Japan, IN FACT, Has No Official Capital City

Why Tokyo isn’t the Capital City of Japan?

The reason is that, in Japan, the residence of the Emperor is considered the capital city. Based on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (n.d.), for a long time before 1868, the Emperor’s residence was located in Kyoto, which was the formal capital city of Japan. After 1868, the Emperor, as well as the country’s government, resided in Edo, which is later known as Tokyo Metropolis. As a result, Tokyo became the capital city of the nation.

In 1950, the Japanese government made a decision to locate the capital in this city. However, a few years later, the leaders took back the decision. Therefore, Japan has no official capital city so far. Furthermore, “Capital of Japan’s Law and Custom” (Wikipedia 2021) states that “While no laws have designated Tokyo as the Japanese capital, many laws have defined a “capital area” (首都圏, shuto-ken) that incorporates Tokyo”.

The Land of the Rising Sun

According to World Atlas, Japan is a country in East Asia. The country has an area of ​​more than 377,000 km2 and a population of more than 126 million people. Also, Japan consists of about 6,852 large and small islands, of which 4 main islands are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku. Indeed, the nation’s territory is isolated by the sea, with no land border with any country.

People call Japan by many different names. There are some of the most well-known names are “The Land of the Rising Sun”, Fusang, “The Land of Cherry Blossoms”, or “The Land of Tea Ceremony”, etc. In it, Fusang, or Fusō, is one of the popular names when referring to Japan. This nickname is called after the name of a tree species.

Following the name “The Land of the Rising Sun”, the Japan flag has a rectangular shape with two main colors: a white background with a large red circle, which symbolizes the Sun, in the center.

What is There in Japan to Discover

Definitely, it’s Mount Fuji coming first. It is the tallest mountain in Japan and is also a famous symbol of this country. Moreover, this mountain is often the subject of paintings and photography, art, literature, and music. Alongside, this is one of the “Three Holy Mountains” of Japan, along with Mount Takao and Mount Haku.

Besides that, there are destinations in Japan, particularly in Tokyo that travelers can visit:

• Sensō-ji Temple.
• Tokyo Disneyland.
• Yomiuri Land Jewellumination.

The current monetary unit of Japan is the Yen. Actually, it is the third most traded currency on the foreign exchange market, after the US dollar and Euro. Thus, don’t forget to exchange some for your trip to the country.

Read more: 20 Things to Know Before You Travel to Japan

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Japan have two capitals?

Japan did not officially maintain two capitals at the same time. Rather, Kyoto was the traditional capital, while Tokyo became the center of government after the Meiji Restoration in the late 19th century. The transfer of the Imperial Court and government functions to Tokyo created the historical ambiguity surrounding the capital city of Japan.

Why is Kyoto no longer the capital of Japan?

Kyoto stopped being Japan’s political center when the Meiji government moved the Emperor and major government functions to Tokyo in the 1860s. Today, Kyoto remains Japan’s former capital and an important cultural and historical city, but Tokyo is the country’s de facto capital.

Was Osaka a capital of Japan?

Yes. Osaka, then known as Naniwa, served as a capital of Japan during the 7th century and again briefly in the 8th century. Emperor Kōtoku established Naniwa as the capital in 645, making modern-day Osaka one of Japan’s historic capital cities.

What is the real capital of Japan?

Tokyo is the de facto capital of Japan and the seat of the Emperor, national government, and major government institutions. Interestingly, Japan has no single law explicitly declaring Tokyo the capital, which is why the question of the official capital city of Japan is technically more complicated than it first appears.

What are the top 3 major cities in Japan?

For Japan travel, Tokyo, Osaka, and Yokohama are among the country’s biggest and most important cities. By city population, Tokyo’s 23 wards are the largest, followed by Yokohama and Osaka; each offers a distinctly different experience, from Tokyo’s modern attractions to Osaka’s food culture and Yokohama’s waterfront.