Japan is divided into 47 prefectures, but they are not all the same type.

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: While Japan is a unitary state, its 47 prefectures represent a complex administrative history. From the urban fu of Osaka and Kyoto to the unique metropolis of Tokyo and the northern circuit of Hokkaidō, these regions define the country's first level of jurisdiction, yet they share surprisingly similar functional responsibilities.

The modern prefectural system emerged from the Meiji government's 1871 abolition of the feudal han system, a process known as haihan-chiken. Initially, this transition involved over 300 territories, which were rapidly consolidated into 72 by late 1871 and finally 47 by 1888. These divisions often align with ancient ritsuryō provinces. While the terminology varies—including ken (rural), fu (urban), dō (circuit), and to (metropolis)—these distinctions are largely historical relics. Post-World War II reforms, particularly the 1947 Local Autonomy Law, effectively leveled the playing field, making the four types functionally indistinguishable in their administrative duties.

Tokyo occupies a singular position as a to, or metropolis. Originally established as Tōkyō-fu in 1868, it was reorganized in 1943 to consolidate administration by abolishing Tokyo City. Today, it is the only prefecture that administers special wards, which have evolved since 1947 to hold status nearly identical to independent cities. Meanwhile, Hokkaidō, the only dō, was historically treated as a territory and organized into subprefectures to manage its underdeveloped infrastructure. Though these subprefectures remain, they now serve primarily bureaucratic functions rather than the tight administrative control they once held.

Despite their formal autonomy, Japanese prefectures operate within a tightly constrained framework. The central government retains significant control over budgets, tax rates, and borrowing, even though local governments account for 70 percent of total public expenditure. Prefectures are responsible for police forces, schools, hospitals, and regional planning, but they often rely heavily on national funding. This dependency is particularly acute in rural areas facing population decline. Proposals to replace this system with larger regional states, known as dōshūsei, were considered by the government but ultimately abandoned in 2012, leaving the current 47-prefecture structure firmly in place.

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