Capital of Japan

{{short description|Historical aspects of the capital cities of Japan}} The '''capital of Japan''' is Tokyo.<!-- Please see Talk page before editing. --><ref name=JapanGov>[https://www.japan.go.jp/japan/ "About Japan"]. The Government of Japan. Retrieved 9 March 2022.</ref><ref name=CIA>[https://web.archive.org/web/20260118105509/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/japan/ "Japan - The World Factbook"]. CIA. Retrieved 9 March 2022.</ref><ref name=BBC>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-14918801 "Japan country profile"]. BBC News. 9 September 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2015.</ref> Throughout history, the national capital of Japan has been in locations other than Tokyo. The oldest capital is Nara.

==Legal status== {{main|Law of Japan}} While no laws have designated Tokyo as the Japanese capital, many laws have defined a {{Nihongo|"capital area"|首都圏|shuto-ken}} that incorporates Tokyo. Article 2 of the {{Nihongo|Metropolitan Area Readjustment Act|首都圏整備法}} of 1956 states: "In this Act, the term 'capital area' shall denote a broad region comprising both the territory of the Tokyo Metropolis 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Metropolitan Area Readjustment Act - Japanese/English - Japanese Law Translation |url=https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/737 |website=www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp |access-date=26 February 2025}}</ref>

Other laws referring to the "capital area" include the {{Nihongo|Capital Expressway Public Corporation Law|首都高速道路公団法}},<ref>{{cite web |title=法律第百三十三号（昭三四・四・一四） |url=https://www.shugiin.go.jp/internet/itdb_housei.nsf/html/houritsu/03119590414133.htm |website=www.shugiin.go.jp |access-date=26 February 2025}}</ref> the {{Nihongo|Capital Area Greenbelt Preservation Law|首都圏近郊緑地保全法}}, the {{Nihongo|Act on Arrangement of Suburban Development and Redevelopment Areas and Urban Development Areas in Metropolitan Area|首都圏の近郊整備地帯及び都市開発区域の整備に関する法律}}, the {{Nihongo|Act on State's Special Financial Measures on Arrangement of Suburban Development and Redevelopment Areas, etc. in Tokyo Metropolitan Area, Kinki Area and Chubu Area|首都圏、近畿圏及び中部圏の近郊整備地帯等の整備のための国の財政上の特別措置に関する法律}}, and the {{Nihongo|Special Measurements for Greater Tokyo Area earthquakes Law|首都直下地震対策特別措置法}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Japanese Law Translation |url=https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en |access-date=26 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=e-Gov 法令検索 |url=https://laws.e-gov.go.jp |access-date=26 February 2025}}</ref>

In February 2018, Seiji Osaka, a member of the House of Representatives, asked the government where the capital of Japan is. In response, Shinzo Abe stated that while no laws define the capital of Japan, they believed that "the capital of Japan is Tokyo is widely accepted by the people".<ref>{{cite web |title=日本の首都に関する質問主意書 |url=https://www.shugiin.go.jp/internet/itdb_shitsumon.nsf/html/shitsumon/a196048.htm |website=www.shugiin.go.jp |access-date=26 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=衆議院議員逢坂誠二君提出日本の首都に関する質問に対する答弁書 |url=https://www.shugiin.go.jp/internet/itdb_shitsumon.nsf/html/shitsumon/b196048.htm |website=www.shugiin.go.jp |access-date=26 February 2025}}</ref>

==History== Traditionally, the home of the Emperor is considered the capital. From 794 through 1868, the Emperor lived in Heian-kyō, modern-day Kyoto.<ref>Nussbaum, [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA585 "Kyōto" at pp. 585-587].</ref><ref>Wendy, Frey. History Alive!: The Medieval World and beyond. Palo Alto, CA: Teacher's Curriculum Institute, 2005.</ref> After 1868, the seat of the Government of Japan and the location of the Emperor's home was moved to Edo, which it renamed Tokyo.<ref name="tokyo">Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA981 "Tokyo"], ''Japan Encyclopedia'', pp. 981–982.</ref> 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".

In 1941, the Ministry of Education published the {{Nihongo|"designation of Tokyo as capital"|東京奠都|Tōkyō-tento}}.<ref name="国会等の移転ホームページ – 国土交通省">[http://www.mlit.go.jp/kokudokeikaku/iten/index.html 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.</ref> The Ministry of Education published a book called "History of the Restoration" in 1941. This book referred to {{Nihongo|"designating Tokyo as capital"|東京奠都|Tōkyō-tento}} without talking about {{Nihongo|"relocating the capital to Tokyo"|東京遷都|Tōkyō-sento}}. A contemporary history textbook states that the Meiji government "moved the capital (''shuto'') from Kyoto to Tokyo" without using the ''sento'' term.<ref name="国会等の移転ホームページ – 国土交通省"/>

The proposals to move the capital were conceptualized in 1979, and 16 years later, in 1995, the parliament voted to move the capital away from Tokyo to a place no more than 180 miles and 40 minutes away from the airport, which was planned to be completed in 2010.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 February 1979 |title=Tokyo: 27 million into one doesn't go |work=The Montreal Gazette |pages=34}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=16 December 1995 |title=Building a new capital city |work=Manila Standard |pages=25B}}</ref> In 1999, the following sites were proposed: Tochigi and Fukushima prefectures, north of Tokyo; the second candidate is Gifu and Aichi prefectures, south of Tokyo; and the panel recommended the third region near the ancient capitals, Nara, Kyoto, and Shiga prefectures.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 28, 1999 |title=Will Japan move capital from crowded Tokyo? |work=WIlmington Morning Star |pages=5A}}</ref> These plans did not include moving the Imperial Palace, so they were not seen as moving the capital city but rather transferring the government functions. Ryutaro Hashimoto explicitly denied the possibility of moving the capital city (i.e. moving the Imperial Palace) in 1996.<ref>{{Cite journal |language=ka |author=土岐寛 |url=http://opac.daito.ac.jp/repo/repository/daito/2670/ |title=首都機能移転問題の軌跡と展望 |date=1995-03-30 |publisher=大東文化大学 |journal=大東法学 |volume=24 |number=2 |id=CRID 1050845762779791872 <!-- |pages=四三-六九 (commented out as unsuported--> |page=54}}{{harv |土岐寛 |1995 |p=54 |loc=Korea}}</ref><ref>[https://www.mlit.go.jp/kokudokeikaku/iten/relocation/qa/qa_step1_02.html 国会等の移転は首都移転と違うのか] 国土交通省・国会等の移転ホームページ</ref> The plans for moving were not made later on.

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 and other organizations".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jpc-sed.or.jp/eng/committee/committee06.html |title=Shift of Capital from Tokyo Committee |access-date=2007-10-14 |publisher=Japan Productivity Center for Socio-Economic Development |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113931/http://www.jpc-sed.or.jp/eng/committee/committee06.html |archive-date = August 25, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/GOVERNOR/SPEECH/2003/0301/2.htm |title=Policy Speech by Governor of Tokyo, Shintaro Ishihara at the First Regular Session of the Metropolitan Assembly, 2003 |access-date=2007-10-17 |publisher=Tokyo Metropolitan Government. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071103052926/http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/GOVERNOR/SPEECH/2003/0301/2.htm |archive-date=2007-11-03 }}</ref>

In 2023, the Government of Japan moved the Agency for Cultural Affairs to Kyoto. This was the first time that a central government office has been relocated outside Tokyo since Tokyo was designated as the capital.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20230327-99865/ |title=After Relocation to Kyoto, Cultural Affairs Agency Starts Operations |newspaper=The Japan News |date=March 27, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite speech |title=5th meeting of the Agency for Cultural Affairs Relocation Council |author=Hiroshi Kajiyama |author-link=Hiroshi Kajiyama (politician) |date=August 7, 2018 |location=MEXT |quote=文化首都とも言われる京都 |language=ja |url=http://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/activity/detail/2018/20180807.htm |access-date=August 11, 2018 |archive-date=August 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811131405/http://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/activity/detail/2018/20180807.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==List of capitals==

===Legendary=== This list of legendary capitals of Japan begins with the reign of Emperor Jimmu. The names of the Imperial palaces are in parentheses: {{expand list|date=August 2013}} # Kashihara, Yamato at the foot of Mount Unebi during reign of Emperor Jimmu<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1915). ''The Imperial Family of Japan'', p. 1.</ref> # Kazuraki, Yamato during reign of Emperor Suizei<ref name="ponsonby2">Ponsonby-Fane, p. 2.</ref> # Katashiha, Kawachi during the reign of Emperor Annei<ref name="ponsonby2"/> # Karu, Yamato during reign of Emperor Itoku.<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, pp. 2-3.</ref> # Waki-no-kami, Yamato during the reign of Emperor Kōshō<ref name="ponsonby3">Ponsonby-Fane, p. 3.</ref> # Muro, Yamato during reign of Emperor Kōan<ref name="ponsonby3"/> # Kuruda, Yamato during the reign of Emperor Kōrei<ref name="ponsonby3"/> # Karu, Yamato during reign of Emperor Kōgen<ref name="ponsonby3"/> # Izakaha, Yamato during reign of Emperor Kaika<ref name="ponsonby3"/> # Shika, Yamato (Palace of ''Mizugaki'') during reign of Emperor Sujin<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, p. 4.</ref> # Shika, Yamato (Palace of ''Tamagaki'') during reign of Emperor Suinin<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, p. 5.</ref> # Makimuko, Yamato (Palace of ''Hishiro'') during reign of Emperor Keikō<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, p. 6.</ref> # Shiga, Ōmi (Palace of ''Takaanaho'') during reign of Emperor Seimu<ref name="ponsonby7">Ponsonby-Fane, p. 7.</ref> # Ando, Nara (Palace of ''Toyoura'') and Kashiki on the island of Kyushu during reign of Emperor Chūai<ref name="ponsonby7"/>

===Historical=== This list of capitals includes the Imperial palaces names in parentheses. {{expand list|date=August 2013}}

'''Kofun period''' * Karushima, Yamato (Palace of ''Akira''), reign of Emperor Ōjin<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, p. 8.</ref> * Naniwa, Settsu (Palace of ''Takatsu''), reign of Emperor Nintoku<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, p. 9.</ref> * Iware, Yamato (Palace of ''Wakasakura''), reign of Emperor Richū<ref>[https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%B1%A5%E4%B8%AD%E5%A4%A9%E7%9A%87-148908 コトバンク「履中天皇」]</ref> * Tajihi, Kawachi (Palace of ''Shibakaki''), reign of Emperor Hanzei<ref name="ponsonby11">[https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%8F%8D%E6%AD%A3%E5%A4%A9%E7%9A%87-118192 コトバンク「反正天皇」]</ref> * Asuka, Yamato (Palace of ''Tohotsu''), reign of Emperor Ingyō<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, p. 10.</ref> * Isonokami, Yamato (Palace of ''Anaho''), reign of Emperor Ankō<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, p. 12.</ref> * Sakurai, Nara (''Hatsuse no Asakura'' Palace), 457–479<ref name="koch">Koch, W. (1904). [https://books.google.com/books?id=LZkCAAAAMAAJ&dq=Hirotaka++no+miya&pg=PA13 ''Japan; Geschichte nach japanischen Quellen und ethnographische Skizzen. Mit einem Stammbaum des Kaisers von Japan,'' p. 13].</ref> in reign of Emperor Yūryaku<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, p. 13.</ref> * Sakurai, Nara (''Iware no Mikakuri'' Palace), 480–484<ref name="koch"/> in reign of Emperor Seinei<ref name="ponsonby14">Ponsonby-Fane, p. 14; excerpt, "Mikaguri Palace"</ref> * Asuka, Yamato (''Chikatsu-Asuka-Yatsuri'' Palace), 485–487<ref>Nussbaum, [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA59 "Asuka" at p. 59].</ref> in reign of Emperor Kenzō<ref name="ponsonby14"/> * Tenri, Nara (''Isonokami Hirotaka'' Palace), 488–498<ref name="koch"/> in reign of Emperor Ninken<ref name="ponsonby15">Ponsonby-Fane, p. 15.</ref> * Sakurai, Nara (''Nimiki'' Palace), 499–506 in reign of Emperor Buretsu<ref name="ponsonby15"/> [[File:Kusuba-no-Miya.jpg|thumb|right|Traditional site of Kusuba-no-Miya Palace in Osaka Prefecture ]] * Hirakata, Osaka (''Kusuba'' Palace), 507–511{{citation needed|date=February 2013}}<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.city.hirakata.osaka.jp/0000000636.html|title = 枚方八景 樟葉宮跡の杜|language = ja|access-date = 2018-06-22}}</ref> * Kyōtanabe, Kyoto (''Tsutsuki'' Palace), 511–518 in reign of Emperor Keitai<ref name="koch"/><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://kyotana.be/object/detail/59|title = 筒城宮伝承地（Tsutsuki-no-miya denshochi）|language = ja|access-date = 2018-06-22}}</ref> * Nagaoka-kyō (''Otokuni'' Palace), 518–526 in reign of Keitai<ref name="koch"/><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.city.nagaokakyo.lg.jp/0000007305.html|title = 弟国宮（Otokuni-no-miya）遷都1500年記念事業|language = ja|access-date=2018-06-22}}</ref> * Sakurai, Nara (''Iware no Tamaho'' Palace), 526–532<ref name="koch"/> in reign of Keitai<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, p. 16.</ref> * Kashihara, Nara (''Magari no Kanahashi'' Palace), 532–535<ref name="koch"/> in reign of Emperor Ankan<ref name="ponsonby17">Ponsonby-Fane, p. 17; except, "Palace of Kanahashi at Magari, Yamato"</ref> * Sakurai, Nara (''Hinokuma no Iorino'' Palace), 535–539<ref name="koch"/> in reign of Emperor Senka<ref name="ponsonby17"/>

'''Asuka period''' * Asuka, Yamato (''Shikishima no Kanasashi'' Palace), 540–571<ref name="koch"/> in reign of Emperor Kinmei<ref name="ponsonby17"/> * Kōryō, Nara (Kudara no Ohi Palace), 572–575 {{citation needed|date=February 2013}} * Sakurai, Nara (''Osata no Sakitama'' Palace or ''Osada no Miya''), 572–585<ref>Brown, Delmer. (1979). [https://books.google.com/books?id=w4f5FrmIJKIC&pg=PA262 ''Gukanshō,'' pp. 262–263]; excerpt, "... palace was Osada no Miya of Iware in the province of Yamato."</ref> in reign of Emperor Bidatsu<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, p. 18.</ref> * Shiki District, Nara (''Iwareikebe no Namitsuki'' Palace), 585–587<ref>Brown, [https://books.google.com/books?id=w4f5FrmIJKIC&pg=PA263 p. 263]; excerpt, "... palace was Namitsuki no Miya at Ikebe in the province of Yamato."</ref> in the reign of Emperor Yōmei<ref name="ponsonby19">Ponsonby-Fane, p. 19.</ref> * Shiki District, Nara (''Kurahashi no Shibagaki'' Palace), 587–592<ref name="koch"/> in the reign of Emperor Sushun<ref name="ponsonby19"/> * Asuka, Yamato (''Toyura'' Palace or ''Toyura-no-miya''), 593–603<ref name="asuka">Asuka Historical Museum, [http://www.asukanet.gr.jp/asukahome/ASUKA2/ASUKAMIYA/miyahensen.html Palaces of the Asuka Period,"] 1995; retrieved 2011-11-25.</ref> in the reign of Empress Suiko<ref name="ponsonby20">Ponsonby-Fane, p. 20.</ref> * Asuka, Yamato (''Oharida'' Palace or ''Oharida-no-miya''), 603–629<ref name="asuka"/> in the reign of Suiko<ref name="ponsonby20"/> * Asuka, Yamato (''Okamoto'' Palace or ''Oakmoto-no-miya''), 630–636<ref name="asuka"/> in the reign of Emperor Jomei<ref name="ponsonby21">Ponsonby-Fane, p. 21.</ref> * Kashihara, Nara (''Tanaka'' Palace or ''Tanaka-no-miya''), 636–639<ref name="asuka"/> * Kōryō, Nara (''Umayasaka'' Palace or ''Umayasaka-no-miya'', 640<ref name="asuka"/> * Kōryō, Nara (''Kudara'' Palace or ''Kudara-no-miya''), 640–642<ref name="asuka"/> * Asuka, Yamato (''Oharida'' Palace), 642–643 * Asuka, Yamato (''Itabuki'' Palace or ''Itabuki no miya''), 643–645<ref name="asuka"/> in the reign of Empress Kōgyoku<ref name="ponsonby21"/> * Osaka (Naniwa Nagara-Toyosaki Palace), 645–654<ref name="naniwa">[http://www.ocmo.jp/naniwakassei_teigen.pdf なにわ活性化プロジェクト (Naniwa Revialization Project)]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, August 24, 201; retrieved 2011-11-24.</ref> in the reign of Emperor Kōtoku<ref name="ponsonbyfane23">Ponsonby-Fane, p. 23.</ref> * Asuka, Yamato (''Itabuki'' Palace), 655–655<ref name="asuka"/> in the reign of Kōtoku<ref name="ponsonbyfane23"/> * Asuka, Yamato (''Kawahara'' Palace or ''Kawahara-no-miya''), 655–655<ref name="asuka"/> * Asuka, Yamato (''Okamoto'' Palace or ''Nochi no Asuka-Okamoto-no-miya''), 656–660<ref name="asuka"/> in the reign of Emperor Saimei<ref name="ponsonby24">Ponsonby-Fane, p. 24.</ref> * Asakura, Fukuoka (''Asakura no Tachibana no Hironiwa'' Palace or ''Asakure no Tachibana no Hironiwa-no-miya''), 660–661<ref name="asuka"/> * Osaka, (Naniwa Nagara-Toyosaki Palace), 661–667<ref name="naniwa"/> * Ōtsu, Shiga (Ōmi Ōtsu Palace or ''Ōmi Ōtsu-no-miya''), 667–672<ref>Nussbaum, [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA216 "Ōtsu mo Miya" at p. 216].</ref> in reign of Emperor Tenji<ref name="ponsonby24"/> and the reign of Emperor Kōbun<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, p. 25.</ref> * Asuka, Yamato (''Kiyomihara'' Palace or ''Kiomihara-no-miya''), 672–694<ref name="asuka"/> in the reign of Emperor Tenmu<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, p. 26.</ref> and in the reign of Empress Jitō<ref name="ponsonby27">Ponsonby-Fane, p. 27.</ref> [[File:210401 One-thousandth scale model of Aramashinomiyako.jpg|thumb|350px|1/1000 scale model of Fujiwara-kyō, held by Kashihara-shi Fujiwara-kyō reference room]] * Fujiwara-kyō (''Fujiwara'' Palace), 694–710<ref>Nussbaum, [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA200 "Fujiwara" at pp. 200–201].</ref> in the reign of Emperor Monmu<ref name="ponsonby27"/>

'''Nara period''' [[File:220325 One-thousandth scale model of Heijo Kyo.jpg|thumb|350px|1/1000 scale model of Heijō-kyō, held by Nara City Hall]] * Heijō-kyō (Heijō Palace), 710–740<ref name="heijo-kyo">Nussbaum, [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA304 "Heijō-kyō" at p. 304].</ref> in the reigns of Empress Genmei,<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, p. 28.</ref> Empress Genshō,<ref name="ponsonby29">Ponsonby-Fane, p. 29.</ref> and Emperor Shōmu<ref name="ponsonby29"/> * Kuni-kyō (Kuni Palace), 740–744<ref>Nussbaum, [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA574 "Kuni-kyō" at p. 574].</ref> in the reign of Shomu<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, p. 30.</ref> * Naniwa-kyō ({{ill|Naniwa Palace|ja|難波宮}}), 744<ref name="naniwa2">Nussbaum, [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA697 "Naniwa" at p. 697].</ref> * Naniwa-kyō, Shigaraki Palace, 744–745<ref name="naniwa2"/> * Heijō-kyō (Heijō Palace), 745–784<ref name="heijo-kyo"/> * Nagaoka-kyō (Nagaoka Palace), 784–794<ref>Nussbaum, [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA216 "Nagaoka-kyō" at p. 216–217].</ref> in the reign of Emperor Kanmu<ref name="ponsonby34">Ponsonby-Fane, p. 34.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.city.muko.kyoto.jp/rekimachi/rekishi_bunkazai/rekishi/nagaokakyo/1441755809691.html|title = 長岡京とは|trans-title = About Nagaoka Palace|language = ja|access-date = 2018-06-22}}</ref>

'''Heian period''' [[File:Heiankyo overall model.jpg|thumb|350px|1/1000 scale model of Heian-kyō, held by Kyoto City Heiankyo Sosei-Kan Museum]] * Heian-kyō (Heian Palace), 794–1180<ref name="heian-kyo">Nussbaum, [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA304 "Heian-kyō" at pp. 303–304].</ref> in the reign of Kammu<ref name="ponsonby34"/> and others * Fukuhara Palace, 1180<ref>Nussbaum, [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA216 "Fukuhara" at pp. 216].</ref> in the reign of Emperor Antoku<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, p. 37.</ref>

'''Medieval Japan and Early modern period''' (see also: History of Japan) * Heian-kyō or Kyōto (Heian Palace), 1180–1868<ref name="heian-kyo"/> * Yoshino (Nanboku-chō period), 1336–1392

'''Modern Japan''' (see also: History of Japan) * Tōkyō (''Kōkyo''), 1868–present<ref name="tokyo"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-12-24 |title=History of capitals of Japan |url=http://www.gbac123.com/2016/12/24/history-of-capitals-of-japan/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=gbac |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Historical capitals== *Hiraizumi was the capital of totally independent Northern Fujiwara polity (Ōshū) based in Tōhoku region, having defeated Emishi tribes. This polity existed as Kyoto's internal politics prevented Kyoto's authority from 1100 to 1189. * Hakodate was the capital of the short lived Republic of Ezo (1869). * Shuri was the capital of Ryukyu Kingdom (1429–1879) and Urasoe was capital of Chuzan from at least 1350, which predated the Ryukyu Kingdom.

==See also== *List of capitals and largest cities by country

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading== * Fiévé, Nicolas and Paul Waley. (2003). ''Japanese Capitals in Historical Perspective: Place, Power and Memory in Kyoto, Edo and Tokyo.'' New York: Psychology Press. {{ISBN|9780700714094}}

==External links== {{commons category-inline|Capitals of Japan}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Capital Of Japan}} Japan Japan Category:Former capitals of Japan Category:Historical geography of Japan