Tokyo Districts

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Huge and varied in its geography, with over 2,000 square kilometers to explore, Tokyo prefecture (東京都 Tōkyō-to) spans not just the city, but rugged mountains to the west and subtropical islands to the south. This article concentrates on the 23 central wards (区 ku) near the bay, while the western cities and the islands are covered in a separate article.

Map of Tokyo, Yamanote line in Green, Chuo line in Orange

The geography of central Tokyo is defined by the JR Yamanote Line (see Getting Around). The center of Tokyo — the former area reserved for the Shogun and his samurai — lies within the loop, while the Edo-era downtown (下町 shitamachi) is to the north and east. Sprawling around in all directions and blending seamlessly into Yokohama, Kawasaki and Chiba are Tokyo's suburbs.

Tokyo Photos

• Marunouchi, 1 km (1 mile)
• Nihombashi-Edobashi, 1 km (1 mile)