Life in Different Cities: Tokyo, Japan

"Tokyo is the capital of Japan. Having suffered numerous natural and military disasters, Tokyo has persevered to become a globally important economic center. As one of the world's largest metropolitan areas, Tokyo has set world records for population growth and industrial development ... "

This link will take you to Tokyo's local government site. Explore this site to access information about the city.

Learn more about how Tokyo developed into a megacity, access maps, statistics and data related to the population and its geography.

"Walk through Japan’s energetic urban heart and see a vibrant, creative culture that bounced back from war and natural disaster ... "

"Tokyo, with a population of 38 million (2017) has been the world’s largest mega city for the past sixty years in terms of economic scale and population agglomeration ... "

" ... Car numbers on even a major street seem far less noticeable than in Canberra, let alone Sydney, Melbourne or other global megacities of a mere 20 million or so. Instead, the limited traffic flows smoothly on largely unimpeded roads with nary a honk to be heard. There's no queuing across intersections, no cutting in, no speeding, virtually no sound ... "

"In 2018, nearly seven percent of the global population lived in megacities, or cities with more than ten million residents. As global population continues to grow and people continue to migrate to urban areas, megacities’ significance will only increase in the coming decades ... "

"Any good dystopian writer knows that opportunity tends not to be evenly distributed. At the heart of most cities is a glittering epicenter, accessible only to those who can afford it. How far you live from that epicenter often has an inverse relationship with opportunity ... "

"Unlike many megacities, the world’s largest metropolitan area has largely stopped growing, either in land or population ... "

"Urban development has significantly changed the landscape of societies. At present, majority of the world’s population resides in cities. The case of Tokyo is of interest because it is one of the biggest megacities in the world ... "