Tokyo is both the capital and the largest city in Japan. The city began life as Edo, a small city notable only as the sight of one of Japan’s many castles. But in 1603 a feudal government was set up there by Tokugawa Ieyasu, making Edo the political center of Japan. By the middle of the eighteenth century over a million people lived in Edo. Much later, in 1868 the Meji emperor moved his residence and Japan’s capital from Kyoto to Edo. The city was renamed Tokyo which means Eastern capital.
Tokyo is located roughly in the center of Japan near the eastern coast. It is bordered by mountains to the west and rivers to the east and south. The area most often thought of as Tokyo includes not only Tokyo itself, but also three adjacent prefectures: Saitama, Kanagawa and Chiba. Two island groups, the Izu and the Ogasawara, are also governed by the city of Tokyo. Both are in the Pacific Ocean.
Over 12.5 million people live in Tokyo and the surrounding metropolitan area. This means about 10 percent of the Japanese population lives on the 0.06 percent of Japanese land that makes up Tokyo. Thousands more commute into the city for work or pleasure.
Every year, tens of thousands of tourists travel to or through Tokyo on their way to the rest of Japan. Tokyo is served by Narita International Airport, the major international hub and Haneda Airport, which handles mostly domestic air traffic. The city also has an extensive, and efficient, train and subway system and a slightly more complex bus system. During the rush hours these transportation systems can be packed to overflowing.
Tokyo boasts several major attractions for tourists in Japan. The Imperial Palace stands on the sight of the old Edo palace. It is surrounded by a large park area that is open to the public for most of the year. The inner gardens are only open for the Emperor’s birthday and the annual New Year address. Both occasions draw huge crowds.
Tokyo is an icon of Japanese life. The city is a surprising mix of traditional Japanese culture and modern life. It is not uncommon to see small shrines nestled between large shopping centers. The Harajuku area of Tokyo boasts both the most fashionable shopping district in Japan and the largest shrine, which is dedicated to the Meji emperor and includes 170,000 square meters of forest.
The architecture of Tokyo is as diverse as its culture. Ancient buildings can be found hidden between larger modern structures. The city was rebuilt twice: the first time after the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 and again after World War II when extensive fire bombing decimated the area.
Since World War II Japan in general, and Tokyo in particular has blossomed. The city has managed to adopt much of western culture without losing its unique Japanese identity. Many residents speak English, and signs on most major roads and transportation areas are written in both Japanese and English, but Japanese remains the official language.