140 articles
Ageo
Ageo (上尾市, Ageo-shi) is a city in southeastern Saitama Prefecture, Japan, 35 km from Tokyo. Incorporated July 15, 1958 as the prefecture's 19th city, it grew from about 37,000 residents to roughly 230,000, with Nakasendō post-town roots.
Akashi
Akashi (明石市, Akashi-shi) is a core city in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, on the 135°E Japan Standard Time meridian facing the Akashi Strait. About 305,000 people; known for Akashi Castle, sea bream, octopus, nori aquaculture, and the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge.
Amagasaki
Amagasaki (尼崎市) is a dense commuter and industrial city in Hyogo Prefecture between Osaka and Kobe, with about 458,000 residents, a rebuilt 1617 castle, Chikamatsu Monzaemon's grave, and an ECO Future City environmental program.
Anjō
Anjō (安城市) is a city of about 186,000 people in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, about 30 kilometers from Nagoya, nicknamed the "Denmark of Japan" for its advanced farming.
Aomori
Aomori (青森市, Aomori-shi), capital of Aomori Prefecture, Japan; port city on Mutsu Bay founded 1626, population about 257,000, famous for the Nebuta Festival, heavy snowfall, and compact city policy.
Asahikawa
Asahikawa (旭川市) is Hokkaido's second-largest city, in the Kamikawa basin of central Hokkaido. Known for Asahiyama Zoo, Asahikawa Furniture, record cold of −41 °C, and as a gateway to Daisetsuzan.
Atsugi
Atsugi (Atsugi-shi) is a city in central Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, on the Sagami River about 40 kilometers from Tokyo. It had 223,825 residents in 2024.
Capital of Japan
Capital of Japan: Tokyo (東京, Eastern Capital), de facto capital since the Meiji era after the 1868–1869 move from Kyoto (imperial capital since 794); no statute explicitly names a capital; Tokyo Metropolis has 23 special wards and about 14.27 million people.
Chiba, Chiba
Chiba (千葉市, Chiba-shi), capital of Chiba Prefecture, Japan, a designated city of six wards near Tokyo Bay; about 998,561 residents (2026), twelfth government ordinance designated city since 1992, founded as a city in 1921.
Chigasaki
Chigasaki (茅ヶ崎市) is a coastal city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, in the Shonan area on Sagami Bay. About 245,000 residents, 35.7 km², birthplace of Japanese surfing at Southern Beach, MONOCLE 2020 5th best small city, Honolulu sister city since 2014.
Chiyoda, Tokyo
Chiyoda (Chiyoda-ku) is the smallest of Tokyo's 23 special wards and the political heart of Japan, containing the Imperial Palace on the former Edo Castle site, the National Diet, and the Marunouchi, Otemachi, and Akihabara districts.
Chōfu
Chōfu (調布市) is a city of over 239,000 in Tokyo's Tama area, 15 km from Shinjuku, formed in 1955 by merging Chōfu and Kamishiro towns; distinct from Den-en-chōfu in Ōta ward.
Dōtonbori (道頓堀)
Dōtonbori (道頓堀) is a canal and 600-metre dining and entertainment strip in Chuo-ku, Osaka, begun 1612 by Yasui Dōton, once Japan's leading kabuki quarter, now famous for the Glico Running Man sign, Kani Doraku's moving crab, and kuidaore street food.
Edo (江戸)
Edo (江戸), the former name of Tokyo, was the seat of the Tokugawa shogunate from 1603 to 1868 and Japan's de facto capital, growing to about one million people before its 1868 renaming as Tokyo.
Fuchū, Tokyo
Fuchū (府中市) is a city in western Tokyo, about 22 km from Shinjuku, population about 263,000. It was the ancient provincial capital (kokufu) of Musashi Province and is home to Okunitama Jinja Shrine and the Kurayami festival.
Fujisawa
Fujisawa (藤沢市, Fujisawa-shi) is a city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, on Sagami Bay about 50 km from Tokyo; established 1940, area 69.56 km², population about 444,000, known for Enoshima and the Shonan coast.
Fukui-shi
Fukui-shi (福井市), capital of Fukui Prefecture on the Fukui Plain, a core city of about 251,000 people; former Asakura seat at Ichijōdani, rebuilt after the 1945 air raid and 1948 M7.1 earthquake, Shinkansen opened 2024.
Fukuoka (福岡)
Fukuoka (福岡), also known through its historic quarter Hakata, is a Kyushu, Japan city of about 1.64 million formed in 1889, known for the AD 57 gold seal, Hakata Port, Fukuoka Airport, and its 1890 one-vote renaming vote.
Fukushima, Fukushima
Fukushima (福島市), capital of Fukushima Prefecture in Tohoku, Japan; a basin city of 767.72 km² with hot springs, fruit orchards, and a 1907 city charter; heavily affected by the 2011 earthquake and nuclear accident, with decontamination completed in 2018.
Fukuyama
Fukuyama (福山市) is a city in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, facing the Seto Inland Sea. It grew from a castle town founded in 1619 and is the prefecture's second largest city, with about 470,000 people.
Gifu (city)
Gifu (岐阜市) is the prefectural capital of Gifu Prefecture, Japan, on the Nagara River at the Nōbi Plain's northern edge; about 397,000 residents, Mt. Kinka and Gifu Castle, and 1,300-year-old cormorant fishing distinguish it.
Hachinohe
Hachinohe (八戸市) is a Pacific-coast city in southeastern Aomori Prefecture, Japan, founded 1929, with about 210,000 residents, a major industrial port, New Industrial City status since 1964, and northern Tohoku's first international container route (1994).
Hachiōji
Hachioji (八王子市) is a core city in western Tokyo, about 40 km from central Tokyo. Incorporated 1917, population about 579,000 (2020), Tokyo's largest municipality outside the 23 wards, with 21 universities and 186.38 km² area.
Hakodate
Hakodate (函館市) is a city at the southern tip of Hokkaido, Japan, population about 230,000. Opened as Japan's first international trade port in 1859; now a tourism city known for Mount Hakodate's night view and Goryokaku.
Hakone (箱根町)
Hakone (箱根町) is a town in western Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, known for its hot springs, Lake Ashi, and Mount Fuji views, drawing about 20 million visitors a year.
Hamamatsu
Hamamatsu (浜松市) is a designated city in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, on the Pacific coast between Tokyo and Osaka. A 2005 merger of 12 municipalities made it Japan's second-largest city by area; it hosts Suzuki, Yamaha, and Kawai.
Higashihiroshima
Higashihiroshima (東広島市) is a city in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, founded 1974, home to Hiroshima University and the Saijo sake district with seven breweries on Sakagura-dori Street, a national historic site, and Micron's Hiroshima semiconductor plant.
Higashiosaka
Higashiosaka (東大阪市) is a Core City in Osaka Prefecture, Japan, formed in 1967 by merging Fuse, Kawachi, and Hiraoka. Known as a manufacturing city of small factories and for Hanazono Rugby Stadium.
Himeji
Himeji (姫路) is a castle town in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, home to Himeji Castle, Japan's first UNESCO World Heritage site (1993). Population about 515,000; incorporated 1889; expanded by mergers in 1946 and 2006.
Hino, Tokyo
Hino (日野市, Hino-shi) is a city in Tokyo's Tama region, 27.55 km², population about 189,000, on the Tama and Asakawa rivers; known for Hino-juku Honjin, Takahata Fudo Temple, Shinsengumi ties, and Hino Motors' head office.