How are Tokyo’s 23 wards different from Tokyo metropolis?

To understand the distinction between Tokyo’s 23 wards and the Tokyo metropolis, it is important to clarify that the "city of Tokyo" no longer exists as a single administrative unit.1

The Tokyo metropolis (to) is a prefecture-level administrative entity that encompasses a vast area, including the 23 special wards, numerous suburban cities, and a large mountainous rural region to the west. It is governed by a prefectural governor and the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, which hold authority over broad administrative functions such as public works and fire services.23

In contrast, the 23 special wards (tokubetsu ku) represent the area formerly defined as the city of Tokyo. While they are part of the metropolitan prefecture, they function differently than the other municipalities within it:1

• Governance: Each of the 23 wards has its own popularly elected council and ward head, granting them limited authority over local matters.31
• Status: Unlike the suburban cities within the metropolis that have mayors, the special wards were specifically demarcated to distinguish the urban core from the rest of the prefecture following the establishment of the metropolitan government in 1943.31