Capital of Japan

- _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 .

### Legendary

This list of legendary capitals of Japan begins with the reign of Emperor Jimmu.  The names of the Imperial palaces are in parentheses.

1. Kashiwabara, Yamato at the foot of Mt. Unebi during reign of Emperor Jimmu
1. Kazuraki, Yamato during reign of Emperor Suizei
1. Katashiha, Kawachi during the reign of Emperor Annei
1. Karu, Yamato during reign of Emperor Itoku.
1. Waki-no-kami, Yamato during the reign of Emperor Kosho
1. Muro, Yamato during reign of Emperor Koan
1. Kuruda, Yamato during the reign of Emperor Korei
1. Karu, Yamato during reign of Emperor Kōgen
1. Izakaha, Yamato during reign of Emperor Kaika
1. Shika, Yamato (Palace of _Mizugaki_) during reign of Emperor Sujin
1. Shika, Yamato (Palace of _Tamagaki_) during reign of Emperor Suinin
1. Makimuko, Yamato (Palace of _Hishiro_) during reign of Emperor Keiko
1. Shiga, Ōmi (Palace of _Takaanaho_) during reign of Emperor Seimu
1. 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