Tokio

Tokio is the capital and one of the largest urban areas of Japan. Located in the Kanto region on Honshu, it fronts Tokyo Bay and forms the core of the Tokyo Metropolis, a special administrative division that also includes outlying cities and rural areas. In many languages the city is written Tokio, while English usage typically renders the name as Tokyo.

Geography and administration: The metropolis comprises 23 special wards at its center, which function as individual municipalities, alongside numerous cities, towns, and villages in western Tokyo and on the Izu and Ogasawara islands. It borders Chiba Prefecture to the east and south, Kanagawa to the southwest, and Saitama to the north, with its transportation network linking urban and suburban areas.

History: The area began as a small fishing village named Edo. It gained political prominence when the Tokugawa shogunate was established there in 1603, growing into a major city. In 1868, with the Meiji Restoration, Edo was renamed Tokyo, meaning “Eastern Capital,” and became the imperial capital. The city expanded rapidly in the following decades, undergoing further modernization after World War II.

Economy and infrastructure: Tokyo is a leading global financial center and hosts the Tokyo Stock Exchange. It is a major commercial and media hub with numerous corporate headquarters. The city features an extensive transport system, including JR East and Tokyo Metro networks, and major airports at Haneda and Narita, plus high-speed rail connections.

Culture and demographics: The 23 special wards form the dense core, with districts such as Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ginza, and Asakusa. Tokyo hosts world-class museums, theaters, temples, and a vibrant pop culture scene. The metropolitan area is one of the largest in the world, with tens of millions of residents in the broader region.