Tokyo (prefecture)

Tokyo Metropolis (東京都 Tōkyō-to) comprises the city of Tokyo, most of the plain of Kanto, and a chain of islands that extends thousands of kilometers south.

This article is about the prefecture of Japan. For the 23 special wards that foreigners (and many Japanese) think of as the "city of Tokyo", see Tokyo.

Cities

Equal in status to the other 46 prefectures, the whole of Tokyo Metropolis is designated the capital of Japan. However, when people think of "Tokyo", they're generally thinking of:

  • 🌍 Tokyo 23 special wards that form the core of the sprawling metropolitan area

Tama Region

The following are all suburban cities outside the city core, which are collectively known as the Tama Region (多摩地域 Tama-chiiki).

  • 🌍 Chofu home to Jindaiji Temple and the Jindai Botanical Gardens
  • 🌍 Fuchu Many shrines, temples, historical sites, and relics. Ōkunitama shrine, Tama. river, Mt. Sengen, Tokyo horse race course, Suntory Brewery's Musashino plant, Wholesale market, Fuchu city museum park
  • 🌍 Hachioji offering Mt. Takao, one of best little escapes from Tokyo
  • 🌍 Inagi
  • 🌍 Kodaira
  • 🌍 Koganei Koganei Park, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
  • 🌍 Kokubunji
  • 🌍 Komae
  • 🌍 Kunitachi
  • 🌍 Machida a bustling youthful shopping town and quiet greenbelt park
  • 🌍 Mitaka home of famed animator Hayao Miyazaki's "Mitaka Ghibli Forest Museum"
  • 🌍 Musashino including Kichijoji, an arty suburb known for the cherry blossoms of Inokashira Park
  • 🌍 Nishitokyo
  • 🌍 Ome
  • 🌍 Okutama a picturesque mountain town at the western end of the prefecture
  • 🌍 Tachikawa
  • 🌍 Tama the self-proclaimed "Home of Hello Kitty" and her theme park, Sanrio Puroland

Islands

Tokyo prefecture also includes a large number of small islands, some over 1,000 km from the mainland. They are collectively called the Tōsho Region (島嶼地域 Tōsho-chiiki).

  • Izu Islands a quick getaway from Tokyo, featuring volcanic hot springs and wild dolphins
  • Ogasawara Islands if you really want to get away from it all (and have time to spare)

Understand

Get in

Tama region

  • JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku or Tokyo to most places in the Tama region including: Kichijoji, Kokubunji, Tachikawa, Hachioji, and Okutama
  • Private Keio line to Southern Tama region to: Chofu, Fuchu, Tama zoo park, Hachioji, and Mt. Takao
  • From Shinjuku Station and Yoyogi-Uehara Station on the Odakyu Line, go to Machida.

By plane

  • All Nippon Airways (ANA). Daily flights from Haneda Airport to Oshima (35 min ¥13,170), Miyakejima (45 min ¥13,170) and Hachijojima (50 min ¥19,870).
  • New Central AirService. Three flights a day from Chofu Airport to Oshima (35 min ¥9500) , Kozushima (45 min ¥15,870), four flights a day to Niijima (40 min ¥13,700). To get Chofu Airport, take the Keio line Local Service from Shinjuku to Nishi-Chofu.

By boat

Tokyo - Yokohama - Oshima - Toshima - Niijima - Shikinejima - Kozushima
Tokyo - Yokohama - Miyakejima - Mikurashima - Hachijojima
Atami - Oshima - Toshima - Niijima - Shikinejima - Kozushima
Tokyo - Chichijima (Ogasawara islands)

See

Eat

The Michelin Guide gave more stars to Tokyo dining establishments than any other city in Japan.

Go next

This article is issued from Wikivoyage. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.