district in Tokyo's Taito Ward, best known as the home of Ueno Station and Ueno Park.... , AsakusaAsakusa Asakusa is the part of Tokyo most famous for the Sensoji, a Buddhist temple dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon....
*Overall*		8,637,098	13,890.25	621.81

Places

Many important neighborhoods are located in Tokyo's special wards:
AkasakaAkasaka, Tokyo

Akasaka is a residential and commercial district of Minato-ku, Tokyo, located west of the government center in Nagatacho and...
: A district with a range of restaurants, clubs and hotels; many pedestrian alleys giving it a local neighbourhood feel. Next to Roppongi, Nagatacho, and Aoyama.
AkihabaraAkihabara

, also known as , is a neighborhood in Tokyo, Japan....
: A densely arranged shopping district for electronics and otakuOtaku

Otaku is a Japanese pejorative term used to refer to a variety of geek, fanboy or fangirl, particularly one obsessed with su...
goods.
AoyamaAoyama, Tokyo Overview

Aoyama is a neighborhood of Tokyo, located in the northeastern Minato Ward....
: A neighborhood of Tokyo with parks, an enormous cemetery, expensive housing, trendy cafes and international restaurants. Includes the OmotesandoOmotesando Station

is a Tokyo Metro station located at the intersection of Omotesando and Aoyama-dori in Minato, Tokyo, Japan....
subway station.
GinzaGinza Summary

Ginza is a district of Chuo Ward, Tokyo, located south of Yaesu and Kyobashi, west of Tsukiji, east of Yurakucho and Uchisai...
and YurakuchoFacts About Yurakucho

Yurakucho is a neighborhood of Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan situated in between the Ginza and Hibiya Park, near the neighborhood of...
: Major shopping and entertainment district with department stores, upscale shops selling brand-name goods, and movie theaters.
HarajukuHarajuku Overview

Harajuku is the common name for the area around Harajuku Station on the Yamanote Line in the Shibuya ward of Tokyo, Japan....
: Known for street/teen Japanese fashionJapanese fashion

Tradtional Japanese FashionPrior to the 1930's most Japanese women often wore kimono, but as the country developed, the fashion h...

IkebukuroIkebukuro

Ikebukuro, a part of Toshima ward, is a large commercial and entertainment district of Tokyo, Japan....
: The busiest interchange in north central Tokyo, featuring Sunshine CitySunshine City, Tokyo

Sunshine City is a building complex located in East Ikebukuro, Toshima, Tokyo....
and various shopping destinations.
Jinbocho : Tokyo's center of used-book stores and publishing houses, and a popular antique and curio shopping area.
MarunouchiMarunouchi

Marunouchi is a commercial district of Tokyo located in Chiyoda between Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace....
and OtemachiOtemachi

Otemachi is a district of Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo....
: The main financial and business district of Tokyo has many headquarters of banks, trading companies and other major corporations. The area is seeing a major redevelopment with new buildings for shopping and entertainment constructed in front of Tokyo Station's Marunouchi side.
Nagatacho : The political heart of Tokyo and the nation. It is the location of the Diet, government ministries, and party headquarters.
OdaibaOdaiba

Odaiba is a large artificial island in Tokyo Bay, Japan....
: A large, reclaimed, waterfront area that has become one of Tokyo's most popular shopping and entertainment districts.
OmotesandoOmotesando

Omotesando is an avenue, subway station and neighbourhood in Tokyo stretching from Harajuku station to Aoyama-dori where Omo...
: Known for upscale shopping.
RoppongiRoppongi

is a district of Minato Ward, Tokyo, Japan, chiefly known for its nightlife and the presence of Western tourists and expatriates,...
: Home to the rich Roppongi Hills area, an active night club scene, and a relatively large presence of Western tourists and expatriates.
ShibuyaShibuya, Tokyo

This article is about the city in Tokyo....
: A long-time center of shopping, fashion, nightlife and youth culture.
ShinagawaShinagawa, Tokyo Overview

Shinagawa is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan....
: In addition to the major hotels on the west side of Shinagawa Station, the former sleepy east side of the station has been redeveloped as a major center for business.
ShinbashiShinbashi

Shinbashi is a district of Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, located south of Ginza, west of Tsukiji, east of Toranomon and north of ...
: An area revitalized by being the gateway to OdaibaOdaiba

Odaiba is a large artificial island in Tokyo Bay, Japan....
and the ShiodomeShiodome

Shiodome is an area in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, located southeast of Shimbashi, southwest of Ginza, and northeast of Hamamat...
Shiosite complex of high-rise buildings.
ShinjukuShinjuku, Tokyo

Shinjuku is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan....
: Location of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government BuildingTokyo Metropolitan Government Building

The , is the building which houses the headquarters of Tokyo local government; this comprises not only the 23 wards that people th...
. The area is best known for Tokyo's early skyscrapers, erected in the 1970s. Major department stores, electronics stores and hotels can also be found here. On the east side of Shinjuku StationShinjuku Station

is a train station located in Shinjuku and Shibuya wards in Tokyo, Japan....
, Kabukicho is known for its many bars and nightclubs. Shinjuku Station moves an estimated three million passengers a day, making it the busiest in the world.
UenoUeno, Tokyo

----Ueno is a district in Tokyo's Taito Ward, best known as the home of Ueno Station and Ueno Park....
: Ueno StationUeno Station

is a main railway station inTokyo's Taito ward....
serves commuters to and from areas north of Tokyo. Besides department stores and shops in Ameyoko, Ueno boasts Ueno ParkUeno Park

Ueno Park is a spacious public park located in the Ueno section of Taito-ku, Tokyo, Japan....
, Ueno ZooUeno Zoo

The is a zoo, owned by the government of Tokyo, and located in Taito Ward, Tokyo, Japan....
and major national museums. In spring, Ueno Park and adjacent Shinobazu Pond are popular places to view cherry blossoms.

External links

(in English)
(in Japanese)

Special wards of Tokyo

List of special wards

Places

See also

External links