23区 - The special wards of Tokyo

The special wards (特別区 tokubetsu-ku^?) are 23 municipalities that together make up the core and the most populous part of Tokyo, Japan. Together, they occupy the land that was the city of Tokyo before it was abolished in 1943. The special wards' structure was established under the Japanese Local Autonomy Law and is unique to Tokyo.

In Japanese, they are commonly known as the "23 wards" (23区 nijūsan-ku^?). All wards refer to themselves as cities in English, even though the Japanese designation of tokubetsuku is unchanged.

It is merely a grouping of special wards; there is no associated single government body.
Many important districts are located in Tokyo's special wards.

List of special wards.

Notable districts.