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.

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
# Waki-no-kami, Yamato during the reign of Emperor Kosho
# Muro, Yamato during reign of Emperor Koan
# 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
* 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
* Sakurai, Nara (*Hatsuse no Asakura* Palace), 457–479 in reign of Emperor Yūryaku
* Sakurai, Nara (*Iware no Mikakuri* Palace), 480–484
* Asuka, Yamato (*Chikatsu-Asuka-Yatsuri* Palace), 485–487 in reign of Emperor Kenzō
* Hatsuse, Nara (*Nimiki* Palace), 499–506 in reign of Emperor Buretsu
* Kashihara, Nara (*Magari no Kanahashi* Palace), 532–535
* Sakurai, Nara (*Hinokuma no Iorino* Palace), 535-539 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 Empress Suiko
* Asuka, Yamato (*Oharida* Palace or *Oharida-no-miya*), 603–629
* Kashihara, Nara (*Tanaka* Palace or *Tanaka-no-miya*), 636–639 in the reign of Emperor Kōtoku
* Asuka, Yamato (*Itabuki* Palace), 655–655
* Asakura, Fukuoka (*Asakura no Tachibana no Hironiwa* Palace or *Asakure no Tachibana no Hironiwa-no-miya*), 660–661 in reign of Emperor Tenji
* Asuka, Yamato (*Kiyomihara* Palace or *Kiomihara-no-miya*), 672–694 and in the reign of Empress Jito
* Fujiwara-kyō (*Fujiwara* Palace), 694–710 in the reign of Emperor Mommu in the reigns of Empress Genmei, Empress Gensho, and Emperor Shomu in the reign of Shomu
* Naniwa-kyō (Naniwa Palace), 744
* Naniwa-kyō, Shigaraki Palace, 744–745 in the reign of Emperor Kammu
; Heian period
* Heian-kyō (Heian Palace), 794–1180 in the reign of Kammu
* Heian-kyō/Kyoto (Heian Palace), 1180–1868
* To-kyō (*Kōkyo''), 1868–present

## References
 symbol of the Japanese emperor and his family.]]

## More reading
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