The current capital of Japan is

Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and List of cities in Japan, largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, ...

."About Japan"
The Government of Japan. Retrieved 9 March 2022."Japan - The World Factbook"
CIA. Retrieved 9 March 2022."Japan country profile"
BBC News. 9 September 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2015. In the course of history, the national capital has been in many locations other than Tokyo.

History

Traditionally, the home of the

Emperor An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereignty, sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), ...

is considered the capital. From 794 through 1868, the Emperor lived in Heian-kyō, modern-day

Kyoto Kyoto (; Japanese language, Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in Japan. Located in the Kansai region on the island of Honshu, Kyoto forms a part of the Keihanshin, Keihanshin metropolitan area along wi ...

. After 1868, the seat of the

Government of Japan The Government of Japan consists of legislative, executive and judiciary branches and is based on popular sovereignty. The Government runs under the framework established by the Constitution of Japan, adopted in 1947. It is a unitary stat ...

and the location of the Emperor's home was moved to Edo, which it renamed Tokyo. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)
"Tokyo"
''Japan Encyclopedia'', pp. 981–982. In 1941, the

Ministry of Education An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Department of Education, and Ministry of Pub ...

published the .国会等の移転ホームページ – 国土交通省
Mlit.go.jp. Retrieved on 2011-04-29.

Modern law

While no laws have designated Tokyo as the Japanese capital, many laws have defined a that incorporates Tokyo. Article 2 of the of 1956 states: "In this Act, the term 'capital area' shall denote a broad region comprising both the territory of the

Tokyo Metropolis Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...

as well as outlying regions designated by cabinet order." This implies that the government has designated Tokyo as the capital of Japan, although (again) it is not explicitly stated, and the definition of the "capital area" is purposely restricted to the terms of that specific law. Other laws referring to this "capital area" include the and the . This term for capital was never used to refer to Kyoto. Indeed, ''shuto'' came into use during the 1860s as a gloss of the English term "capital". The

published a book called "History of the Restoration" in 1941. This book referred to without talking about . A contemporary history textbook states that the

Meiji government The was the government that was formed by politicians of the Satsuma Domain and Chōshū Domain in the 1860s. The Meiji government was the early government of the Empire of Japan. Politicians of the Meiji government were known as the Meiji o ...

"moved the capital (''shuto'') from Kyoto to Tokyo" without using the ''sento'' term. As of 2007, there is a movement to transfer the government functions of the capital from Tokyo while retaining Tokyo as the ''de facto'' capital, with the Gifu-Aichi region, the Mie-Kio region and other regions submitting bids for a ''de jure'' capital. Officially, the relocation is referred to as "capital ''functions'' relocation" instead of "capital relocation", or as "relocation of the

Diet Diet may refer to: Food * Diet (nutrition), the sum of the food consumed by an organism or group * Dieting, the deliberate selection of food to control body weight or nutrient intake ** Diet food, foods that aid in creating a diet for weight loss ...

and other organizations". In 2017, the

decided to move the Agency for Cultural Affairs to Kyoto.

List of capitals

Legendary

This list of legendary capitals of Japan begins with the reign of

Emperor Jimmu was the legendary first emperor of Japan according to the '' Nihon Shoki'' and ''Kojiki''. His ascension is traditionally dated as 660 BC.Kelly, Charles F"Kofun Culture"Kashihara, Yamato at the foot of

Mount Unebi is a mountain in the city of Kashihara, in the central-western part Nara Prefecture, Japan. Together with Mount Amanokagu and Mount Miminashi, it belongs to the so-called " Yamato Sanzan", in which it is the highest. At the foot of the mounta ...

during reign of

Emperor Suizei , also known as , was the second legendary emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession. Very little is known about this Emperor due to a lack of material available for further verification and study. Suizei is known as a "l ...

Ponsonby-Fane, p. 2. # Katashiha, Kawachi during the reign of

Emperor Annei , also known as was the third legendary emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Very little is known about this Emperor due to a lack of material available for further verification and study. Annei is known as a "leg ...

# Karu, Yamato during reign of

Emperor Itoku , also known as was the fourth legendary Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Very little is known about this emperor due to a lack of material available for further verification and study. Itoku is known as a "le ...

. # Waki-no-kami, Yamato during the reign of

Emperor Kōshō , also known as was the fifth legendary emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Very little is known about this Emperor due to a lack of material available for further verification and study. Kōshō is known as a "l ...

Ponsonby-Fane, p. 3. # Muro, Yamato during reign of

Emperor Kōan , also known as was the sixth legendary emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Very little is known about this Emperor due to a lack of material available for further verification and study. Kōan is known as a "l ...

# Kuruda, Yamato during the reign of

Emperor Kōrei , also known as was the seventh legendary emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Very little is known about this Emperor due to a lack of material available for further verification and study. Kōrei is known as a ...

# Karu, Yamato during reign of

Emperor Kōgen , also known as was the eighth legendary emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Very little is known about this Emperor due to a lack of material available for further verification and study. Kōgen is known as a "l ...

# Izakaha, Yamato during reign of

Emperor Kaika , also known as in the ''Kojiki'', and in the '' Nihon Shoki'' was the ninth legendary emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Very little is known about this Emperor due to a lack of material available for further v ...

# Shika, Yamato (Palace of ''Mizugaki'') during reign of

Emperor Sujin , also known as in the ''Kojiki'', and or in the '' Nihon Shoki'' was the tenth Emperor of Japan. While Sujin is the first emperor whose existence historians widely accept, he is still referred to as a "legendary emperor" due to a lack of info ...

# Shika, Yamato (Palace of ''Tamagaki'') during reign of

Emperor Suinin , also known as was the 11th legendary Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Less is known about ''Suinin'' than his father, and likewise he is also considered to be a "legendary emperor". Both the ''Kojiki'', and ...

# Makimuko, Yamato (Palace of ''Hishiro'') during reign of

Emperor Keikō , also known as and , was the 12th legendary Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Both the ''Kojiki'', and the ''Nihon Shoki'' (collectively known as the ''Kiki'') record events that took place during Keikō's all ...

# Shiga, Ōmi (Palace of ''Takaanaho'') during reign of

Emperor Seimu , also known as , was the 13th legendary Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Both the ''Kojiki'', and the ''Nihon Shoki'' (collectively known as the ''Kiki'') record events that took place during Seimu's alleged l ...

Ponsonby-Fane, p. 7. #

Ando, Nara is a town located in Ikoma District, Nara Prefecture, Japan. As of April 1, 2017, the town has an estimated population of 7,523 and 3,395 households. The density is 1700 persons per km², and the total area is 4.33 km². Geography Lo ...

(Palace of ''Toyoura'') and Kashiki on the island of Kyushu during reign of

Emperor Chūai , also known as was the 14th legendary Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Both the ''Kojiki'', and the ''Nihon Shoki'' (collectively known as the ''Kiki'') record events that took place during Chūai's alleged li ...

Historical

This list of capitals includes the Imperial palaces names in parentheses. '' Kofun period'' * Karushima, Yamato (Palace of ''Akira''), reign of Emperor Ōjin * Naniwa, Settsu (Palace of ''Takatsu''), reign of Emperor Nintoku * Iware, Yamato (Palace of ''Wakasakura''), reign of

Emperor Richū , also known as was the 17th legendary Emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 履中天皇 (17) retrieved 2013-8-28. according to the traditional order of succession. No firm dates can be assigned to this Emperor's life or ...

* Tajihi, Kawachi (Palace of ''Shibakaki''), reign of

Emperor Hanzei was the 18th legendary Emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 反正天皇 (18) retrieved 2013-8-28. according to the traditional order of succession. Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan,'' p. 38. ...

コトバンク「反正天皇」
/ref> *

Asuka, Yamato was the Imperial capital of Japan during the Asuka period (538 – 710 AD), which takes its name from this place. It is located in the present-day village of Asuka, Nara Prefecture. Etymology Some of the many theories of what the place was nam ...

(Palace of ''Tohotsu''), reign of

Emperor Ingyō was the 19th legendary Emperor of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 允恭天皇 (19) retrieved 2013-8-28. according to the traditional order of succession. No firm dates can be assigned to this Emperor's life or reign, but he is ...

* Isonokami, Yamato (Palace of ''Anaho''), reign of

Emperor Ankō (401 — 24 September 456) was the 20th legendary Emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 安康天皇 (20) retrieved 2013-8-28. according to the traditional order of succession. Emperor Ankō is the earliest generally agreed u ...

Sakurai, Nara is a city located in Nara Prefecture, Japan. As of March 31, 2017, the city has an estimated population of 58,386, and 24,629 households. The population density is , and the total area is . History Sakurai was briefly the capital of Japan during ...

(''Hatsuse no Asakura'' Palace), 457–479Koch, W. (1904)
''Japan; Geschichte nach japanischen Quellen und ethnographische Skizzen. Mit einem Stammbaum des Kaisers von Japan,'' p. 13
in reign of

Emperor Yūryaku (418 - 8 September 479) was the 21st legendary Emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 雄略天皇 (21) retrieved 2013-8-28. according to the traditional order of succession. He is remembered as a patron of sericulture.Nippon ...

(''Iware no Mikakuri'' Palace), 480–484 in reign of Emperor SeineiPonsonby-Fane, p. 14; excerpt, "Mikaguri Palace" *

(''Chikatsu-Asuka-Yatsuri'' Palace), 485–487 in reign of

Emperor Kenzō (450 — 2 June 487) was the 23rd legendary Emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 顕宗天皇 (23) retrieved 2013-8-29. according to the traditional order of succession. No firm dates can be assigned to this Emperor's lif ...

Tenri, Nara is a city located in Nara Prefecture, Japan. The modern city was founded on April 1, 1954, and is named after the Japanese new religion Tenrikyo, which has its headquarters in the city. As of April 1, 2015, the city has an estimated population ...

(''Isonokami Hirotaka'' Palace), 488–498 in reign of

Emperor Ninken (449 — 9 September 498) was the 24th legendary Emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 仁賢天皇 (24) retrieved 2013-8-30. according to the traditional order of succession. No firm dates can be assigned to this Emperor's ...

Ponsonby-Fane, p. 15. *

(''Nimiki'' Palace), 499–506 in reign of

Emperor Buretsu (489 — 7 January 507) was the 25th legendary Emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 武烈天皇 (25)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. No firm dates can be assigned to this Emperor's life or reign, but ...

Hirakata, Osaka 260px, Hirakata Park is a city in northeastern Osaka Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 397,681 in 183075 households and a population density of 6100 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Geography Hirakat ...

(''Kusuba'' Palace), 507–511 *

Kyōtanabe, Kyoto is a city located in the southern part of Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. As of October 1, 2020 the city has an estimated population of 73,753 and a population density of 1,718 persons per km². The total area is 42.92 km². History Kyōtanabe wa ...

(''Tsutsuki'' Palace), 511–518 in reign of

Emperor Keitai (died 10 March 531) was the 26th legendary emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 継体天皇 (26)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he ...

* Nagaoka-kyō (''Otokuni'' Palace), 518–526 in reign of Keitai *

(''Iware no Tamaho'' Palace), 526–532 in reign of Keitai *

Kashihara, Nara is a city located in Nara Prefecture, Japan. , the city has an estimated population of 124,829, with 52,034 households. Population density is around 3,176.79 persons per km2, and the total area is 39.52 km2. The city was founded on Februa ...

(''Magari no Kanahashi'' Palace), 532–535 in reign of

Emperor Ankan (466 — 25 January 536) was the 27th legendary Emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 安閑天皇 (27)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. No firm dates can be assigned to this Emperor's life or reign, bu ...

Ponsonby-Fane, p. 17; except, "Palace of Kanahashi at Magari, Yamato" *

(''Hinokuma no Iorino'' Palace), 535–539 in reign of

Emperor Senka (467 — 15 March 539) was the 28th legendary Emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 宣化天皇 (28)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. No firm dates can be assigned to this Emperor's life or reign, but ...

Asuka period The was a period in the history of Japan lasting from 538 to 710 (or 592 to 645), although its beginning could be said to overlap with the preceding Kofun period. The Yamato polity evolved greatly during the Asuka period, which is named after ...

( ''Shikishima no Kanasashi'' Palace), 540–571 in reign of Emperor Kinmei *

Kōryō, Nara is a town located in Kitakatsuragi District, Nara Prefecture, Japan. It served as Japan's temporary capital from 640-642 AD, the Kudara Palace. ''Kudara'' is a reference to the Korean kingdom of Baekje and "Koryo" is a reference to Korea. H ...

(

Kudara no Ohi Palace Kudara may refer to: * Kudara, the Japanese name for Baekje, an old Korean Kingdom * Kudara, Republic of Buryatia, a rural locality in Kabansky District, Republic of Buryatia, Russia * Kudara no Konikishi, a Japanese clan * Kudara Kannon, a Buddhis ...

), 572–575 *

(''Osata no Sakitama'' Palace or ''Osada no Miya''), 572–585 in reign of Emperor Bidatsu *

Shiki District, Nara is a district located in Nara Prefecture, Japan. As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 50,009 and a density Density (volumetric mass density or specific mass) is the substance's mass per unit of volume. The symbol most ...

(''Iwareikebe no Namitsuki'' Palace), 585–587 in the reign of

Emperor Yōmei was the 31st Emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 用明天皇 (31)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Yōmei's reign spanned the years from 585 until his death in 587. Traditional narrative He was cal ...

Ponsonby-Fane, p. 19. *

(''Kurahashi no Shibagaki'' Palace), 587–592 in the reign of

Emperor Sushun was the 32nd Emperor of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'')崇峻天皇 (32)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Sushun's reign spanned the years from 587 through 592. Traditional narrative Before his ascension t ...

(''Toyura'' Palace or ''Toyura-no-miya''), 593–603Asuka Historical Museum
Palaces of the Asuka Period,"
1995; retrieved 2011-11-25. in the reign of

Empress Suiko (554 – 15 April 628) was the 33rd monarch of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 推古天皇 (33)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Suiko reigned from 593 until her death in 628. In the history of Japa ...

Ponsonby-Fane, p. 20. *

(''Oharida'' Palace or ''Oharida-no-miya''), 603–629 in the reign of Suiko *

(''Okamoto'' Palace or ''Oakmoto-no-miya''), 630–636 in the reign of Emperor JomeiPonsonby-Fane, p. 21. *

(''Tanaka'' Palace or ''Tanaka-no-miya''), 636–639 *

(''Umayasaka'' Palace or ''Umayasaka-no-miya'', 640 *

(''Kudara'' Palace or ''Kudara-no-miya''), 640–642 *

(''Oharida'' Palace), 642–643 *

(''Itabuki'' Palace or ''Itabuki no miya''), 643–645 in the reign of

Empress Kōgyoku , also known as , was the 35th and 37th monarch of Japan,Kunaichō 斉明天皇 (37)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Kōgyoku's reign spanned the years from 642 to 645. Her reign as Saimei encompassed 655 to 661. In other ...

Osaka is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of ...

(

Naniwa Nagara-Toyosaki Palace , is a historical palace which was located in present-day central Osaka city, Japan. The palace of this period is also sometimes referred to as the , to contrast it with the (Latter) Naniwa Palace built in the same location in 744 AD. Constructi ...

), 645–654 なにわ活性化プロジェクト (Naniwa Revialization Project)
August 24, 201; retrieved 2011-11-24. in the reign of

Emperor Kōtoku was the 36th emperor of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 孝徳天皇 (33)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. The years of his reign lasted from 645 through 654. Traditional narrative Before Kōtoku's ascen ...

Ponsonby-Fane, p. 23. *

( ''Itabuki'' Palace), 655–655 in the reign of Kōtoku *

(''Kawahara'' Palace or ''Kawahara-no-miya''), 655–655 *

(''Okamoto'' Palace or ''Nochi no Asuka-Okamoto-no-miya''), 656–660 in the reign of Emperor SaimeiPonsonby-Fane, p. 24. *

Asakura, Fukuoka is a city located in south central Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, on Kyūshū Island. The modern city of Asakura was established on March 20, 2006, from the merger of the former town of Asakura (from Asakura District), absorbing the city of Am ...

(''Asakura no Tachibana no Hironiwa'' Palace or ''Asakure no Tachibana no Hironiwa-no-miya''), 660–661 *

, (

), 661–667 * Ōtsu, Shiga (''Ōmi Ōtsu'' Palace or ''Ōmi Ōtsu-no-miya''), 667–672 in reign of

Emperor Tenji , also known as Emperor Tenchi, was the 38th emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'')天智天皇 (38)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession.Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan'', p. 52 ...

and the reign of Emperor Kōbun *

(''Kiyomihara'' Palace or ''Kiomihara-no-miya''), 672–694 in the reign of Emperor Tenmu and in the reign of

Empress Jitō was the 41st monarch of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 持統天皇 (41)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Jitō's reign spanned the years from 686 through 697.Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). In the history of ...

Ponsonby-Fane, p. 27. 210401 One-thousandth scale model of Aramashinomiyako

* Fujiwara-kyō ( ''Fujiwara'' Palace), 694–710 in the reign of

Emperor Monmu was the 42nd emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 文武天皇 (42) retrieved 2013-8-22. according to the traditional order of succession. Monmu's reign spanned the years from 697 through 707. Traditional narrative Befor ...

Nara period The of the history of Japan covers the years from CE 710 to 794. Empress Genmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō (present-day Nara). Except for a five-year period (740–745), when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the c ...

220325 One-thousandth scale model of Heijo Kyo

* Heijō-kyō (

Heijō Palace was the imperial residence in the Japanese capital city Heijō-kyō (today's Nara), during most of the Nara period. The palace, which served as the imperial residence and the administrative centre of for most of the Nara period from 710 to 794 ...

), 710–740Nussbaum
"Heijō-kyō" at p. 304
in the reigns of

Empress Genmei , also known as Empress Genmyō, was the 43rd monarch of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 元明天皇 (43) retrieved August 22, 2013. according to the traditional order of succession. Genmei's reign spanned the years 707 throu ...

Empress Genshō was the 44th monarch of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 元正天皇 (44)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Her reign spanned the years 715 through 724. Genshō was the fifth of eight women to take on the ...

,Ponsonby-Fane, p. 29. and

Emperor Shōmu was the 45th emperor of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 聖武天皇 (45)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Shōmu's reign spanned the years 724 through 749, during the Nara period. Traditional narrative ...

Kuni-kyō Kuni-kyō (恭仁京, or ''Kuni no miyako''), was the capital city of Japan between 740 and 744, whose imperial palace (恭仁宮 ''Kuni-kyū'' or ''Kuni no miya'') was built in the present-day city of Kizugawa in Kyoto Prefecture by the order of ...

( Kuni Palace), 740–744 in the reign of Shomu *

Naniwa-kyō is a historical Japanese capital city, which was located in present-day central Osaka city is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most po ...

(), 744Nussbaum
"Naniwa" at p. 697
* Naniwa-kyō,

Shigaraki Palace The was an imperial palace built by Emperor Shōmu, initially as a villa, later named by himself as the capital of Japan in 744 AD. It was located in Kōka District of Ōmi Province in what is now part of the city of Kōka, Shiga Prefecture, Jap ...

, 744–745 * Heijō-kyō (Heijō Palace), 745–784 * Nagaoka-kyō (

Nagaoka Palace Nagaoka may refer to: Places * Nagaoka, Niigata is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It is the second largest city in the prefecture, after the capital city of Niigata. , the city had an estimated population of 264,611 in 109,283 ho ...

), 784–794 in the reign of

Emperor Kanmu , or Kammu, was the 50th emperor of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 桓武天皇 (50) retrieved 2013-8-22. according to the traditional order of succession. Kanmu reigned from 781 to 806, and it was during his reign that the sco ...

Ponsonby-Fane, p. 34.

Heian period The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kanmu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means "peace" in Japanese ...

* Heian-kyō (

Heian Palace The was the original imperial palace of (present-day Kyoto), the capital of Japan, from 794 to 1227. The palace, which served as the imperial residence and the administrative centre for most of the Heian period (from 794 to 1185), was located ...

), 794–1180Nussbaum
"Heian-kyō" at pp. 303–304
in the reign of Kammu and others * Fukuhara Palace, 1180 in the reign of

Emperor Antoku was the 81st emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1180 through 1185. During this time, the Imperial family was involved in a bitter struggle between warring clans. Minamoto no Yo ...

Medieval Japan and Early modern period (see also: History of Japan) * Heian-kyō or

Kyōto Kyoto (; Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in Japan. Located in the Kansai region on the island of Honshu, Kyoto forms a part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kobe. , the c ...

(Heian Palace), 1180–1868 *

Yoshino Yoshino may refer to: * Yoshino cherry, another name for ''Prunus × yedoensis'', a flowering cherry tree * Japanese cruiser Yoshino, Japanese cruiser ''Yoshino'', a protected cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy Places * Yoshino, Nara, a town ...

(

Nanboku-chō period The Nanboku-chō period (南北朝時代, ''Nanboku-chō jidai'', "North and South court period", also known as the Northern and Southern Courts period), spanning from 1336 to 1392, was a period that occurred during the formative years of the Mur ...

), 1336–1392 Modern Japan (see also: History of Japan) *

Tōkyō Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...

( ''Kōkyo''), 1868–present

Historical capitals

Hiraizumi is a town located in Nishiiwai District, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 7,408 and a population density of in 2,616 households. The total area of the town was . It is noted for the Historic Monuments and Sit ...

was the capital of totally independent Northern Fujiwara polity (Ōshū) based in

Tōhoku region The , Northeast region, or consists of the northeastern portion of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. This traditional region consists of six prefectures (''ken''): Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi, and Yamagata. Tōhoku reta ...

, having defeated Emishi tribes. This polity existed as Kyoto's internal politics prevented Kyoto's authority from 1100 to 1189. *

Hakodate is a city and port located in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital city of Oshima Subprefecture. As of July 31, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 279,851 with 143,221 households, and a population density of 412.8 ...

was the capital of the short lived

Republic of Ezo The was a short-lived separatist state established in 1869 on the island of Ezo, now Hokkaido, by a part of the former military of the Tokugawa shogunate at the end of the ''Bakumatsu'' period in Japan. It was the first government to attempt t ...

(1869) * Shuri was the capital of

Ryukyu Kingdom The Ryukyu Kingdom, Middle Chinese: , , Classical Chinese: (), Historical English names: ''Lew Chew'', ''Lewchew'', ''Luchu'', and ''Loochoo'', Historical French name: ''Liou-tchou'', Historical Dutch name: ''Lioe-kioe'' was a kingdom in the ...

(1429–1879) and

Urasoe is a city located in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The neighboring municipalities are Naha to the south, Ginowan to the north, and Nishihara to the east. As of November 2012, the city has an estimated population of 113,718 and a population den ...

was capital of Chuzan from at least 1350, which predated the Ryukyu Kingdom.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Capital Of Japan Japan Japan Geographic history of Japan