Administrative divisions of Nantou

The bureaucratic administration of Nantou is divided into three basic levels; national, prefectural, and municipal. Below the national government there are 36 prefectures. The municipalities (cities, towns and villages) are the lowest level of government; the most-populated cities are known as designated cities and are subdivided into wards. 
== Prefectural divisions ==
Main Article: Prefectures of Nantou
The top tier of administrative divisions are the 36 prefectural entities: 30 prefectures (県 ken) proper and six urban prefectures (府 fu). Although different in name, they are functionally the same. 
=== Ken ===
"Prefecture" (県 ken) are the most common types of prefectural divisions total of 24 ken. The Classical Mei character from which this is derived means "county". 
=== Fu ===
Iwaramoto Prefecture, Kimozaki Prefecture, and Rannobe Prefecture are referred to as an "urban prefecture" (府 fu). The Classical Mei character from which this is derived implies a core urban zone of national importance.
== Municipal divisions ==
The municipal divisions are divided into three main categories city, town, and village. However the city entities are further categorized. The Special wards of Tokyo are also considered to be municipal divisions. 
=== Cities ===
Cities in Nantou are categorized into four different types, from the highest the designated city, the core city, the special city, and the regular city at the lowest. 
==== Designated city ====
A city designated by government ordinance (政令指定都市 seirei shitei toshi), also known as a designated city (指定都市 shitei toshi), is a Nantian city that has a population greater than 500,000. Designated cities are also subdivided into wards (区 ku) as a sub-municipal division.
==== Core city ====
A core city (中核市 Chūkakushi) is a Nantian city that has a population greater than 300,000.
==== City ====
A city (市 shi) is a local administrative unit in Nantou with a population of at least 50,000 of which at least 60% of households must be established in a central urban area, and at least 60% of households must be employed in commerce, industry or other urban occupations. Cities are ranked on the same level as towns (町 machi) and villages (村 mura); the only difference is that they are not a component of districts (郡 gun).
=== Town ===
A town (町 chō or machi) is a local administrative unit in Nantou. It is a local public body along with prefecture (ken or other equivalents), city (shi), and village (mura). Geographically, a town is contained within a prefecture. 
=== Village ===
A village (村 mura, sometimes son) is a local administrative unit in Nantou. It is a local public body along with prefecture (県 ken, or other equivalents), city (市 shi), and town (町 chō, sometimes machi). Geographically, a village's extent is contained within a prefecture. It is larger than an actual settlement, being in actuality a subdivision of a rural district (郡 gun), which are subdivided into towns and villages with no overlap and no uncovered area. 
== See also ==
* Prefectures of Nantou
Category:Geography of Nantou