As far as the world's metropolises go, Tokyo is pretty big. Tokyo has grown to become what is generally considered to be the world's most populated metropolitan area. Tokyo is so massive that it dominates Japan and no trip to Japan could be complete without visiting the city.
Perhaps surprisingly, Tokyo does not have a long history (by Asian standards) and there are plenty more historical cities in Japan - like Kyoto. But it is the beating heart of modern Japan. Before one goes to Japan, it may be beneficial to learn some essential Japanese words and phrases for first-timers.
Metropolitan Areas And The Largest
A metropolitan area is a region of a densely populated urban core with its less-populated surrounding territories that share industries, commercial areas, transport networks, housing, and infrastructure. The legal limits of a city are not important.
One is likely to find different lists as to which "city" or "metro" area is the largest. It can be difficult to measure exactly when a metro area begins and ends but generally Tokyo is considered the largest.
- Greater Tokyo Area: Largest Metropolitan Area
- Population: 37.5 Million
Today Tokyo is the political and economic center of Japan. The prefecture alone has an estimated 14 million people while the Greater Tokyo Area is estimated to be home to around 37.5 million people in 2018.
According to the United Nations in 2018 the five largest megacities are:
- Tokyo: 37.4 Million Total
- Delhi: 28.5 Million Total (Forecast To Be The Largest by 2030)
- Shanghai: 25.6 Million Total
- Sao Paulo: 21.6 Million Total
- Mexico City: 21.6 Million Total
New York is considered to be the eleventh largest at 18.8 million while London is the 37th largest at 9 million (London was once the world's largest city).
From Humble Fishing Village To Largest City in The World
Around 400 years ago Tokyo was just a humble fishing village called Edo. But it started its rise to prominence when it became the seat of the Tokugawa shogunate. By the mid-18th century, Edo had grown to become one of the largest cities on earth (with a population of over a million). Today the greater city is home to around 30% of Japan's entire population.
- Old Name: Edo
- New Name: Edo Renamed "Tokyo" or "Eastern Capital" in 1868
- Formerly: Before 1603 Tokyo Was a Fishing Village
- Capital: Tokyo Became The Capital In 1868
In 1868 the imperial capital moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. At this time Edo was renamed Tokyo 0r "eastern capital."
The city suffered greatly during the 1900s, first being devasted by the 1923 Great Kanto earthquake and then by Allied bombing that set the city ablaze during WW2. After the war, it was quickly rebuilt and soon became one of the most modern cities in the world.
What To Expect From The World's Largest City
"It's a sprawling, organic thing, stretching as far as the eye can see. Always changing, and with a diverse collection of neighborhoods, no two experiences of the city are ever the same. Some neighborhoods feel like a vision from the future... others evoke the past with low-slung wooden buildings and glowing lanterns radiating surprising warmth..."
Tokyo is a city so large that one can find anything that one could ever hope of finding in a city. See sumo tournaments, cherry blossoms, the best of the world's shopping, museums of every aspect of Japanese history, the best of Japanese food, and everything else one could possibly expect from a city.
- Modern: Tokyo Is Known To Be One of The World's Most Modern Cities
Tokyo is considered one of the best places to visit in Asia and is home to the Imperial Palace (but to really learn about Japanese Imperial history, visit Kyoto).
Tokyo is regarded as one of the world's most modern cities - but is also one of the most expensive cities to live in (so don't expect things to be cheap there).
Tip: Tokyo Is Not A Cheap City To Visit
- Transport: Due to Its Superb Rail and Subway Networks It Is One of The Easiest Cities To Get Around
Some of the best things to do in Tokyo include visiting the Imperial Palace, shopping until you're dropping in the Ginza District, visiting the Sensō-ji Temple, strolling the Ueno Park, and checking out the Tokyo National Museum.
Still, even though there is plenty to see and do in Tokyo (and one will never be able to experience all of it), don't spend too much time in the city. Make sure one has plenty of time to see the historic city of Kyoto, visit the Snow Monkeys, soak in the famous Japanese Onsens, and many other attractions around the country.