It is not an ordinary city, but a metropolis that functions as a prefecture (one of the 47 in Japan).
Structure: Consists of: 23 special wards in the center (this is what most people view as "Tokyo City," with districts such as Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Akihabara).
26 cities, 5 villages, and 8 municipalities in the western Tama region (suburbs and nature).
Distant islands: Izu Islands and Ogasawara Islands (up to thousands of km south).
History in brief: Originally called Edo, it became the power base of the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1603.
In 1868 (Meiji Restoration), it was renamed Tokyo ("Eastern Capital") and became the capital of Japan.
In 1943, the old city of Tokyo merged with the prefecture to form the current Tokyo Metropolis.
Characteristics: Tokyo is the political, economic, and cultural heart of Japan: seat of government, the Emperor (Imperial Palace), businesses, and a massive transportation hub (including the Shinkansen, metro, and Haneda/Narita airports).
It combines hypermodern skyscrapers, neon lights, and technology with traditional temples (such as Senso-ji in Asakusa), parks, and gardens.
It is one of the safest, busiest, and liveliest metropolises in the world, with top-class cuisine (many Michelin stars) and unique neighborhoods.
In short: Tokyo is a gigantic, dynamic metropolis that perfectly blends tradition and futurism and forms the beating heart of Japan.
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