This article is about the Japanese national capital in general. For the current capital, see Tokyo.

The capital of Japan is Tokyo.  In the course of history, the national capital has been in many locations other than Tokyo.

History
Traditionally, the home of the Emperor was considered the capital.  From 794 through 1868, the Emperor lived in Kyoto.  After 1868, the seat of the Government of Japan and the location of the Emperor's home was Tokyo.

In 1941, the Ministry of Education published the .

After World War II, the new Constitution of Japan transferred the state's sovereignty from the Emperor to the people. The people of Japan are represented by the Diet of Japan in Tokyo.  Consensus considers the site of the Diet is the capital of Japan.

Capital area
No law makes Tokyo as the Japanese capital.  However, many laws have defined a  which incorporates Tokyo.

Article 2 of the  of 1956 states that
"In this Act, the term 'capital area' shall denote a broad region comprising both the territory of Tokyo Metropolis as well as outlying regions designated by cabinet order."

Laws which identify this "capital area" include the  and the .

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.

 Kashiwabara, Yamato at the foot of Mt. Unebi during reign of Emperor Jimmu
 Kazuraki, Yamato during reign of Emperor Suizei
 Katashiha, Kawachi during the reign of Emperor Annei
 Karu, Yamato during reign of Emperor Itoku.
 Waki-no-kami, Yamato during the reign of Emperor Kosho
 Muro, Yamato during reign of Emperor Koan
 Kuruda, Yamato during the reign of Emperor Korei
 Karu, Yamato during reign of Emperor Kōgen
 Izakaha, Yamato during reign of Emperor Kaika
 Shika, Yamato (Palace of Mizugaki) during reign of Emperor Sujin
 Shika, Yamato (Palace of Tamagaki) during reign of Emperor Suinin
 Makimuko, Yamato (Palace of Hishiro) during reign of Emperor Keiko
 Shiga, Ōmi (Palace of Takaanaho) during reign of Emperor Seimu
 Ando (Palace of Toyoura) and Kashiki on the island of Kyushu during reign of Emperor Chūai

Historical
This list of capitals includes the Imperial palaces names in parentheses.

 Kofun period
 Karushima, Yamato (Palace of Akira), reign of Emperor Ojin
 Naniwa, Settsu (Palace of Takatsu), reign of Emperor Nintoku
 Ihare, Yamato (Palace of Watasakura''''), reign of Emperor Richū
 Tajikhi, Kawachi (Palace of Shibakaki), reign of Emperor Hanzei
 Asuka, Yamato (Palace of Tohotsu), reign of Emperor Ingyō
 Isonokami, Yamato (Palace of Anaho), reign of Emperor Ankō
 Sakurai, Nara (Hatsuse no Asakura Palace), 457–479 in reign of Emperor Yūryaku
 Sakurai, Nara (Iware no Mikakuri Palace), 480–484 in reign of Emperor Seinei
 Asuka, Yamato (Chikatsu-Asuka-Yatsuri Palace), 485–487 in reign of Emperor Kenzō
 Tenri, Nara (Isonokami Hirotaka Palace), 488–498 in reign of Emperor Ninken
 Hatsuse, Nara (Nimiki Palace), 499–506 in reign of Emperor Buretsu
 Hirakata, Osaka (Kusuba Palace), 507–511
 Kyōtanabe, Kyoto (Tsutsuki Palace), 511–518
 Nagaoka-kyō (Otokuni Palace), 518–526
 Sakurai, Nara (Iware no Tamaho Palace), 526–532 in reign of Emperor Keitai
 Kashihara, Nara (Magari no Kanahashi Palace), 532–535 in reign of Emperor Ankan
 Sakurai, Nara (Hinokuma no Iorino Palace), 535-539 in reign of Emperor Senka
Asuka period
 Asuka, Yamato (Shikishima no Kanasashi Palace), 540–571 in reign of Emperor Kimmei
 Kōryō, Nara (Kudara no Ohi Palace), 572–575 
 Sakurai, Nara (Osata no Sakitama Palace or Osada no Miya), 572–585 in reight of Emperor Bidatsu
 Shiki District, Nara (Iwareikebe no Namitsuki Palace), 585–587 in the reign of Emperor Yomei
 Shiki District, Nara (Kurahashi no Shibagaki Palace), 587–592 in the reign of Emperor Sushun
 Asuka, Yamato (Toyura Palace or Toyura-no-miya), 593–603 in the reign of Empress Suiko
 Asuka, Yamato (Oharida Palace or Oharida-no-miya), 603–629 in the reign of Empress Suiko
 Asuka, Yamato (Okamoto Palace or Oakmoto-no-miya), 630–636 in the reign of Emperor Jomei
 Kashihara, Nara (Tanaka Palace or Tanaka-no-miya), 636–639
 Kōryō, Nara (Umayasaka Palace or Umayasaka-no-miya), 640
 Kōryō, Nara (Kudara Palace or Kudara-no-miya), 640–642
 Asuka, Yamato (Oharida Palace), 642–643
 Asuka, Yamato (Itabuki Palace or Itabuki no miya), 643–645 in the reign of Empress Kōgyoku
 Osaka (Naniwa-Nagara no Toyosaki Palace), 645–654 in the reign of Emperor Kōtoku
 Asuka, Yamato (Itabuki Palace), 655–655 in the reign of Kōtoku
 Asuka, Yamato (Kawahara Palace or Kawahara-no-miya), 655–655
 Asuka, Yamato (Okamoto Palace or Nochi no Asuka-Okamoto-no-miya), 656–660 in the reign of Emperor Saimei
 Asakura, Fukuoka (Asakura no Tachibana no Hironiwa Palace or Asakure no Tachibana no Hironiwa-no-miya), 660–661
 Osaka, (Naniwa-Nagara no Toyosaki Palace), 661–667
 Ōtsu, Shiga (Ōmi Ōtsu Palace or Ōmi Ōtsu-no-miya), 667–672 in reign of Emperor Tenji and the reign of Emperor Kobun
 Asuka, Yamato (Kiyomihara Palace or Kiomihara-no-miya), 672–694 in the reign of Emperor Temmu and in the reign of Empress Jito
 Fujiwara-kyō (Fujiwara'' Palace), 694–710 in the reign of Emperor Mommu
 Nara period
 Heijō-kyō (Heijō Palace), 710–740 in the reigns of Empress Genmei, Empress Gensho, and Emperor Shomu
 Kuni-kyō (Kuni Palace), 740–744 in the reign of Shomu
 Naniwa-kyō (Naniwa Palace), 744
 Naniwa-kyō, Shigaraki Palace, 744–745
 Heijō-kyō (Heijō Palace), 745–784
 Nagaoka-kyō (Nagaoka Palace), 784–794 in the reign of Emperor Kammu
 Heian period
 Heian-kyō (Heian Palace), 794–1180 in the reign of Kammu and others
 Fukuhara Palace, 1180 in the reign of Emperor Antoku
 Heian-kyō/Kyoto (Heian Palace), 1180–1868
 To-kyō (Kōkyo), 1868–present

References

More reading

Other websites

 
History of Japan
Japan-related lists