Tokyo

Geography and administrative divisions

Tokyo is northwest of Tokyo Bay, and is about 90 km east-to-west and 25 km north-to-south. It borders Chiba Prefecture to the east, Yamanashi Prefecture to the west, Kanagawa Prefecture to the south, and Saitama Prefecture to the north. It also consists of islands in the Pacific Ocean directly south -- the Izu Islands are closest, while the Ogasawara Islands stretch over 1,000 km away from mainland Japan.

Related Topics:
Tokyo Bay - Chiba Prefecture - Yamanashi Prefecture - Kanagawa Prefecture - Saitama Prefecture - Pacific Ocean - Izu Islands - Ogasawara Islands

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Tokyo is also part of the Greater Tokyo Area, by far the world's most populous metropolitan region, which includes the surrounding prefectures of Kanagawa, Saitama, and Chiba.

Related Topics:
Greater Tokyo Area - World's most populous metropolitan region - Kanagawa - Saitama - Chiba

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Tokyo consists of the following 23 special wards, 26 cities, 5 towns, and 8 villages:

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23 special wards

Each ward (ku) is a local municipality with its own elected mayors and assemblies but differs from ordinary cities in that certain governmental functions are handled by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

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As of September 1, 2003, the official total population of the 23 wards combined was about 8.34 million, with a population density of 13,416 persons per square kilometer.

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Cities

West of the 23 wards, Tokyo consists of cities (shi), which enjoy a similar legal status to cities elsewhere in Japan. While serving a role as "bed towns" for those working in central Tokyo, some of these cities also have a local commercial and industrial base. Collectively, these cities are often known as "West Tokyo."

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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.

Related Topics:
Nishitama - Mount Kumotori - Mount Takasu - Mount Odake - Mount Mitake - Lake Okutama - Tama River - Yamanashi Prefecture

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• Hinode
• Mizuho
• Okutama
• Hinohara Village

Islands

Tokyo's outlying islands extend as far as 1,850 km from central Tokyo. Because of the islands' distance from the city, they are locally run by branches of the metropolitan government. Most of the islands are classified as villages.

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Izu Islands

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• Oshima?Islands of Kozushima, Niijima, Oshima, and Toshima.
• Miyake?Islands of Mikurajima and Miyakejima (main town: Miyake).
• Hachijo?Islands of Aogashima and Hachijojima (main town: Hachijo).

Ogasawara Islands

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• Ogasawara?Ogasawara includes, from north to south, Chichi-jima, Nishinoshima, Haha-jima, Kita Iwo Jima, Iwo Jima, and Minami Iwo Jima. Also includes 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 Iwo chain and the outlying islands are mostly uninhabited, but there are small local populations on the three islands closer to Honshu.

National Parks

There are two national parks in West Tokyo: Chichibu-Tama National Park, located in Nishitama and spilling over into Yamanashi and Saitama Prefectures, and Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park, located around Mount Takao to the south of Hachioji.

Related Topics:
Chichibu-Tama National Park - Yamanashi - Saitama - Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park - Mount Takao

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South of Tokyo is the Ogasawara National Park.

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Major Districts

The center of Tokyo is Kokyo, or the Imperial Palace, the former site of Edo Castle. The term "central Tokyo" today may refer to either the area within the looping Yamanote train line or to Tokyo's 23 special wards (ku) covering about 621 square kilometers, the most densely-populated area of Tokyo.

Related Topics:
Kokyo - 23 special wards

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There are a number of major urban centers where business, shopping, and entertainment are concentrated. They all center around a major train station where multiple train lines operate.

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• Shinjuku ? Tokyo's capital where the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is located. It is best known for Tokyo's early skyscrapers since the early 1970s. Major department stores, camera and computer stores, and hotels can be found. On the east side of Shinjuku Station, Kabuki-cho is notorious for its many bars and nightclubs.
• Marunouchi and Otemachi ? The main financial and business district of Tokyo has many headquarters of banks, trading companies, and other major businesses. The area is seeing a major redevelopment with new buildings for shopping and entertainment constructed in front of Tokyo Station's Marunouchi side.
• Ginza and Yurakucho ? Major shopping and entertainment district with department stores, upscale shops selling brand-name goods, and movie theaters.
• Shinbashi?By being the gateway to Odaiba and having the new Shiodome Shiosite complex of high-rise buildings, this area has been effectively revitalized.
• Shinagawa ? 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.
• Shibuya ? A longtime center of shopping, fashion, and entertainment, especially for the younger set.
• Ikebukuro ? Anchored by the Sunshine City (which was once Tokyo's tallest building) hotel and shopping complex, this is another area where people gather due to the various train lines shooting out of Ikebukuro Station.
• Ueno ? Ueno Station serves areas north of Tokyo from where many people commute. Besides department stores and shops in Ameyoko, Ueno boasts Ueno Park, Ueno Zoo, and major national museums. In spring, Ueno Park and adjacent Shinobazu Pond are prime places to view cherry blossoms.
• Odaiba ? A large, reclaimed, waterfront area that has become one of Tokyo's most popular shopping and entertainment districts.
• Kinshicho ? Major shopping and entertainment area in eastern Tokyo.
• Kichijoji ? Major shopping and entertainment area in western Tokyo.
• Nagatacho - The political heart of Tokyo and the nation. It is the location of the Diet, government ministries, and party headquarters.
• Akasaka - Upscale commercial district next to Roppongi, Nagatacho, and Aoyama.
• Aoyama - An upscale neighborhood of Tokyo with parks, an enormous cemetary, expensive housing, trendy cafes, and international restaurants (includes the subway station Omotesando).