L I V I N G
Tokyo's 23 Special Wards — Full List with Population & Area (2026)
Complete reference of Tokyo's 23 special wards (特別区) — population, area, rent ranges, and district type. All sourced from official data.
Tokyo’s 23 wards are each an independent municipality (特別区 — tokubetsu-ku, “special ward”). Together they house roughly 9.73 million residents across approximately 627 km². Rent, public services, and neighborhood character vary significantly from ward to ward.
All 23 Wards at a Glance
| Ward (区) | Reading | Population | Area (km²) | District | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 千代田区 | Chiyoda | 68,835 | 11.66 | Central | Imperial Palace & National Diet. Daytime population is 17× the nighttime figure |
| 中央区 | Chuo | 187,404 | 10.21 | Central | Ginza & Nihonbashi. Tokyo’s commercial and redevelopment hub |
| 港区 | Minato | 267,780 | 20.37 | Central | Roppongi, Akasaka & Odaiba. Home to the highest concentration of embassies |
| 新宿区 | Shinjuku | 352,717 | 18.22 | Sub-center | Japan’s busiest railway terminal. Large and diverse foreign resident community |
| 文京区 | Bunkyo | 235,345 | 11.29 | Sub-center | University of Tokyo & major hospitals. Quiet, upscale residential streets |
| 台東区 | Taito | 216,084 | 10.11 | East | Asakusa & Ueno. The smallest ward by area in the 23 wards |
| 墨田区 | Sumida | 287,302 | 13.77 | East | Tokyo Skytree. Traditional shitamachi (下町) shopping streets still thrive |
| 江東区 | Koto | 541,685 | 42.99 | East | Toyosu & Ariake. Active high-rise condominium development |
| 品川区 | Shinagawa | 412,786 | 22.84 | South | Shinkansen stop. Mix of redevelopment zones and established residential areas |
| 目黒区 | Meguro | 281,400 | 14.67 | South | Jiyugaoka & Nakameguro. Calm, affluent residential atmosphere |
| 大田区 | Ota | 740,519 | 61.86 | South | Includes Haneda Airport — largest ward by area in Tokyo |
| 世田谷区 | Setagaya | 923,210 | 58.05 | South | Most populous ward. Consistently popular residential choice |
| 渋谷区 | Shibuya | 231,402 | 15.11 | Sub-center | Concentration of IT companies. Center of youth culture and fashion |
| 中野区 | Nakano | 341,322 | 15.59 | North | Nakano Broadway. High proportion of single-person households |
| 杉並区 | Suginami | 577,147 | 34.06 | North | Chuo Line corridor. Asagaya & Koenji have a creative, cultural vibe |
| 豊島区 | Toshima | 294,644 | 13.01 | Sub-center | Ikebukuro. Notably multicultural and international atmosphere |
| 北区 | Kita | 362,089 | 20.61 | North | Akabane & Oji. Excellent transport links with relatively affordable rent |
| 荒川区 | Arakawa | 222,278 | 10.16 | East | Tokyo Sakura Tram (都電荒川線) runs through. Traditional shitamachi with a large foreign community |
| 板橋区 | Itabashi | 578,914 | 32.22 | North | Oyama shopping street. Good balance of convenience and affordability |
| 練馬区 | Nerima | 745,927 | 48.08 | North | Hikarigaoka Park. Second most populous ward in Tokyo |
| 足立区 | Adachi | 698,276 | 53.25 | East | Affordable rent. Tsukuba Express corridor undergoing active redevelopment |
| 葛飾区 | Katsushika | 469,916 | 34.80 | East | Shibamata Taishakuten shrine. Setting of the beloved “Tora-san” film series |
| 江戸川区 | Edogawa | 693,570 | 49.90 | East | Large Indian community in Nishi-Kasai (西葛西). Generous family and childcare support |
※ Population figures are from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Statistics, “Households and Population Based on the Basic Resident Register” (January 2025). Area figures are based on Geospatial Information Authority of Japan data. Rent ranges reference listings on SUUMO and similar platforms.
What Is a Special Ward?
The official name for Tokyo’s 23 wards is “special ward” (特別区 — tokubetsu-ku). Under the 2000 revision of the Local Autonomy Act, special wards were reclassified as “basic local public entities,” giving them essentially the same legal standing as cities or towns.
Each ward directly elects its own ward head (区長 — kuchō) and ward assembly (区議会 — ku-gikai), and can enact its own local ordinances. This is fundamentally different from the wards (行政区 — gyōsei-ku) found inside Yokohama or Osaka — those are internal administrative divisions of those cities with no independent governing power. The Special Wards Association of Tokyo (特別区協議会) highlights this distinction clearly.
Services that directly affect daily life — resident registration, national health insurance, waste collection, and childcare support — are managed independently by each ward. However, water and sewage systems and fire services are administered centrally by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, so those are consistent regardless of which ward you live in.
The personal resident tax rate is also identical across all 23 wards: ward tax (区民税) is 6% of income plus a flat ¥3,000, and metropolitan tax (都民税) is 4% plus a flat ¥1,000. Differences in ward services stem from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s inter-ward fiscal equalization system (都区財政調整制度), which redistributes corporate and property taxes among the wards — not from any variation in the tax rate itself.
Tokyo’s 23 Wards by District
Grouping the 23 wards into five districts makes it easier to understand how each area compares.
Central (都心) — Chiyoda, Chuo, Minato
Offices and commercial facilities are densely concentrated here, and rent is at its highest (1R/1K: ¥100,000–¥120,000/month). This area suits people who want to live close to work or who receive a housing allowance from their employer. The high concentration of embassies means foreign-language services are widely available.
Sub-center (副都心) — Shinjuku, Shibuya, Toshima, Bunkyo
Major terminal stations make transport convenient in every direction. Shinjuku (新宿区) and Toshima (豊島区) have large foreign communities and ward offices with multilingual support. Bunkyo (文京区) is a quiet residential district centered on the University of Tokyo, popular with families who prioritize educational environment.
South (城南) — Shinagawa, Meguro, Ota, Setagaya
A long-established favorite for residential living. Setagaya (世田谷区) is the most populous ward in all of Tokyo. Ota (大田区) is convenient for Haneda Airport, and the Kamata (蒲田) area offers relatively affordable rent by southern standards.
East (城東) — Taito, Sumida, Koto, Katsushika, Adachi, Edogawa, Arakawa
The most budget-friendly district (1R/1K: ¥70,000–¥80,000/month), where your money goes further in terms of space. Tourist landmarks like Asakusa (浅草) and Tokyo Skytree sit here, while Adachi (足立区) and Edogawa (江戸川区) are undergoing redevelopment and attracting more families.
North (城北) — Nakano, Suginami, Nerima, Itabashi, Kita
A good middle ground between central access and affordability. Nakano (中野区) and Suginami (杉並区) along the Chuo Line offer quick access to Shinjuku (新宿), drawing a lot of solo dwellers and younger residents. Nerima (練馬区) and Itabashi (板橋区) have spacious parks and a more open, relaxed feel.
For a detailed comparison of rent, commute times, childcare, and foreign-resident resources by district, see the Area-by-Area Guide to Tokyo’s 23 Wards for Foreigners.
Beyond the 23 Wards
Living in Tokyo doesn’t necessarily mean living in one of the 23 wards. The Tama area (多摩地域) — the western part of Tokyo Metropolitan — and neighboring prefectures also contain many neighborhoods within easy commuting distance.
Musashino City (武蔵野市 — home to Kichijoji Station, 吉祥寺駅) and Mitaka City (三鷹市) are roughly 13 minutes from Shinjuku on the Chuo Line, with rent comparable to the eastern wards and excellent access to parks and shops. Kawasaki City (川崎市, Kanagawa Prefecture) and Urayasu City (浦安市, Chiba Prefecture) are also within the central Tokyo commuter zone and can cut rent costs even further.
For a closer look at the 26 cities in the Tama area, see What Are Tokyo’s Tama Cities?.
Next Steps After Choosing a Ward
- Choose the right ward for your lifestyle — Area-by-Area Guide to Tokyo’s 23 Wards for Foreigners compares rent, commute times, childcare, and foreign communities in detail
- Search for a place to live — How to Find an Apartment in Tokyo covers everything from using property search sites to signing a lease
- Complete your move-in paperwork — Tokyo Ward Office Procedures After Moving walks you through resident registration, health insurance, and pension enrollment
Related Articles
- Area-by-Area Guide to Tokyo’s 23 Wards for Foreigners — How to choose a ward based on rent, commute, and family needs
- What Are Tokyo’s Tama Cities? — The 26 cities west of the 23 wards
- How to Find an Apartment in Tokyo — The complete process from search to contract
- Payment Methods in Tokyo — What you need to know about paying for things after you move in
Sources:
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government Statistics, “Households and Population of Tokyo Based on the Basic Resident Register, January 2025” https://www.toukei.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/juukiy/2025/jy25000001.htm (accessed: 2026-04-29)
- Special Wards Association of Tokyo, “What Are Special Wards?” https://www.tokyo-23city.or.jp/chosa/tokubetsuku/whats.html (accessed: 2026-04-29)
- Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, “Classification of Local Public Entities” https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/jichi_gyousei/bunken/chihou-koukyoudantai_kubun.html (accessed: 2026-04-29)
- Tokyo Special Wards Mayors’ Association, “Overview of the Inter-Ward Fiscal Equalization System” https://www.tokyo23city-kuchokai.jp/seido/gaiyo_1.html (accessed: 2026-04-29)
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Taxation, “Personal Resident Tax” https://www.tax.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/kazei/life/kojin_ju (accessed: 2026-04-29)
* This article was translated from the original Japanese with the help of machine translation. Some expressions may not read naturally.
