Tokyo
Tokyo is the capital of Japan and one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world, blending ultramodern technology with historic temples and traditions.
Originally a small fishing village called Edo, the city grew into Japan's political center after the Tokugawa shogunate established its base there in 1603. It was renamed Tokyo, meaning 'Eastern Capital,' after the emperor moved his seat there in 1868.
Much of the city was rebuilt after devastating destruction in the 1923 Great KantΕ earthquake and again after World War II, emerging as a global center of technology, finance, and pop culture.
Tokyo hosted the Summer Olympics in 1964 and 2020, and remains one of the world's leading cities in transportation infrastructure, cuisine, and innovation.