Tokyo

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Tokyo (東京) is a Japanese prefecture in the Kanto region and on the island of Honshu. Contrary to popular belief, Tokyo is not itself a city, but is one of 47 Prefectures of Japan, and is often called an metropolis rather than a prefecture. Within Tokyo, there are 23 special wards of Tokyo, 26 cities, 5 towns and 8 villages.

As of October 1, 2005, the population of Tokyo is estimated to be 12.5 million, or about 10% of Japan's total population. This makes it the largest population among all the 47 prefectures.

Contents

History

Originally named Edo, the city started to flourish after Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1603. As the center of politics and culture in Japan, Edo grew into a huge city with a population of over a million by the mid-eighteenth century. Throughout this time, the Emperor resided in Kyoto, which was the formal capital of the nation. The Edo Period lasted for nearly 260 years until the Meiji Restoration in 1868, when the Tokugawa Shogunate ended and imperial rule was restored. The Emperor moved to Edo, which was renamed Tokyo. Thus, Tokyo became the capital of Japan.

Major Cities

Main Attractions

Parks and Gardens

Shrines and Temples

Miscellaneous Attractions

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