Tokyo
In 1457, Ota Dōkan built Edo Castle to defend the region from the Chiba clan. This small fortress would eventually become the seat of power for the entire nation. Before that moment, the site had been inhabited since ancient times, with Paleolithic period sites dating back around 40,000 BC found in present-day Tokyo. During the Jomon period, sea levels rose by 120 cm, moving the coastline along what is now the Imperial Palace. Middens such as the Omori Shell Mounds still mark where the water once lapped against the land. By the late twelfth century, the Edo clan fortified the area, setting the stage for future growth. In 645, Senso-ji was founded in Asakusa, becoming a spiritual anchor for the growing settlement. The region remained part of Musashi Province under the Ritsuryō system until the Heian period. A large-scale conflict recorded in 534 resulted in Kasahara no Omi being appointed Kuni no Miyatsuko by Emperor Ankan. Thousands of refugees resettled in Musashi after the fall of Baekje following the Battle of Baekgang in the 660s. These early layers of history lie beneath the modern metropolis, waiting to be uncovered.
On the 3rd of September 1868, Edo was renamed Tokyo and the capital moved officially from Kyoto to this new Eastern Capital. Government ministries like the Ministry of Finance relocated to the city by 1871. Ueno Park opened in 1873, followed by the University of Tokyo in 1877 and the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1878. The first railway line connected Shimbashi and Yokohama, driving rapid modernization. On the 1st of September 1923, the Great Kantō Earthquake struck, killing an estimated 105,000 citizens. Fire whirls triggered by the quake consumed vast areas, destroying concrete buildings that had survived the initial tremor. The loss amounted to 37 percent of the country's economic output. Despite the destruction, the high survival rate of concrete structures promoted a transition to earthquake-proof construction. In 1943, Tokyo City merged with Tokyo Prefecture to form the Tokyo Metropolis under a centralized administrative structure. Large-scale Allied air bombing began in late 1944 when the US seized control of the Mariana Islands. The deadliest night came on the 9th of March 10, 1945, during Operation Meetinghouse. Nearly 700,000 incendiary bombs were dropped on the east end of the city, burning two-fifths of the area and destroying more than 276,000 buildings. Over 100,000 civilians died that night alone.
After the war, Tokyo became the base from which Allied Occupation Forces under Douglas MacArthur administered Japan for six years. The original rebuilding plan modeled after London's Metropolitan Green Belt was canceled due to the war. A monetary contraction policy known as the Dodge Line forced a reduction to minimal infrastructure focus. In 1947, the 35 pre-war special wards reorganized into the current 23 wards. Heavy industry output returned to pre-war levels around 1950, marking the start of economic recovery. From the 1950s onwards, the Metro and railway network saw significant expansion. The world's first dedicated high-speed railway line, the Shinkansen, launched between Tokyo and Osaka in 1964. That same year, the Shuto Expressway opened to meet demand from the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the first Olympic Games held in Asia. The 31-metre height restriction imposed since 1920 was relaxed due to advancements in earthquake-proof construction. Starting with the Kasumigaseki Building in 1968, skyscrapers began dominating the skyline. Ryokichi Minobe served as governor for 12 years starting in 1967, implementing welfare state policies including free healthcare for the elderly. His war against pollution policy caused large government deficits but improved living standards.
Tokyo's gross regional product reached 120.2 trillion yen or US$887.9 billion in FY2022, accounting for 21.2 percent of Japan's total economic output. By sector, Wholesale and Retail contributed 21.5 percent, followed by Real Estate at 13.5 percent. In 2025, 26 of the Fortune Global 500 companies were headquartered in Tokyo, with around 20 based in Marunouchi alone. Major firms include MUFG, Mitsubishi Corp., and Hitachi. During the centralized growth following World War II, many large firms moved headquarters from Osaka to Tokyo for better access to government. The Tokyo Stock Exchange became the third largest in the world by market capitalization and fourth largest by share turnover. In 1990, it accounted for more than 60 percent of the world stock market value. Despite emerging competition from Singapore and Hong Kong, Tokyo maintains a prominent position as an international financial center. The area's economy is slightly smaller than Canada's while being larger than Mexico's according to IMF estimates. Tokyo was rated by the Economist Intelligence Unit as the most expensive city in the world for 14 years ending in 2006. Years of deflation made the cost of living 31 percent cheaper than New York City in 2023.
Under Japanese law, Tokyo is designated as a metropolis, making it the most populous prefecture and densest in Japan. Its administrative structure resembles other prefectures but includes unique features. The 23 special wards are self-governing municipalities each having a mayor, council, and status similar to cities. These wards cover the area that had been Tokyo City until 1943. Certain functions like waterworks, sewerage, and fire-fighting remain handled by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government rather than individual wards. The governor is elected every four years, with Yuriko Koike serving since 2016 after her predecessor Yoichi Masuzoe resigned. The legislature called the Metropolitan Assembly has one house with 127 seats responsible for enacting ordinances and approving budgets totaling 8.5 trillion yen in fiscal 2024. In addition to these 23 special wards, Tokyo includes 26 more cities, five towns, and eight villages. All municipalities have directly elected mayors and assemblies on independent four-year cycles. The three central wards, Chiyoda, Chūō, and Minato, have daytime populations over seven times higher than nighttime figures. Chiyoda Ward hosts many major companies and serves as the seat of national government yet remains one of the least populated wards.
The mainland portion of Tokyo lies northwest of Tokyo Bay measuring about 43 kilometers east to west and north to south. Average elevation sits at 40 meters above sea level. Chiba Prefecture borders it to the east, Yamanashi to the west, Kanagawa to the south, and Saitama to the north. Within administrative boundaries lie two island chains: the Izu Islands and Ogasawara Islands stretching more than 1,000 kilometers away from the mainland. Tokyo experiences a humid subtropical climate zone with hot humid summers and cool winters occasionally featuring cold spells. August averages 26 degrees Celsius while January averages 5 degrees Celsius. Record low temperature occurred on the 13th of January 1876, reaching minus 9.2 degrees Celsius. Annual rainfall averages nearly 1,500 millimeters with wetter summers and drier winters. Snowfall occurs almost annually but rarely accumulates significantly. Typhoons strike every year though few are strong enough to cause major damage. The region faces volcanic threats from Mount Fuji located about 100 kilometers southwest. Ashfall distribution maps show potential impacts ranging from 4 centimeters in southern bay areas down to half a centimeter in central zones. If wind blows northeast, volcanic ash could reach the metropolis causing power grid problems and stopping trains.
Public transportation within Tokyo is dominated by an extensive network of clean efficient trains and subways run by various operators. There are up to 62 electric train lines and more than 900 train stations serving the metropolitan area. JR East operates Tokyo's largest railway network including the Yamanote Line loop circling central Tokyo. The Tokaido Shinkansen links Tokyo and Osaka via Nagoya and Kyoto operated by JR Central. Two different entities operate underground railways: privatized Tokyo Metro and governmental Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation. Although each operator directly owns its lines, services traveling across different lines remain common. Shibuya Crossing handles around 3,000 people crossing simultaneously making it the world's busiest pedestrian crossing. Car ownership rates stand at 0.416 cars per household compared to national average of 1.025. A 2021 survey found 81 percent of respondents without cars were satisfied with public transport seeing no need to own one. As of the 1st of April 2022, total road length reached approximately 24,741 kilometers including 2,370 kilometers of metropolitan roads. Intercity expressways managed by NEXCO East serve Greater Tokyo Area while Shuto Expressway operates solely within the region totaling 337.8 kilometers.
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Common questions
When was Edo Castle built and by whom?
Ota Dōkan built Edo Castle in 1457 to defend the region from the Chiba clan. This fortress eventually became the seat of power for the entire nation.
What happened to Tokyo on the 3rd of September 1868?
Edo was renamed Tokyo on the 3rd of September 1868 when the capital moved officially from Kyoto to this new Eastern Capital. Government ministries like the Ministry of Finance relocated to the city by 1871.
How many people died during the Great Kantō Earthquake on the 1st of September 1923?
The Great Kantō Earthquake struck on the 1st of September 1923 killing an estimated 105,000 citizens. Fire whirls triggered by the quake consumed vast areas and destroyed concrete buildings that had survived the initial tremor.
Which year did the Shinkansen launch between Tokyo and Osaka?
The world's first dedicated high-speed railway line called the Shinkansen launched between Tokyo and Osaka in 1964. That same year the Shuto Expressway opened to meet demand from the 1964 Tokyo Olympics which were the first Olympic Games held in Asia.
Who is the current governor of Tokyo as of 2024?
Yuriko Koike has served as governor since 2016 after her predecessor Yoichi Masuzoe resigned. The governor is elected every four years under Japanese law designating Tokyo as a metropolis.