Administrative divisions

While there exist eight commonly defined regions of Japan, administratively Japan consists of forty-seven prefectures, each overseen by an elected governor, legislature and administrative bureaucracy. The former city of Tokyo is further divided into twenty-three special wards, each with the same powers as cities.

The nation is currently undergoing administrative reorganization by merging many of the cities, towns and villages with each other. This process will reduce the number of sub-prefecture administrative regions and is expected to cut administrative costs.[34]

Japan has dozens of major cities, which play an important role in Japan's culture, heritage and economy. Those in the list below of the ten most populous are all prefectural capitals and Government Ordinance Cities, except where indicated:

City, Prefecture, Population[35]
1 Tokyoa, Tokyo, 8,535,792
2 Yokohama, Kanagawa, 3,602,758
3 Osaka, Osaka, 2,635,420
4 Nagoya, Aichi, 2,223,148
5 Sapporo, Hokkaidō, 1,888,953
6 Kobe, Hyōgo, 1,528,687
7 Kyoto, Kyoto, 1,472,511
8 Fukuoka, Fukuoka, 1,414,417
9 Kawasakib, Kanagawa, 1,342,262
10 Saitama, Saitama, 1,182,744

a 23 municipalities. Also capital of Japan.
b Government Ordinance City only.