View source for Administrative divisions of Japan

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Administrative divisions of Japan}}
{{Use American English|date = January 2019}}
{{Short description|none}}
{{Politics of Japan}}

The bureaucratic administration of [[Japan]] is divided into three basic levels: national, prefectural, and municipal. They are defined by the [[Local Autonomy Act]] of 1947.

Below the national government there are 47 [[prefectures of Japan|prefectures]], six of which are further subdivided into subprefectures to better service large geographical areas or remote islands. 

The 1718 [[Municipalities of Japan|municipalities]] (792 cities, 743 towns, and 183 villages)<ref name="kuril"/> and 23 [[Special wards of Tokyo|special wards]] of [[Tokyo]] are the lowest level of government; the twenty most-populated cities outside Tokyo Metropolis are known as [[Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan|designated cities]], and are subdivided into [[Wards of Japan|wards]].

== Prefectural divisions ==
{{Main|Prefectures of Japan}}
[[File:Regions and Prefectures of Japan 2.svg|thumb|47 prefectural entities of Japan]]
The top tier of administrative divisions are the 47 prefectural entities: 43 {{nihongo |prefectures |県 |ken}} proper, two {{nihongo |[[Fu (administrative division)|urban prefecture]]s |府 |fu |extra=[[Osaka Prefecture|Osaka]] and [[Kyōto Prefecture|Kyōto]]}}, one {{nihongo |"[[Circuit (political division)#Japan|circuit]]" |道 |dō |extra=[[Hokkaidō]]}}, and one {{nihongo |"metropolis" |都 |to |extra=Tokyo Metropolis}}. Although different in name, they are functionally the same.

===''Ken''===
{{nihongo |'''"Prefecture"''' |県 |ken}} are the most common types of prefectural divisions total of 43 ken. The ''[[kanji]]'' (character) from which this is derived means "county".

===''To''===
Tokyo Metropolis is referred to as a {{nihongo |'''"metropolis"''' |都 |to}} after the dissolution of [[Tokyo City]] in 1943, Tōkyō-fu (Tokyo Prefecture) was upgraded into Tōkyō-to and the former Tokyo City's wards were upgraded into [[special wards of Tokyo|special wards]]. The ''kanji'' (character) from which this is derived means "capital".

===''Fu''===
{{further|Fu (administrative division)}}
[[Osaka Prefecture]] and [[Kyoto Prefecture]] are referred to as an {{nihongo |'''"urban prefecture"''' |府 |fu}}. The Chinese character from which this is derived implies a core urban zone of national importance in the middle period of China, or implies a subdivision of a province in the late period of China.

===''Dō''===
{{further|Circuit (administrative division)}}
Hokkaido is referred to as a {{nihongo |'''"circuit"''' |道 |dō}}, this term was originally used to refer to [[List of regions of Japan|Japanese regions]] consisting of several [[Provinces of Japan|provinces]]. This was also a historical usage of the character in China meaning circuit.

== Subprefectural divisions==
There are only two types of subprefectural divisions: subprefecture and district.

===Subprefecture===
{{main|Subprefectures of Japan}}
{{nihongo|'''Subprefectures'''|支庁|shichō}} are a Japanese form of self-government which focuses on local issues below the prefectural level. It acts as part of the greater administration of the state and as part of a self-government system.<ref name="louisiana80">Imperial Japanese Commission to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. (1903). [https://books.google.com/books?id=tYguAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA80 ''Japan in the beginning of the 20th century'', p. 80].</ref>

===District===
{{main|Districts of Japan}}
{{nihongo|'''Districts'''|郡|gun}} were administrative units in use between 1878 and 1921 that were roughly equivalent to the counties of China or the United States. In the 1920s, municipal functions were transferred from district offices to the offices of the towns and villages within the district. District names remain in the postal address of towns and villages, and districts are sometimes used as boundaries for electoral districts, but otherwise serve no official function. The Classical Chinese character from which this is derived means [[Commandery (China)|commandery]].

==Municipal divisions==
{{main|Municipalities of Japan}}
[[File:Japan Municipality Map.png|thumb|1,742 municipal and 175 submunicipal entities of Japan]]
The municipal divisions are divided into three main categories: city, town, and village. However, the city entities are further categorized. The [[Special wards of Tokyo]] are also considered to be municipal divisions.

===Cities===
Cities in Japan are categorized into four different types, from the highest the designated city, the core city, the special city, and the regular city at the lowest.

====Designated city====
{{main|Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan}}
A {{Nihongo|'''city designated by government ordinance'''|政令指定都市|seirei shitei toshi}}, also known as a {{Nihongo|'''designated city'''|指定都市|shitei toshi}} or {{Nihongo|'''government ordinance city'''|政令市|seirei shi}}, is a Japanese city that has a population greater than 500,000 and has been designated as such by an order of the [[cabinet of Japan]] under Article 252, Section 19 of the [[Local Autonomy Law]]. Designated cities are also subdivided into wards.

====Core city====
{{main|Core cities of Japan}}
A {{Nihongo|'''core city'''|中核市|Chūkakushi}} is a Japanese city that has a population greater than 300,000 and an area greater than 100 square kilometers, although special exceptions may be made by order of the cabinet for cities with populations under 300,000 but over 200,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nippon.zaidan.info/seikabutsu/1999/00168/contents/145.htm|title=日本財団図書館（電子図書館）Revised Local Autonomy Law|website=nippon.zaidan.info}}</ref> This category was created by the first clause of Article 252, Section 22 of the [[Local Autonomy Law]] of Japan.

====Special city====
{{main|Special cities of Japan}}
A {{nihongo|'''special city'''|特例市|Tokureishi}} of Japan is a [[Cities of Japan|city]] with a population of at least 200,000. This category was established by the [[Local Autonomy Law]], article 252 clause 26.

====City====
{{main|Cities of Japan}}
A {{Nihongo|'''city'''|市|shi}} is a local [[Public administration|administrative]] unit in Japan with a population of at least 50,000 of which at least 60% of households must be established in a central urban area, and at least 60% of households must be employed in commerce, industry or other urban occupations. Cities are ranked on the same level as {{nihongo|[[Towns of Japan|towns]]|町|machi}} and {{nihongo|[[Villages of Japan|villages]]|村|mura}}; the only difference is that they are not a component of {{nihongo|[[Districts of Japan|districts]]|郡|gun}}. Like other contemporary administrative units, they are defined by the [[Local Autonomy Law]] of 1947.

===Town===
{{main|List of towns in Japan}}
A {{Nihongo|'''town'''|町|''chō'' or ''machi''}} is a [[Local government|local administrative unit]] in Japan.  It is a local public body along with [[Prefectures of Japan|prefecture (''ken'' or other equivalents)]], [[Cities of Japan|city (''shi'')]], and [[Villages of Japan|village (''mura'')]].  Geographically, a town is contained within a [[Prefectures of Japan|prefecture]].

===Village===
{{main|List of villages in Japan}}
A {{Nihongo|'''village'''|村|mura|sometimes ''son''}} is a [[Local government|local administrative unit]] in Japan. It is a local public body along with {{Nihongo|[[Prefectures of Japan|prefecture]]|県|ken|or other equivalents}}, {{Nihongo|[[Cities of Japan|city]]|市|shi}}, and {{Nihongo|[[Towns of Japan|town]]|町|chō|sometimes ''machi''}}.  Geographically, a village's extent is contained within a [[Prefectures of Japan|prefecture]]. It is larger than an actual settlement, being in actuality a subdivision of a rural {{Nihongo|[[Districts of Japan|district]]|郡|gun}}, which are subdivided into [[Towns of Japan|towns]] and villages with no overlap and no uncovered area.

===Special Ward===
{{main|Special wards of Tokyo}}
The {{Nihongo|'''special wards'''|特別区|tokubetsu-ku}} are 23 [[Municipalities of Japan|municipalities]] that together make up the core and the most populous part of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. Together, they occupy the land that was originally the [[Tokyo City]] before it was abolished in 1943 to become part of the newly created Tokyo Metropolis. The special wards' structure was established under the Japanese [[Local Autonomy Act]] and is unique to Tokyo Metropolis.

==Submunicipal divisions==

===Ward===
{{main|Wards of Japan}}
A '''{{Nihongo|ward|区|ku}}''' is a subdivision of the cities of Japan that are large enough to have been [[City designated by government ordinance|designated by government ordinance]].<ref>[http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/handbook/pdf/c17cont.pdf "Statistical Handbook of Japan 2008" by Statistics Bureau, Japan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130207032702/http://www.stat.go.jp/English/data/handbook/pdf/c17cont.pdf |date=7 February 2013 }} Chapter 17: Government System (Retrieved on 4 July 2009)</ref>

== History ==
Although the details of local administration have changed dramatically over time, the basic outline of the current two-tiered system since the [[abolition of the han system]] by the [[Government of Meiji Japan|Meiji government]] in 1871 are similar. Before the abolition of the han system, Japan was divided into {{nihongo|'''provinces'''|国|kuni}} then subdivided into {{nihongo|'''districts'''|郡|gun}} and then {{nihongo|'''villages'''|里/郷|sato}} at the bottom.

==Structural hierarchy==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
!Prefectural
!colspan="2"|''Subprefectural''
!Municipal
!''Submunicipal''
|-
|rowspan="6"|Prefectures<br>(excluding Tokyo Metropolis)
|colspan="2"|Subprefecture
|rowspan="2"|"designated city"
|rowspan="2"|Ward
|-
|colspan="2" align="center" |&nbsp;
|-
|colspan="2"|District
|rowspan="2"|Town<br>Village
|rowspan="6" |''none''
|-
|rowspan="2"|Subprefecture
|District
|-
|align="center" |&nbsp;
|rowspan="2"|"core city"<br>"special city"<br>City
|-
|rowspan="2" colspan="2" align="center" |&nbsp;
|-
|rowspan="2"|Metropolis
|City<br>Special wards
|-
|colspan="2"|District<br>Subprefecture
|Town<br>Village
|}

{|class=wikitable
!colspan="2"|Level!!Type!!style="width:9%"|Kanji!!style="width:13%"|Romaji!!No.!!
|-
|rowspan="4" colspan="2" style="border-bottom:none" align="right"|Prefectural
| Tokyo Metropolis
|都
|''to''
|style="text-align:center"|1
|[[Tokyo]] (東京都 ''Tōkyō-to'')
|-
|"circuit"
|道
|''dō''
|style="text-align:center"|1
|[[Hokkaido]] (北海道 ''Hokkaidō'')
|-
|"urban prefecture" 
|府
|''fu''
|style="text-align:center"|2
|[[Kyoto Prefecture]] (京都府 ''Kyōto-fu'') and [[Osaka Prefecture]] (大阪府 ''Ōsaka-fu'')
|-
|Prefecture
|県
|''ken''
|style="text-align:center"|43
|Prefectures except Tokyo, Hokkaido, Kyoto Prefecture and Osaka Prefecture
|-
|rowspan="2" style="border-top:none"|&nbsp;||rowspan="2" align="right" |Subprefectural
|Subprefecture
|支庁
|''shichō''
|style="text-align:center"|158
|
|-
|District
|郡
|''gun''
|style="text-align:center"|374
|
|-align=center
!colspan="6"|
|-
|rowspan="7" colspan="2" style="border-bottom:none" align="right"|Municipal
|"designated city"
|政令指定都市
|''seirei shitei toshi''
|style="text-align:center"|20
|
|-
|"core city"
|中核市
|''chūkaku-shi''
|style="text-align:center"|42
|
|-
|"special city"
|特例市
|''tokurei-shi''
|style="text-align:center"|40
|
|-
|City
|市
|''shi''
|style="text-align:center"|792
|Including designated, core and special cities.
|-
|Town
|町
|''chō'' {{small|or}} ''machi''
|style="text-align:center"|743
|
|-
|Village
|村
|''mura'' {{small|or}} ''son''
|style="text-align:center"|183
|
|-
|Special ward
|区 (特別区)
|''ku'' (''tokubetsu-ku'')
|style="text-align:center"|23
|[[Special wards of Tokyo]] (東京都区部 ''Tōkyō-to kubu''), 23 wards of Tokyo (東京23区 ''Tōkyō nijūsan-ku'')
|-
|rowspan="1" style="border-top:none"|&nbsp;||rowspan="1" align="right" |Submunicipal
|Ward
|区 (行政区)
|''ku'' (''gyōsei-ku'')
|style="text-align:center"|175
|Only used for designated cities
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! [[ISO 3166-2:JP|ISO]]
! Prefecture
! [[Kanji]]
! Region
! Cities {{small|[all-types]}}<br>(Special wards)
! Wards
! Districts
! Towns
! Villages
|-
| JP-23 || {{flag|Aichi|Aichi Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|愛知県}} || bgcolor=#79efd8|[[Chūbu region|Chūbu]] || 38  || 16 || 7|| 14 || 2
|-
| JP-05 || {{flag|Akita|Akita Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|秋田県}} || bgcolor=#efe979|[[Tōhoku region|Tōhoku]] || 13 ||  || 6 || 9 || 3
|-
| JP-02 || {{flag|Aomori|Aomori Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|青森県}} || bgcolor=#efe979|[[Tōhoku region|Tōhoku]] || 10 ||  || 8 || 22 || 8
|-
| JP-12 || {{flag|Chiba|Chiba Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|千葉県}} || bgcolor=#87ef79|[[Kantō region|Kantō]] || 37 || 6 || 6 || 16 || 1
|-
| JP-38 || {{flag|Ehime|Ehime Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|愛媛県}} || bgcolor=#cc79ef|[[Shikoku]] || 11 ||  || 7 || 9 || 
|-
| JP-18 || {{flag|Fukui|Fukui Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|福井県}} || bgcolor=#79efd8|[[Chūbu region|Chūbu]] || 9 ||  || 7 || 17 ||  
|-
| JP-40 || {{flag|Fukuoka|Fukuoka Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|福岡県}} || bgcolor=#b4b4b4|[[Kyushu]] || 28 || 14 || 12 || 30 || 2
|-
| JP-07 || {{flag|Fukushima|Fukushima Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|福島県}} || bgcolor=#efe979|[[Tōhoku region|Tōhoku]] || 13 ||  || 13 || 31 || 15
|-
| JP-21 || {{flag|Gifu|Gifu Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|岐阜県}} || bgcolor=#79efd8|[[Chūbu region|Chūbu]] || 21 ||  || 9 || 19 || 2
|-
| JP-10 || {{flag|Gunma|Gunma Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|群馬県}} || bgcolor=#87ef79|[[Kantō region|Kantō]] || 12 ||  || 7 || 15 || 8
|-
| JP-34 || {{flag|Hiroshima|Hiroshima Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|広島県}} || bgcolor=#efb179|[[Chūgoku region|Chūgoku]] || 14 || 8 || 5  || 9 || 
|-
| JP-01 || {{flag|Hokkaidō|Hokkaidō Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|北海道}} || bgcolor=#ef7979|[[Hokkaido]] || 35 || 10 || 66 || 129 || 15<ref name="kuril">Not inducing the six villages in the [[Kuril Islands dispute]] area.</ref> 
|-
| JP-28 || {{flag|Hyōgo|Hyōgo Prefectyre}} || {{lang|ja|兵庫県}} || bgcolor=#9579ef|[[Kansai region|Kansai]] || 29 || 9 || 8 || 12 || 
|-
| JP-08 || {{flag|Ibaraki|Ibaraki Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|茨城県}} || bgcolor=#87ef79|[[Kantō region|Kantō]] || 32 ||  || 7 || 10 || 2
|-
| JP-17 || {{flag|Ishikawa|Ishikawa Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|石川県}} || bgcolor=#79efd8|[[Chūbu region|Chūbu]] || 11 ||  || 5 || 8 || 
|-
| JP-03 || {{flag|Iwate|Iwate Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|岩手県}} || bgcolor=#efe979|[[Tōhoku region|Tōhoku]] || 14 ||  || 10 || 15 || 4
|-
| JP-37 || {{flag|Kagawa|Kagawa Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|香川県}} || bgcolor=#cc79ef|[[Shikoku]] || 8 ||  || 5 || 9 || 
|-
| JP-46 || {{flag|Kagoshima|Kagoshima Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|鹿児島県}} || bgcolor=#b4b4b4|[[Kyushu]] || 19 ||  || 8 || 20 || 4
|-
| JP-14 || {{flag|Kanagawa|Kanagawa Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|神奈川県}} || bgcolor=#87ef79|[[Kantō region|Kantō]] || 19 || 28 || 6 || 13 || 1
|-
| JP-39 || {{flag|Kōchi|Kōchi Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|高知県}} || bgcolor=#cc79ef|[[Shikoku]] || 11 ||  || 6 || 17 || 6
|-
| JP-43 || {{flag|Kumamoto|Kumamoto Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|熊本県}} || bgcolor=#b4b4b4|[[Kyushu]] || 14 || 5 || 9 || 23 || 8
|-
| JP-26 || {{flag|Kyōto|Kyōto Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|京都府}} || bgcolor=#9579ef|[[Kansai region|Kansai]] || 15 || 11 || 6 || 10 || 1
|-
| JP-24 || {{flag|Mie|Mie Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|三重県}} || bgcolor=#9579ef|[[Kansai region|Kansai]] || 14 ||  || 7 || 15 || 
|-
| JP-04 || {{flag|Miyagi|Myagi Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|宮城県}} || bgcolor=#efe979|[[Tōhoku region|Tōhoku]] || 13 || 5 || 10 || 21 || 1
|-
| JP-45 || {{flag|Miyazaki|Myazaki Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|宮崎県}} || bgcolor=#b4b4b4|[[Kyushu]] || 9 ||  || 6 || 14 || 3
|-
| JP-20 || {{flag|Nagano|Nagano Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|長野県}} || bgcolor=#79efd8|[[Chūbu region|Chūbu]] || 19 ||  || 14 || 23 || 35
|-
| JP-42 || {{flag|Nagasaki|Nagasaki Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|長崎県}} || bgcolor=#b4b4b4|[[Kyushu]] || 13 ||  || 4 || 8 || 
|-
| JP-29 || {{flag|Nara|Nara Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|奈良県}} || bgcolor=#9579ef|[[Kansai region|Kansai]] || 12 ||  || 7 || 15 || 12
|-
| JP-15 || {{flag|Niigata|Niigat Prefecture}} || {{lang|ja|新潟県}} || bgcolor=#79efd8|[[Chūbu region|Chūbu]] || 20 || 8 || 9 || 6 || 4
|-
| JP-44 || {{flag|Ōita}} || {{lang|ja|大分県}} || bgcolor=#b4b4b4|[[Kyushu]] || 14 ||  || 3 || 3 || 1
|-
| JP-33 || {{flag|Okayama}} || {{lang|ja|岡山県}} || bgcolor=#efb179|[[Chūgoku region|Chūgoku]] || 15 || 4 || 10 || 10 || 2
|-
| JP-47 || {{flag|Okinawa}} || {{lang|ja|沖縄県}} || bgcolor=#b4b4b4|[[Kyushu]] || 11 ||  || 5 || 11 || 19
|-
| JP-27 || {{flag|Ōsaka}} || {{lang|ja|大阪府}} || bgcolor=#9579ef|[[Kansai region|Kansai]] || 33 || 31 || 5 || 9 || 1
|-
| JP-41 || {{flag|Saga}} || {{lang|ja|佐賀県}} || bgcolor=#b4b4b4|[[Kyushu]] || 10 ||  || 6 || 10 || 
|-
| JP-11 || {{flag|Saitama}} || {{lang|ja|埼玉県}} || bgcolor=#87ef79|[[Kantō region|Kantō]] || 40 || 10 || 8 || 22 || 1
|-
| JP-25 || {{flag|Shiga}} || {{lang|ja|滋賀県}} || bgcolor=#9579ef|[[Kansai region|Kansai]] || 13 ||  || 3 || 6 || 
|-
| JP-32 || {{flag|Shimane}} || {{lang|ja|島根県}} || bgcolor=#efb179|[[Chūgoku region|Chūgoku]] || 8 ||  || 5 || 10 || 1
|-
| JP-22 || {{flag|Shizuoka}} || {{lang|ja|静岡県}} || bgcolor=#79efd8|[[Chūbu region|Chūbu]] || 23 || 6 || 5 || 12 || 
|-
| JP-09 || {{flag|Tochigi}} || {{lang|ja|栃木県}} || bgcolor=#87ef79|[[Kantō region|Kantō]] || 14 ||  || 5 || 12 || 
|-
| JP-36 || {{flag|Tokushima}} || {{lang|ja|徳島県}} || bgcolor=#cc79ef|[[Shikoku]] || 8 ||  || 8 || 15 || 1
|-
| JP-13 || {{flag|Tōkyō}} || {{lang|ja|東京都}} || bgcolor=#87ef79|[[Kantō region|Kantō]] || [[Western Tokyo|26]] ([[Special wards of Tokyo|23]]) ||  || [[Western Tokyo|1]] || [[Western Tokyo|5]] || [[Western Tokyo|8]]
|-
| JP-31 || {{flag|Tottori}} || {{lang|ja|鳥取県}} || bgcolor=#efb179|[[Chūgoku region|Chūgoku]] || 4 ||  || 5 || 14 || 1
|-
| JP-16 || {{flag|Toyama}} || {{lang|ja|富山県}} || bgcolor=#79efd8|[[Chūbu region|Chūbu]] || 10 ||  || 2 || 4 || 1
|-
| JP-30 || {{flag|Wakayama}} || {{lang|ja|和歌山県}} ||  bgcolor=#9579ef|[[Kansai region|Kansai]] || 9 ||  || 6 || 20 || 1
|-
| JP-06 || {{flag|Yamagata}} || {{lang|ja|山形県}} || bgcolor=#efe979|[[Tōhoku region|Tōhoku]]|| 13 ||  || 8 || 19 || 3
|-
| JP-35 || {{flag|Yamaguchi}} || {{lang|ja|山口県}} || bgcolor=#efb179|[[Chūgoku region|Chūgoku]] || 13 ||  || 4 || 6 || 
|-
| JP-19 || {{flag|Yamanashi}} || {{lang|ja|山梨県}} || bgcolor=#79efd8|[[Chūbu region|Chūbu]] || 13 ||  || 5 || 8 || 6
|-
! colspan=4|Total
! 792 (23)
! 175
! 307
! 743
! 183
|}

==See also==
* [[Decentralisation in Japan]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==

{{Asia topic|Administrative divisions of}}

[[Category:Subdivisions of Japan| ]]
[[Category:Administrative divisions in Asia|Japan]]
[[Category:Lists of subdivisions of Japan]]