History of Tokyo in Timeline
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is a global megacity. Its population exceeds 14 million within the city limits (2023) and 41 million in the Greater Tokyo Area (2024), making it the world's most populous metropolitan area. Located on the southeastern coast of Honshu, Japan's largest island, Tokyo is a major center for finance, commerce, technology, and culture.
1906: International Library of Children's Literature
The International Library of Children's Literature was built in 1906.
1914: Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi flagship store built
The Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi flagship store was built in 1914, then refurbished in 1925.
1919: Establishment of Japan Art Academy
In 1919, the Japan Art Academy was established to bring together leading scholars.
1920: Height restriction imposed
Since 1920, a 31-metre height restriction was imposed on all buildings.
September 1923: The Great Kantō earthquake strikes Tokyo
On September 1923, the Great Kantō Earthquake struck the city, causing widespread destruction and an estimated 105,000 deaths.
1923: Great Kantō earthquake damages Tokyo
In 1923, Tokyo was greatly damaged by the Great Kantō earthquake.
1923: Great Kantō earthquake
In 1923, the Great Kantō earthquake left the metropolis in ruins.
1923: Start of concrete architecture era
The Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 ushered in an era of concrete architecture in Tokyo.
1925: Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi flagship store refurbished
The Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi flagship store built in 1914, was refurbished in 1925.
December 30, 1927: Completion of the Ueno to Asakusa portion of the Ginza Line
On December 30, 1927, the portion of the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line between Ueno and Asakusa was completed.
1927: Tokyo Metro Ginza Line opens
In 1927, the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, the oldest underground metro line in the Asia-Pacific region, opened.
1929: Mitsui Headquarters completed
The Mitsui Headquarters was completed in 1929.
1931: Haneda Airport Primary Airport
In 1931, Haneda Airport became the primary airport for Tokyo.
1932: May 15 incident
In 1932, the May 15 incident, an attempted military coup d'état, occurred in Tokyo.
1932: Takashimaya Nihonbashi flagship store completed
In 1932, the Takashimaya Nihonbashi flagship store and Wako in Ginza were completed.
1933: Tokyo House of Yasuhiko built
In 1933, the former Tokyo House of Yasuhiko, Prince Asaka, was built in an Art Deco style, now the Tokyo Metropolitan Garden Art Museum.
1933: Isetan Shinjuku flagship store completed
The Isetan Shinjuku flagship store was completed in 1933.
1934: Tsukiji Hongan-ji completed
In 1934, Chuta Ito's extant works in Tokyo, including Tsukiji Hongan-ji, was completed.
1934: Meiji Insurance Headquarters completed
The Meiji Insurance Headquarters was completed in 1934.
1936: February 26 incident
In 1936, the February 26 incident, an attempted military coup d'état, occurred in Tokyo.
1938: Tokyo gives up hosting the 1940 Summer Olympics
In 1938, Tokyo had to give up hosting the 1940 Summer Olympics due to political instability.
1938: Annual precipitation high
In 1938, annual precipitation was 2,229.6 mm.
June 1940: Rationing starts in Tokyo
In June 1940, rationing started in Tokyo as the nation prepared for war.
1940: Population decline begins
Between 1940 and 1945, the population of Tokyo dwindled from 6,700,000 to less than 2,800,000, as soldiers were sent to the front and children were evacuated.
December 1941: Japan enters World War II
On December 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and entered World War II.
1941: Imperial Capital Rapid Transit Authority formed
In 1941, the Imperial Capital Rapid Transit Authority, the predecessor to the Tokyo Metro, was formed.
April 1942: The Doolittle Raid
On April 1942, the Doolittle Raid marked the first direct foreign attack on Tokyo.
1943: Tokyo City merges with Tokyo Prefecture
In 1943, Tokyo City merged with Tokyo Prefecture to form the Tokyo Metropolis.
1943: Tokyo City area becomes 23 Special Wards
In 1943, the area that had been Tokyo City was reorganized into the 23 Special Wards.
1943: Tokyo's governing structure becomes akin to a prefecture
Since 1943, Tokyo's governing structure has been more like a prefecture, with a Governor and Assembly taking precedence over municipal governments.
1943: Special wards become self-governing municipalities
Until 1943, the 23 special wards constituted the city of Tokyo and became self-governing municipalities.
1944: Allied air bombing of Tokyo begins
In late 1944, large-scale Allied air bombing of Tokyo began.
1945: Operation Meetinghouse raid
In 1945, American "Operation Meetinghouse" raid bombed Tokyo. On March 9-10, nearly 700,000 incendiary bombs were dropped on the east end of the city (shitamachi).
1947: Typhoon Kathleen struck Tokyo
In 1947, Typhoon Kathleen struck Tokyo, destroying 31,000 homes and killing 1,100 people.
1947: Reorganization of Tokyo's special wards
In 1947, the 35 pre-war special wards of Tokyo were reorganized into the current 23 wards.
1949: Establishment of Science Council of Japan
In 1949, the Science Council of Japan was established to promote scientific research and the application of research findings to civilian life.
1950: Heavy industry output returns to pre-war levels
Around 1950, Tokyo's heavy industry output returned to pre-war levels, spurring economic growth.
1952: End of Allied occupation
Around the time the Allied occupation of Japan ended in 1952, Tokyo shifted from rebuilding to developing.
1956: Tokyo celebrates its 500th anniversary
In 1956, Tokyo celebrated its 500th anniversary.
1958: Typhoon Ida caused flooding
In 1958, Typhoon Ida dropped 400 mm (16 in) of rain in a single week, causing streets to flood.
1964: Yoyogi National Gymnasium completed
In 1964, Kenzo Tange designed the Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo.
1964: Tokyo hosts the Summer Olympics
In 1964, Tokyo became the first city in Asia to host the Summer Olympics.
1964: Launch of the Shinkansen and Tokyo Olympics
In 1964, the Shinkansen high-speed railway line launched, and the Shuto Expressway was developed for the Tokyo Olympics.
1965: Yodobashi Water Purification Centre closes
In 1965, Yodobashi Water Purification Centre closed, leading to the development of West Shinjuku.
1966: Narita Airport Site Chosen
In 1966, Narita was chosen as the site for a second airport to serve Tokyo.
1967: St. Mary's Cathedral completed
In 1967, Kenzo Tange designed St. Mary's Cathedral in Tokyo.
1967: Ryokichi Minobe becomes governor
In 1967, Ryokichi Minobe became the governor of Tokyo.
1968: Skyscrapers begin to dominate Tokyo's skyline
Starting with the Kasumigaseki Building in 1968, skyscrapers began to dominate Tokyo's skyline. The Ogasawara Islands were returned to Japan in 1968.
1972: Nakagin Capsule Tower completed
In 1972, Kisho Kurokawa designed the Nakagin Capsule Tower in Tokyo.
1973: Oil crisis ends rapid post-war recovery
In 1973, the oil crisis ended the rapid post-war recovery and development of Japan's economy.
1978: Opening of Narita Airport
In 1978, Narita Airport finally opened after delays due to protests.
1978: Narita International Airport opens
In 1978, Narita International Airport opened as the new gateway to the city.
1984: Annual precipitation low
In 1984, annual precipitation was 879.5 mm.
1984: Financial Market Opened Up
In 1984, the Japanese financial market slowly began to open up to international influence.
1985: The Plaza Accord
In 1985, the American-led Plaza Accord had a devastating effect on Japan's manufacturing sector.
1987: Privatization of Japan National Railways
In 1987, Japan National Railways was privatized, leading to the creation of JR East and JR Central.
1990: Imperial Palace value exceeds California's
By 1990, the estimated value of the Imperial Palace surpassed that of the entire state of California.
1990: End of Japanese Asset Price Bubble
In 1990, at the end of the Japanese asset price bubble, the Tokyo Stock Exchange accounted for more than 60% of the world stock market value.
1991: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building completed
In 1991, Kenzo Tange designed the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.
1992: Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo opened
In 1992, Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo opened.
December 1995: Month of no precipitation
December 1995, one of four months on record, saw no precipitation.
1998: Japanese Big Bang
In 1998, the "Japanese Big Bang" accelerated the internationalization of the Japanese financial market.
2000: Base level year for greenhouse gas emission
The 2000 level was the based level year for Governor Shintaro Ishihara's emissions cap system.
2001: Completion of the Great Mergers of Heisei
In 2001, the Great Mergers of Heisei were completed, resulting in Tokyo consisting of 62 municipalities.
2001: Expansion of Haneda Airport decided
In 2001, the decision was made to expand Haneda Airport and build new runways.
2003: Tokyo agricultural land data
As of 2003, Tokyo had 8,460 hectares of agricultural land, placing it last among the nation's prefectures.
2003: Plans to transfer government functions are halted
In 2003, then-prime minister Junichiro Koizumi decided to close parliamentary discussions about transferring national government functions from Tokyo.
July 20, 2004: Record high temperature
On July 20, 2004, Tokyo recorded a record high temperature of 39.5 °C (103.1 °F).
October 2004: Wettest month since records began
October 2004 was the wettest month since records began in 1876, with 780 millimeters (30 in) of rain.
2004: Privatization of Tokyo Metro
In 2004, the Tokyo Metro was privatized and became entirely owned by the Japanese Government and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
2005: National Census Day-Night Population
As of the 2005 National Census, the three central wards had 326,000 residents at night, but 2.4 million during the day.
2005: National Art Center completed
In 2005, Kisho Kurokawa designed the National Art Center in Tokyo.
2006: Launch of "10 Year Project for Green Tokyo"
In 2006, Tokyo launched the "10 Year Project for Green Tokyo", with a goal of increasing roadside trees to 1 million and adding 1,000 ha of green space by 2016.
2006: Completion of the MAOUDC
In 2006, the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel (MAOUDC) was completed after 13 years of construction.
2006: Tokyo's cost-of-living ranking
Tokyo was rated by the Economist Intelligence Unit as the most expensive (highest cost-of-living) city in the world for 14 years in a row ending in 2006.
November 2007: Michelin Guide for Tokyo released
In November 2007, Michelin released their first guide for fine dining in Tokyo, awarding 191 stars in total.
2007: Creation of green space began
From 2007 to 2010, 436 ha of the planned 1,000 ha of green space was created and 220,000 trees were planted.
March 31, 2008: Natural Parks Area designated
As of March 31, 2008, 36% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks.
2010: Creation of green space continued
From 2007 to 2010, 436 ha of the planned 1,000 ha of green space was created and 220,000 trees were planted.
2010: Opening of Runway D at Haneda
In 2010, the opening of Runway D at Haneda marked the return of international flights to the airport.
2010: Mistubishi building one rebuilt
Mitsubishi building one, originally built in 1894, was rebuilt in 2010.
October 2011: Artistic Gymnastics World Championships
In October 2011, the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium hosted the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships.
2011: Megathrust earthquake
In 2011, Tokyo was indirectly hit by a powerful megathrust earthquake, with some liquefaction in landfill zones.
October 2012: Official population estimate
As of October 2012, the official intercensal estimate showed 13.506 million people in Tokyo, with 9.214 million living within Tokyo's 23 wards.
August 12, 2013: Record highest low temperature
On August 12, 2013, Tokyo recorded a record highest low temperature of 30.3 °C (86.5 °F).
September 7, 2013: Tokyo selected to host the 2020 Summer Olympics
On September 7, 2013, the IOC selected Tokyo to host the 2020 Summer Olympics.
2014: Roadside trees increased to 950,000
As of 2014, roadside trees in Tokyo had increased to 950,000, and a further 300 ha of green space had been added.
2016: "10 Year Project for Green Tokyo" target year
By 2016, the "10 Year Project for Green Tokyo" aimed to increase roadside trees to 1 million and add 1,000 ha of green space.
2016: Yuriko Koike elected governor
In 2016, Yuriko Koike was elected as the governor of Tokyo, following the resignation of her predecessor, Yoichi Masuzoe.
2016: Plans for New National Stadium
In 2016, there were plans to replace the National Stadium with the New National Stadium.
2017: Michelin stars awarded to Tokyo restaurants
As of 2017, 227 restaurants in Tokyo have been awarded Michelin stars.
October 11, 2018: Toyosu Market opened
On October 11, 2018, the Toyosu Market opened in Tokyo as the largest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world.
2019: Tokyo selected for Rugby World Cup games
In 2019, Tokyo was selected to host several games for the Rugby World Cup.
2019: Tourism accounted for one percent of Tokyo's total economic output
In 2019, tourism accounted for slightly more than one percent of Tokyo's total economic output, with 15.18 million foreign visitors spending 1.26 trillion yen.
2020: Greenhouse gas emission reduction target year
By 2020, Tokyo aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% from the 2000 level.
2020: 2020 Summer Olympics postponed
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Summer Olympics were postponed.
2020: Number of universities in Tokyo
In 2020, Tokyo was home to 143 authorized universities.
2020: Tokyo Olympics Scheduled
In 2020, Tokyo was scheduled to host the Summer Olympics and Paralympics.
2020: Yuriko Koike re-elected governor
In 2020, Yuriko Koike was re-elected as the governor of Tokyo.
2020: Tokyo's ranking in the Global Financial Centers Index
In the 2020 Global Financial Centers Index, Tokyo was ranked as having the fourth most competitive financial center in the world.
August 8, 2021: 2020 Summer Olympics are held in Tokyo
The 2020 Summer Olympics were postponed and held from July 23 to August 8, 2021, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021: Car ownership survey
A 2021 survey found that 81% of Tokyo respondents without a car were satisfied with public transport and saw no need to own one.
2021: Tokyo hosts the Summer Paralympics
In 2021, Tokyo hosted the Summer Paralympics.
2021: Average and median ages in Tokyo
In 2021, Tokyo's average and median ages were both 45.5 years old, with 16.8% of the population below 15 and 34.6% above 65.
2021: Tokyo's gross domestic output
In FY2021, Tokyo's nominal gross domestic output was 113.7 trillion yen (US$1.04 trillion), accounting for 20.7% of Japan's total.
2021: General election
In the 2021 general election, the ruling Liberal Democrats won 18 of Tokyo's 25 constituencies for the House of Representatives, and the main opposition Constitutional Democrats won 7.
2021: Rescheduled Tokyo Olympics
In the summer of 2021, the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics were held in Tokyo after being rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
January 2022: Tokyo's foreign population
As of January 2022, Tokyo's foreign population was 546,436.
January 2022: Office space in Tokyo's 23 Special Wards
As of January 2022, the 23 Special Wards of Tokyo had 73.5 million square meters of office space.
April 1, 2022: Road statistics in Tokyo
As of April 1, 2022, the total length of roads in Tokyo is approximately 24,741 km.
2022: Port of Tokyo container handling
According to Lloyd's List, in 2022, the Port of Tokyo handled 4,430,000 TEU of containers, making it the 46th largest port in the world.
2022: Government survey on most visited areas
According to a 2022 government survey, the text discusses the most visited areas in Tokyo, but it does not specify what those areas are.
2022: Friendship Agreements
As of 2022, Tokyo has twinning or friendship agreements with twelve cities and states.
2022: Greater Tokyo Area's gross metropolitan product
In 2022, the Greater Tokyo Area's gross metropolitan product was estimated at US$2.08 trillion.
2022: Start of weak yen
Years of deflation and an extremely weak yen started in 2022 due to Japan's low interest rates.
2023: Tokyo hosts many of the world's largest companies
As of 2023, Tokyo is home to 29 of the world's 500 largest companies.
2023: Tokyo as a global business hub
In 2023, 29 of the Fortune Global 500 companies were headquartered in Tokyo, and the cost of living was roughly the same as in Beijing and Manchester.
2023: Haneda and Narita Passenger Statistics
In 2023, Haneda handled 17.9 million international passengers and 60.8 million domestic passengers, while Narita handled 25.4 million international passengers and 7.7 million domestic passengers. According to a 2023 survey, Haneda is the fifth busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic.
2023: Agency for Cultural Affairs relocates to Kyoto
In 2023, the Agency for Cultural Affairs relocated from Kasumigaseki to Kyoto.
2023: Tokyo's population exceeds 14 million
In 2023, the population of Tokyo city proper exceeded 14 million, making it one of the most populous urban areas in the world.
2023: Banks headquartered in Tokyo
Mitsubishi UFJ, Sumitomo-Mitsui Banking Corporation, Mizuho Financial Group, all among the top 20 banks in the world by total assets in 2023, are headquartered in Tokyo.
January 2024: Foreign nationals registered as residents in Tokyo
As of January 2024, Tokyo had 647,416 foreign nationals registered as residents.
April 2024: Most populous wards and municipalities in Tokyo
According to April 2024 official estimates, Setagaya, Nerima, and Ota were the most populous wards and municipalities in Tokyo.
May 2024: Ueno Zoo Panda Population
As of May 2024, Ueno Zoo has a population of 4 giant pandas.
May 2024: Number of buildings exceeding 150 meters
As of May 2024, at least 184 buildings are exceeding 150 metres (492 feet) in Tokyo.
June 2024: No official survey of race or place of birth
As of June 2024, there is no official survey of race or place of birth in Tokyo.
2024: Greater Tokyo Area population reaches 41 million
As of 2024, the Greater Tokyo Area, including Tokyo and neighboring prefectures, reached a population of 41 million residents.
2024: Millionaires in Tokyo
Henley & Partners estimated that there were 298,300 individuals with a net worth of more than US$1 million living in Tokyo in 2024.
2024: QS Best Student Cities Ranking
In 2024, QS Best Student Cities ranked Tokyo as the second-best city for university students, after London.
2024: Yuriko Koike re-elected governor
In 2024, Yuriko Koike was re-elected as the governor of Tokyo.
2024: Tokyo Metro scheduled to go public
In 2024, the Tokyo Metro is scheduled to go public.
2027: Scheduled completion of Torch Tower
With a scheduled completion date in 2027, Torch Tower (385m) will overtake Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower (325.2m) as the tallest building in Tokyo.
