kanto

Kantō, or Kanto, is a geographic region of eastern Honshu, Japan, comprising seven prefectures: Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, and Kanagawa. Located along the Pacific coast, it contains the densely populated Tokyo metropolitan area, which serves as the political, economic, and cultural heart of the nation. The region's population accounts for a large share of Japan's residents and industry.

Geography: The Kantō Plain dominates central Kantō, one of Japan's largest plains, providing fertile land and urban expansion. To the west lie mountain ranges, including the Chichibu and Hakone areas, shaping climate and watershed. The Tone, Arakawa, and Edogawa rivers drain the region toward Tokyo Bay and the Pacific.

History: The area has archaeological roots in the Jōmon and Yayoi periods. It rose to political prominence in the Edo period when the Tokugawa shogunate established Edo (present-day Tokyo) as its capital in 1603. The Meiji Restoration made Tokyo the imperial capital. The 1923 Great Kantō earthquake devastated Tokyo–Yokohama, leading to rapid modernization and urban redevelopment. After World War II, Kantō became Japan's leading economic engine, driven by manufacturing, finance, and services.

Economy and infrastructure: Kantō hosts Japan's largest metropolitan economy and many corporate headquarters. It includes major ports such as Yokohama and Chiba, two international airports (Haneda and Narita), and an extensive rail network (JR East, Tokyo Metro), including the Tōkaidō Shinkansen. Tourism centers include Tokyo, Kamakura, Nikko, and Hakone.