Core cities of Japan

Template:Short description Template:Japan Metropolitan cities map Template:SidebarTemplate:Main other A Template:Nihongo is a class or category of Japanese cities. It is a local administrative division created by the national government.<ref name="web-japan">Web-Japan.org, "Local self-government", p. 3; retrieved 2012-11-28.</ref> Core cities are delegated many functions normally carried out by prefectural governments, but not as many as designated cities. To become a candidate for core city status, a city must have a population greater than 300,000 and an area greater than 100 square kilometers, although special exceptions may be made by order of the cabinet for cities with populations under 300,000 but over 200,000.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After the abolition of special city status on April 1, 2015, any city with a population above 200,000 may apply for core city status.<ref name="soumu">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Application for designation is made by a city with the approval of both the city and prefectural assemblies.

History

The term "core city" was created by the first clause of Article 252, Section 22 of the Local Autonomy Law of Japan.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

List of core cities

As of 1 April 2021, 62 cities have been designated core cities:<ref name="soumu" />

Name	Japanese	Flag	Emblem	Area (km2)	Population (2012)	Date of designation	Region	Prefecture	Map
Akashi	lang}}	File:Flag of Akashi, Hyogo.svg	File:Emblem of Akashi, Hyogo.svg	49.22	290,927	2018-04-01	Kansai	Hyōgo	File:Akashi in Hyogo Prefecture Ja.svg
Akita	lang}}	File:Flag of Akita, Akita.svg	File:Symbol of Akita, Akita.svg	906.07	322,224	1997-04-01	Tōhoku	Akita	File:Akita in Akita Prefecture Ja.svg
Amagasaki	lang}}	File:Flag of Amagasaki, Hyogo.svg	File:Emblem of Amagasaki, Hyogo.svg	49.77	451,353	2009-04-01	Kansai	Hyōgo	File:Amagasaki in Hyogo Prefecture Ja.svg
Aomori	lang}}	File:Flag of Aomori, Aomori.svg	File:Aomori City Emblem.svg	824.61	297,348	2006-10-01	Tōhoku	Aomori	File:Aomori in Aomori Prefecture Ja.svg
Asahikawa	lang}}	File:Flag of Asahikawa, Hokkaido.svg	File:Emblem of Asahikawa, Hokkaido.svg	747.6	351,765	2000-04-01	Hokkaidō		File:Asahikawa in Hokkaido Prefecture Ja.svg
Fukui	lang}}	File:Flag of Fukui, Fukui.svg	File:Emblem of Fukui, Fukui.svg	536.41	266,612	2019-04-01	Chūbu	Fukui	File:Fukui in Fukui prefecture Ja.svg
Fukushima	lang}}	File:Flag of Fukushima, Fukushima.svg	File:Emblem of Fukushima, Fukushima.svg	767.72	289,355	2018-04-01	Tōhoku	Fukushima	File:Fukushima in Fukushima Prefecture Ja.svg
Fukuyama	lang}}	File:Flag of Fukuyama, Hiroshima.svg	File:Symbol of Fukuyama Hiroshima.svg	518.14	462,144	1998-04-01	Chūgoku	Hiroshima	File:Fukuyama in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Funabashi	lang}}	File:Flag of Funabashi, Chiba.svg	File:Emblem of Funabashi, Chiba.svg	85.62	610,492	2003-04-01	Kantō	Chiba	File:Funabashi in Chiba Prefecture Ja.svg
Gifu	lang}}	File:Flag of Gifu, Gifu.svg	File:Emblem of Gifu, Gifu.svg	203.60	412,718	1996-04-01	Chūbu	Gifu	File:Gifu in Gifu Prefecture Ja.svg
Hachinohe	lang}}	File:Flag of Hachinohe, Aomori.svg	File:Symbol of Hachinohe Aomori.svg	305.56	241,613	2017-01-01	Tōhoku	Aomori	File:Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture Ja.svg
Hachiōji	lang}}	File:Flag of Hachioji, Tokyo.svg	File:Emblem of Hachiōji, Tokyo.svg	186.38	579,799	2015-04-01	Kantō	Tokyo	File:Hachioji in Tokyo Prefecture Ja.svg
Hakodate	lang}}	File:Flag of Hakodate, Hokkaido.svg	File:Symbol of Hakodate, Hokkaido.svg	677.89	279,056	2005-10-01	Hokkaidō		File:Hakodate in Hokkaido Prefecture Ja.svg
Higashiōsaka	lang}}	File:Flag of Higashiosaka, Osaka.svg	File:Emblem of Higashiosaka.svg	61.78	508,267	2005-04-01	Kansai	Osaka	File:Higashiosaka in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg
Himeji	lang}}	File:Flag of Himeji, Hyogo.svg	File:Symbol of Himeji, Hyogo.svg	534.43	536,218	1996-04-01	Kansai	Hyōgo	File:Himeji in Hyogo Prefecture Ja.svg
Hirakata	lang}}	File:Flag of Hirakata, Osaka.svg	File:Emblem of Hirakata, Osaka.svg	65.08	407,997	2014-04-01	Kansai	Osaka	File:Hirakata in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg
Ichinomiya	lang}}	File:Flag of Ichinomiya, Aichi.svg	File:Emblem of Ichinomiya, Aichi.svg	113.82	379,654	2021-04-01	Chūbu	Aichi	File:Ichinomiya in Aichi Prefecture Ja.svg
Iwaki	lang}}	File:Flag of Iwaki, Fukushima.svg	File:Symbol of Iwaki Fukushima.svg	1,232.02	332,994	1999-04-01	Tōhoku	Fukushima	File:Iwaki in Fukushima Prefecture Ja.svg
Kagoshima	lang}}	File:Flag of Kagoshima, Kagoshima.svg	File:Symbol of Kagoshima, Kagoshima.svg	547.58	607,257	1996-04-01	Kyushu	Kagoshima	File:Location of Kagoshima city Kagoshima prefecture Japan.svg
Kashiwa	lang}}	File:Flag of Kashiwa, Chiba.svg	File:千葉県柏市市章.svg	114.74	404,863	2008-04-01	Kantō	Chiba	File:Kashiwa in Chiba Prefecture Ja.svg
Kanazawa	lang}}	File:Flag of Kanazawa, Ishikawa.svg	File:Emblem of Kanazawa, Ishikawa.svg	468.64	462,796	1996-04-01	Chūbu	Ishikawa	File:Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture Ja.svg
Kawagoe	lang}}	File:Flag of Kawagoe, Saitama.svg	File:Emblem of Kawagoe, Saitama.svg	109.13	345,361	2003-04-01	Kantō	Saitama	File:Kawagoe in Saitama Prefecture Ja.svg
Kawaguchi	lang}}	File:Flag of Kawaguchi, Saitama.svg	File:埼玉県川口市市章.svg	61.95	561,788	2018-04-01	Kantō	Saitama	File:Kawaguchi in Saitama Prefecture Ja.svg
Kōchi	lang}}	File:Flag of Kochi, Kochi.svg	File:Emblem of Kochi, Kochi.svg	309.22	342,568	1998-04-01	Shikoku	Kōchi	File:Kochi in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg
Kōfu	lang}}	File:Flag of Kofu, Yamanashi.svg	File:山梨県甲府市市章.svg	212.47	197,318	2019-04-01	Chūbu	Yamanashi	File:Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture Ja.svg
Kōriyama	lang}}	File:Flag of Koriyama, Fukushima.svg	File:Symbol of Koriyama Fukushima.svg	757.20	331,140	1997-04-01	Tōhoku	Fukushima	File:Koriyama in Fukushima Prefecture Ja.svg
Koshigaya	lang}}	File:Flag of Koshigaya, Saitama.svg	File:Emblem of Koshigaya, Saitama.svg	60.24	328,079	2015-04-01	Kantō	Saitama	File:Koshigaya in Saitama Prefecture Ja.svg
Kurashiki	lang}}	File:Flag of Kurashiki, Okayama.svg	File:Emblem of Kurashiki, Okayama.svg	355.63	477,086	2002-04-01	Chūgoku	Okayama	File:Kurashiki in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg
Kure	lang}}	File:Flag of Kure, Hiroshima.svg	File:Emblem of Kure, Hiroshima.svg	352.80	236,595	2016-04-01	Chūgoku	Hiroshima	File:Kure in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Kurume	lang}}	File:Flag of Kurume, Fukuoka.svg	File:Emblem of Kurume, Fukuoka.svg	229.96	301,821	2008-04-01	Kyushu	Fukuoka	File:Kurume in Fukuoka Prefecture Ja.svg
Maebashi	lang}}	File:Flag of Maebashi, Gunma.svg	File:Symbol of Maebashi, Gunma.svg	311.59	338,481	2009-04-01	Kantō	Gunma	File:Maebashi in Gunma Prefecture Ja.svg
Matsue	lang}}	File:Flag of Matsue, Shimane.svg	File:Emblem of Matsue, Shimane.svg	572.99	208,160	2018-04-01	Chūgoku	Shimane	File:Matsue in Shimane Prefecture Ja.svg
Matsumoto	lang}}	File:Flag of Matsumoto, Nagano.svg	File:Symbol of Matsumoto, Nagano.svg	978.47	239,466	2021-04-01	Chūbu	Nagano	File:Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture Ja.svg
Matsuyama	lang}}	File:Flag of Matsuyama, Ehime.svg	File:Emblem of Matsuyama, Ehime.svg	429.40	516,823	2000-04-01	Shikoku	Ehime	File:Ehime-matsuyama-city.svg
Mito	lang}}	File:Flag of Mito, Ibaraki.svg	File:Symbol of Mito Ibaraki.svg	217.32	269,162	2020-04-01	Kantō	Ibaraki	File:Mito in Ibaraki Prefecture Ja.svg
Miyazaki	lang}}	File:Flag of Miyazaki, Miyazaki.svg	File:Emblem of Miyazaki, Miyazaki.svg	643.67	402,289	1998-04-01	Kyushu	Miyazaki	File:Miyazaki in Miyazaki Prefecture Ja.svg
Morioka	lang}}	File:Flag of Morioka, Iwate.svg	File:Emblem of Morioka, Iwate.svg	886.47	299,734	2008-04-01	Tōhoku	Iwate	File:Morioka in Iwate Prefecture Ja.svg
Naha	lang}}	File:Flag of Naha, Okinawa.svg	File:Symbol of Naha, Okinawa.svg	39.98	321,695	2013-04-01	Kyushu	Okinawa	File:Naha in Okinawa Prefecture Ja.svg
Nagano	lang}}	File:Flag of Nagano, Nagano.svg	File:Symbol of Nagano Nagano.svg	834.81	380,581	1999-04-01	Chūbu	Nagano	File:Nagano in Nagano Prefecture Ja.svg
Nagasaki	lang}}	File:Flag of Nagasaki, Nagasaki.svg	File:Nagasaki Nagasaki chapter.svg	240.71	440,911	1997-04-01	Kyushu	Nagasaki	File:Nagasaki in Nagasaki Prefecture Ja.svg
Nara	lang}}	File:Flag of Nara, Nara.svg	File:Emblem of Nara, Nara.svg	276.84	365,421	2002-04-01	Kansai	Nara	File:Nara in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg
Neyagawa	lang}}	File:Flag of Neyagawa, Osaka.svg	File:Symbol of Neyagawa, Osaka.svg	24.73	238,819	2019-04-01	Kansai	Osaka	File:Neyagawa in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg
Nishinomiya	lang}}	File:Flag of Nishinomiya, Hyogo.svg	File:Emblem of Nishinomiya, Hyogo.svg	99.96	483,878	2008-04-01	Kansai	Hyōgo	File:Nishinomiya in Hyogo Prefecture Ja.svg
Ōita	lang}}	File:Flag of Oita, Oita.svg	File:Symbol of Oita Oita.svg	502.38	476,008	1997-04-01	Kyushu	Ōita	File:Oita in Oita Prefecture Ja.svg
Okazaki	lang}}	File:Flag of Okazaki, Aichi.svg	File:Emblem of Okazaki, Aichi.svg	387.20	374,085	2003-04-01	Chūbu	Aichi	File:Okazaki in Aichi Prefecture Ja.svg
Ōtsu	lang}}	File:Flag of Otsu, Shiga.svg	File:Emblem of Ōtsu, Shiga.svg	464.51	339,469	2009-04-01	Kansai	Shiga	File:Otsu in Shiga Prefecture Ja.svg
Sasebo	lang}}	File:Flag of Sasebo, Nagasaki.svg	File:Emblem of Sasebo, Nagasaki.svg	426.06	259,676	2016-04-01	Kyushu	Nagasaki	File:Sasebo in Nagasaki Prefecture Ja.svg
Shimonoseki	lang}}	File:Flag of Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi.svg	File:Emblem of Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi.svg	716.14	277,937	2005-10-01	Chūgoku	Yamaguchi	File:Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture Ja.svg
Suita	lang}}	File:Flag of Suita, Osaka.svg	File:Emblem of Suita, Osaka.svg	36.11	357,917	2020-04-01	Kansai	Osaka	File:Suita in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg
Takamatsu	lang}}	File:Flag of Takamatsu, Kagawa.svg	File:Emblem of Takamatsu, Kagawa.svg	375.41	420,356	1999-04-01	Shikoku	Kagawa	File:Kagawa-takamatsu-city.svg
Takasaki	lang}}	File:Flag of Takasaki, Gunma.svg	File:群馬県高崎市市章.svg	459.16	371,820	2011-04-01	Kantō	Gunma	File:Takasaki in Gunma Prefecture Ja.svg
Takatsuki	lang}}	File:Flag of Takatsuki, Osaka.svg	File:Emblem of Takatsuki, Osaka.svg	105.31	355,840	2003-04-01	Kansai	Osaka	File:Takatsuki in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg
Tottori	lang}}	File:Flag of Tottori, Tottori.svg	File:Emblem of Tottori, Tottori.svg	765.31	196,538	2018-04-01	Chūgoku	Tottori	File:Tottori City in Tottori Prefecture Ja.svg
Toyama	lang}}	File:Flag of Toyama, Toyama.svg	File:Symbol of Toyama, Toyama.svg	1,241.77	421,393	2005-04-01	Chūbu	Toyama	File:Toyama in Toyama Prefecture Ja.svg
Toyohashi	lang}}	File:Flag of Toyohashi, Aichi.svg	File:Emblem of Toyohashi, Aichi.svg	261.86	375,804	1999-04-01	Chūbu	Aichi	File:Toyohashi in Aichi Prefecture Ja.svg
Toyonaka	lang}}	File:Flag of Toyonaka, Osaka.svg	File:Emblem of Toyonaka, Osaka.svg	36.38	390,457	2012-04-01	Kansai	Osaka	File:Toyonaka in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg
Toyota	lang}}	File:Flag of Toyota, Aichi.svg	File:Emblem of Toyota, Aichi.svg	918.32	420,680	1998-04-01	Chūbu	Aichi	File:Toyota in Aichi Prefecture Ja.svg
Utsunomiya	lang}}	File:Flag of Utsunomiya, Tochigi.svg	File:Emblem of Utsunomiya, Tochigi.svg	416.85	513,722	1996-04-01	Kantō	Tochigi	File:Utsunomiya in Tochigi Prefecture Ja.svg
Wakayama	lang}}	File:Flag of Wakayama, Wakayama.svg	File:Symbol of Wakayama, Wakayama.svg	210.25	368,684	1997-04-01	Kansai	Wakayama	File:Wakayama in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg
Yamagata	lang}}	File:Flag of Yamagata, Yamagata.svg	File:Emblem of Yamagata, Yamagata.svg	381.58	254,519	2019-04-01	Tōhoku	Yamagata	File:Yamagata in Yamagata Prefecture Ja.svg
Yao	lang}}	File:Flag of Yao, Osaka.svg	File:Emblem of Yao, Osaka.svg	41.71	270,735	2018-04-01	Kansai	Osaka	File:Yao in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg
Yokosuka	lang}}	File:Flag of Yokosuka, Kanagawa.svg	File:神奈川県横須賀市市章.svg	100.7	415,259	2001-04-01	Kantō	Kanagawa	File:Yokosuka in Kanagawa Prefecture Ja.svg

Former core cities

Name	Japanese	Flag	Emblem	Area (km2)	Population	Date of designation	Date of reclassification	Region	Prefecture	Map
Hamamatsu	lang}}	File:Flag of Hamamatsu, Shizuoka.svg	File:Symbol of Hamamatsu Shizuoka chapter.svg	1,558.06	795,350	1996-04-01	2007-04-01 (Designated city)	Chūbu	Shizuoka	File:Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture Ja.svg
Kumamoto	lang}}	File:Flag of Kumamoto, Kumamoto.svg	File:Emblem of Kumamoto, Kumamoto.svg	390.32	737,812	1996-04-01	2012-04-01 (Designated city)	Kyushu	Kumamoto	File:Kumamoto in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Niigata	lang}}	File:Flag of Niigata, Niigata.svg	File:Emblem of Niigata, Niigata.svg	726.45	807,450	1996-04-01	2007-04-01 (Designated city)	Chūbu	Niigata	File:Niigata in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg
Okayama	lang}}	File:Flag of Okayama, Okayama.svg	File:Emblem of Okayama, Okayama.svg	789.95	720,841	1996-04-01	2009-04-01 (Designated city)	Chūgoku	Okayama	File:Okayama in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg
Sagamihara	lang}}	File:Flag of Sagamihara, Kanagawa.svg	File:神奈川県相模原市市章.svg	328.91	720,986	2003-04-01	2010-04-01 (Designated city)	Kantō	Kanagawa	File:Sagamihara in Kanagawa Prefecture Ja.svg
Sakai	lang}}	File:Flag of Sakai, Osaka.svg	File:Emblem of Sakai, Osaka.svg	149.82	833,544	1996-04-01	2006-04-01 (Designated city)	Kansai	Osaka	File:Sakai in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg
Shizuoka	lang}}	File:Flag of Shizuoka, Shizuoka.svg	File:Emblem of Shizuoka, Shizuoka.svg	1,411.90	697,578	1996-04-01	2005-04-01 (Designated city)	Chūbu	Shizuoka	File:Location of Shizuoka city Shizuoka prefecture Japan.svg

Scheduled to become a core city

Name	Japanese	Flag	Emblem	Area (km2)	Population (2012)	Scheduled date	Region	Prefecture	Map
Chigasaki	lang}}	File:Flag of Chigasaki, Kanagawa.svg	File:神奈川県茅ヶ崎市市章.svg	35.71	236,222	2020-04-01	Kantō	Kanagawa	File:Chigasaki in Kanagawa Prefecture Ja.svg
Fuji	lang}}	File:Flag of Fuji, Shizuoka.svg	File:Emblem of Fuji, Shizuoka.svg	244.95	253,455	TBD	Chūbu	Shizuoka	File:Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture Ja.svg
Kishiwada	lang}}	File:Flag of Kishiwada, Osaka.svg	File:Emblem of Kishiwada, Osaka.svg	72.68	198,615	2020-04-01	Kansai	Osaka	File:Kishiwada in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg
Odawara	lang}}	File:Flag of Odawara, Kanagawa.svg	File:神奈川県小田原市市章.svg	113.79	197,413	2020-04-01	Kantō	Kanagawa	File:基礎自治体位置図 14206.svg
Tsukuba	lang}}	File:Flag of Tsukuba, Ibaraki.svg	File:Symbol of Tsukuba Ibaraki.svg	283.72	216,221	TBD	Kantō	Ibaraki	File:Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture Ja.svg
Tokorozawa	lang}}	File:Flag of Tokorozawa, Saitama.svg	File:Emblem of Tokorozawa, Saitama.svg	72.11	342,321	TBD	Kantō	Saitama	File:Tokorozawa in Saitama Prefecture Ja.svg
Yokkaichi	lang}}	File:Flag of Yokkaichi, Mie.svg	File:Emblem of Yokkaichi, Mie.svg	206.44	307,599	2020 (aiming)	Kansai	Mie	File:Yokkaichi in Mie Prefecture Ja.svg

Cities that meet the requirements but have not yet been nominated

The following cities have populations greater than 200,000 but have not yet been nominated. (Special cities and cities planning to apply for core city status are not shown.)

Name	Japanese	Flag	Emblem	Area (km2)	Population	Region	Prefecture	Map
Ageo	lang}}	File:Flag of Ageo, Saitama.svg	File:Emblem of Ageo, Saitama.svg	45.51	229,517	Kantō	Saitama	File:Ageo in Saitama Prefecture Ja.svg
Chōfu	lang}}	File:Flag of Chofu, Tokyo.svg	File:Emblem of Chōfu, Tokyo.svg	21.58	240,668	Kantō	Tokyo	File:Chofu in Tokyo Prefecture Ja.svg
Fuchū	lang}}	File:Flag of Fuchu, Tokyo.svg	File:東京都府中市市章.svg	29.43	260,891	Kantō	Tokyo	File:Fuchu in Tokyo Prefecture Ja.svg
Fujisawa	lang}}	File:Flag of Fujisawa, Kanagawa.svg	File:神奈川県藤沢市市章.svg	69.57	420,254	Kantō	Kanagawa	File:Fujisawa in Kanagawa Prefecture Ja.svg
Ichihara	lang}}	File:Flag of Ichihara, Chiba.svg	File:Emblem of Ichihara, Chiba.svg	368.17	274,117	Kantō	Chiba	File:Ichihara in Chiba Prefecture Ja.svg
Ichikawa	lang}}	File:Flag of Ichikawa, Chiba.svg	File:千葉県市川市市章.svg	56.39	491,804	Kantō	Chiba	File:Ichikawa in Chiba Prefecture Ja.svg
Machida	lang}}	File:Flag of Machida, Tokyo.svg	File:Emblem of Machida, Tokyo.svg	71.80	429,040	Kantō	Tokyo	File:Machida in Tokyo Prefecture Ja.svg
Matsudo	lang}}	File:Flag of Matsudo, Chiba.svg	File:Matsudo Chiba chapter.svg	61.38	498,575	Kantō	Chiba	File:Matsudo in Chiba Prefecture Ja.svg
Nagareyama	lang}}	File:Flag of Nagareyama, Chiba.svg	File:千葉県流山市市章.svg	35.28	211,620	Kantō	Chiba	File:Nagareyama in Chiba Prefecture Ja.svg
Nishitokyo	lang}}	File:Flag of Nishitokyo, Tokyo.svg	File:Emblem of Nishitokyo, Tokyo.svg	15.75	206,047	Kantō	Tokyo	File:Nishitokyo in Tokyo Prefecture Ja.svg
Tokushima	lang}}	File:Flag of Tokushima, Tokushima.svg	File:Emblem of Tokushima, Tokushima.svg	191	258,554	Shikoku	Tokushima	File:Tokushima in Tokushima Prefecture Ja.svg
Tsu	lang}}	File:Flag of Tsu, Mie.svg	File:Emblem of Tsu, Mie.svg	711.11	279,304	Kansai	Mie	File:Tsu in Mie prefecture Ja.svg

See also

• Administrative division
• Urban area

External links

• "Japan's Evolving Nested Municipal Hierarchy: The Race for Local Power in the 2000s", by A. J. Jacobs at Urban Studies Research, Vol. 2011 (2011); {{#invoke:doi|main}}
• "Large City System of Japan" Template:Webarchive—graphic shows core cities compared with other Japanese city types at p. 1 (PDF p. 7 of 40)
• "Growth in Second Tier Cities - Urban Policy Lessons from Japan"—briefing by CLAIR London on classes of Japanese cities (PDF)