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Core cities of Japan facts for kids

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Sapporo Hakodate Asahikawa Aomori Hachinohe Morioka Sendai Akita Yamagata Kōriyama Iwaki Mito Tsukuba Utsunomiya Maebashi Takasaki Isesaki Ōta Saitama Kawagoe Kumagaya Kawaguchi Tokorozawa Kasukabe Sōka Koshigaya Chiba Funabashi Kashiwa Yokohama Kawasaki Yokosuka Hiratsuka Odawara, Kanagawa Chigasaki Sagamihara Atsugi Yamato Niigata Nagaoka Jōetsu Toyama Kanazawa Fukui Kōfu Nagano Matsumoto Gifu Shizuoka Hamamatsu Numazu Fuji Nagoya Toyohashi Okazaki Ichinomiya Kasugai Toyota Tsu Yokkaich Ōtsu Kyoto Osaka Sakai Kishiwada Toyonaka Suita Takatsuki Hirakata Ibaraki Yao Neyagawa Higashiōsaka Kobe Himeji Amagasaki Akashi Nishinomiya Kakogawa Takarazuka Nara Wakayama Tottori Okayama Kurashiki Hiroshima Kure Fukuyama Shimonoseki Takamatsu Matsuyama Kōchi Kitakyūshū Fukuoka Kurume Nagasaki Sasebo Kumamoto Ōita Miyazaki KagoshimaMap of Japanese Designated cities, Core cities and Special cities
(Circle click-able)
■ ― Designated cities
■ ― Core cities
■ ― Special cities


A core city (中核市, Chūkakushi) is a class or category of Japanese cities. It is a local administrative division created by the national government. 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. 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.

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.

List of core cities

As of 1 April 2021, 62 cities have been designated core cities:

Name Japanese Flag Emblem Area (km2) Population (2012) Date of designation Region Prefecture Map
Akashi 明石市 Flag of Akashi, Hyogo.svg Emblem of Akashi, Hyogo.svg 49.22 290,927 2018-04-01 Kansai Hyōgo Akashi in Hyogo Prefecture Ja.svg
Akita 秋田市 Flag of Akita, Akita.svg Symbol of Akita, Akita.svg 906.07 322,224 1997-04-01 Tōhoku Akita Akita in Akita Prefecture Ja.svg
Amagasaki 尼崎市 Flag of Amagasaki, Hyogo.svg Emblem of Amagasaki, Hyogo.svg 49.77 451,353 2009-04-01 Kansai Hyōgo Amagasaki in Hyogo Prefecture Ja.svg
Aomori 青森市 Flag of Aomori, Aomori.svg Aomori City Emblem.svg 824.61 297,348 2006-10-01 Tōhoku Aomori Aomori in Aomori Prefecture Ja.svg
Asahikawa 旭川市 Flag of Asahikawa, Hokkaido.svg Emblem of Asahikawa, Hokkaido.svg 747.6 351,765 2000-04-01 Hokkaidō Asahikawa in Hokkaido Prefecture Ja.svg
Fukui 福井市 Flag of Fukui, Fukui.svg Emblem of Fukui, Fukui.svg 536.41 266,612 2019-04-01 Chūbu Fukui Fukui in Fukui prefecture Ja.svg
Fukushima 福島市 Flag of Fukushima, Fukushima.svg Emblem of Fukushima, Fukushima.svg 767.72 289,355 2018-04-01 Tōhoku Fukushima Fukushima in Fukushima Prefecture Ja.svg
Fukuyama 福山市 Flag of Fukuyama, Hiroshima.svg Symbol of Fukuyama Hiroshima.svg 518.14 462,144 1998-04-01 Chūgoku Hiroshima Fukuyama in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Funabashi 船橋市 Flag of Funabashi, Chiba.svg Emblem of Funabashi, Chiba.svg 85.62 610,492 2003-04-01 Kantō Chiba Funabashi in Chiba Prefecture Ja.svg
Gifu 岐阜市 Flag of Gifu, Gifu.svg Emblem of Gifu, Gifu.svg 203.60 412,718 1996-04-01 Chūbu Gifu Gifu in Gifu Prefecture Ja.svg
Hachinohe 八戸市 Flag of Hachinohe, Aomori.svg Symbol of Hachinohe Aomori.svg 305.56 241,613 2017-01-01 Tōhoku Aomori Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture Ja.svg
Hachiōji 八王子市 Flag of Hachioji, Tokyo.svg Emblem of Hachiōji, Tokyo.svg 186.38 579,799 2015-04-01 Kantō Tokyo Hachioji in Tokyo Prefecture Ja.svg
Hakodate 函館市 Flag of Hakodate, Hokkaido.svg Symbol of Hakodate, Hokkaido.svg 677.89 279,056 2005-10-01 Hokkaidō Hakodate in Hokkaido Prefecture Ja.svg
Higashiōsaka 東大阪市 Flag of Higashiosaka, Osaka.svg Emblem of Higashiosaka.svg 61.78 508,267 2005-04-01 Kansai Osaka Higashiosaka in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg
Himeji 姫路市 Flag of Himeji, Hyogo.svg Symbol of Himeji, Hyogo.svg 534.43 536,218 1996-04-01 Kansai Hyōgo Himeji in Hyogo Prefecture Ja.svg
Hirakata 枚方市 Flag of Hirakata, Osaka.svg Emblem of Hirakata, Osaka.svg 65.08 407,997 2014-04-01 Kansai Osaka Hirakata in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg
Ichinomiya 一宮市 Flag of Ichinomiya, Aichi.svg Emblem of Ichinomiya, Aichi.svg 113.82 379,654 2021-04-01 Chūbu Aichi Ichinomiya in Aichi Prefecture Ja.svg
Iwaki いわき市 Flag of Iwaki, Fukushima.svg Symbol of Iwaki Fukushima.svg 1,232.02 332,994 1999-04-01 Tōhoku Fukushima Iwaki in Fukushima Prefecture Ja.svg
Kagoshima 鹿児島市 Flag of Kagoshima, Kagoshima.svg Symbol of Kagoshima, Kagoshima.svg 547.58 607,257 1996-04-01 Kyushu Kagoshima Location of Kagoshima city Kagoshima prefecture Japan.svg
Kashiwa 柏市 Flag of Kashiwa, Chiba.svg 千葉県柏市市章.svg 114.74 404,863 2008-04-01 Kantō Chiba Kashiwa in Chiba Prefecture Ja.svg
Kanazawa 金沢市 Flag of Kanazawa, Ishikawa.svg Emblem of Kanazawa, Ishikawa.svg 468.64 462,796 1996-04-01 Chūbu Ishikawa Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture Ja.svg
Kawagoe 川越市 Flag of Kawagoe, Saitama.svg Emblem of Kawagoe, Saitama.svg 109.13 345,361 2003-04-01 Kantō Saitama Kawagoe in Saitama Prefecture Ja.svg
Kawaguchi 川口市 Flag of Kawaguchi, Saitama.svg 埼玉県川口市市章.svg 61.95 561,788 2018-04-01 Kantō Saitama Kawaguchi in Saitama Prefecture Ja.svg
Kōchi 高知市 Flag of Kochi, Kochi.svg Emblem of Kochi, Kochi.svg 309.22 342,568 1998-04-01 Shikoku Kōchi Kochi in Kochi Prefecture Ja.svg
Kōfu 甲府市 Flag of Kofu, Yamanashi.svg 山梨県甲府市市章.svg 212.47 197,318 2019-04-01 Chūbu Yamanashi Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture Ja.svg
Kōriyama 郡山市 Flag of Koriyama, Fukushima.svg Symbol of Koriyama Fukushima.svg 757.20 331,140 1997-04-01 Tōhoku Fukushima Koriyama in Fukushima Prefecture Ja.svg
Koshigaya 越谷市 Flag of Koshigaya, Saitama.svg Emblem of Koshigaya, Saitama.svg 60.24 328,079 2015-04-01 Kantō Saitama Koshigaya in Saitama Prefecture Ja.svg
Kurashiki 倉敷市 Flag of Kurashiki, Okayama.svg Emblem of Kurashiki, Okayama.svg 355.63 477,086 2002-04-01 Chūgoku Okayama Kurashiki in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg
Kure 呉市 Flag of Kure, Hiroshima.svg Emblem of Kure, Hiroshima.svg 352.80 236,595 2016-04-01 Chūgoku Hiroshima Kure in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg
Kurume 久留米市 Flag of Kurume, Fukuoka.svg Emblem of Kurume, Fukuoka.svg 229.96 301,821 2008-04-01 Kyushu Fukuoka Kurume in Fukuoka Prefecture Ja.svg
Maebashi 前橋市 Flag of Maebashi, Gunma.svg Symbol of Maebashi, Gunma.svg 311.59 338,481 2009-04-01 Kantō Gunma Maebashi in Gunma Prefecture Ja.svg
Matsue 松江市 Flag of Matsue, Shimane.svg Emblem of Matsue, Shimane.svg 572.99 208,160 2018-04-01 Chūgoku Shimane Matsue in Shimane Prefecture Ja.svg
Matsumoto 松本市 Flag of Matsumoto, Nagano.svg Symbol of Matsumoto, Nagano.svg 978.47 239,466 2021-04-01 Chūbu Nagano Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture Ja.svg
Matsuyama 松山市 Flag of Matsuyama, Ehime.svg Emblem of Matsuyama, Ehime.svg 429.40 516,823 2000-04-01 Shikoku Ehime Ehime-matsuyama-city.svg
Mito 水戸市 Flag of Mito, Ibaraki.svg Symbol of Mito Ibaraki.svg 217.32 269,162 2020-04-01 Kantō Ibaraki Mito in Ibaraki Prefecture Ja.svg
Miyazaki 宮崎市 Flag of Miyazaki, Miyazaki.svg Emblem of Miyazaki, Miyazaki.svg 643.67 402,289 1998-04-01 Kyushu Miyazaki Miyazaki in Miyazaki Prefecture Ja.svg
Morioka 盛岡市 Flag of Morioka, Iwate.svg Emblem of Morioka, Iwate.svg 886.47 299,734 2008-04-01 Tōhoku Iwate Morioka in Iwate Prefecture Ja.svg
Naha 那覇市 Flag of Naha, Okinawa.svg Symbol of Naha, Okinawa.svg 39.98 321,695 2013-04-01 Kyushu Okinawa Naha in Okinawa Prefecture Ja.svg
Nagano 長野市 Flag of Nagano, Nagano.svg Symbol of Nagano Nagano.svg 834.81 380,581 1999-04-01 Chūbu Nagano Nagano in Nagano Prefecture Ja.svg
Nagasaki 長崎市 Flag of Nagasaki, Nagasaki.svg Nagasaki Nagasaki chapter.svg 240.71 440,911 1997-04-01 Kyushu Nagasaki Nagasaki in Nagasaki Prefecture Ja.svg
Nara 奈良市 Flag of Nara, Nara.svg Emblem of Nara, Nara.svg 276.84 365,421 2002-04-01 Kansai Nara Nara in Nara Prefecture Ja.svg
Neyagawa 寝屋川市 Flag of Neyagawa, Osaka.svg Symbol of Neyagawa, Osaka.svg 24.73 238,819 2019-04-01 Kansai Osaka Neyagawa in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg
Nishinomiya 西宮市 Flag of Nishinomiya, Hyogo.svg Emblem of Nishinomiya, Hyogo.svg 99.96 483,878 2008-04-01 Kansai Hyōgo Nishinomiya in Hyogo Prefecture Ja.svg
Ōita 大分市 Flag of Oita, Oita.svg Symbol of Oita Oita.svg 502.38 476,008 1997-04-01 Kyushu Ōita Oita in Oita Prefecture Ja.svg
Okazaki 岡崎市 Flag of Okazaki, Aichi.svg Emblem of Okazaki, Aichi.svg 387.20 374,085 2003-04-01 Chūbu Aichi Okazaki in Aichi Prefecture Ja.svg
Ōtsu 大津市 Flag of Otsu, Shiga.svg Emblem of Ōtsu, Shiga.svg 464.51 339,469 2009-04-01 Kansai Shiga Otsu in Shiga Prefecture Ja.svg
Sasebo 佐世保市 Flag of Sasebo, Nagasaki.svg Emblem of Sasebo, Nagasaki.svg 426.06 259,676 2016-04-01 Kyushu Nagasaki Sasebo in Nagasaki Prefecture Ja.svg
Shimonoseki 下関市 Flag of Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi.svg Emblem of Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi.svg 716.14 277,937 2005-10-01 Chūgoku Yamaguchi Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture Ja.svg
Suita 吹田市 Flag of Suita, Osaka.svg Emblem of Suita, Osaka.svg 36.11 357,917 2020-04-01 Kansai Osaka Suita in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg
Takamatsu 高松市 Flag of Takamatsu, Kagawa.svg Emblem of Takamatsu, Kagawa.svg 375.41 420,356 1999-04-01 Shikoku Kagawa Kagawa-takamatsu-city.svg
Takasaki 高崎市 Flag of Takasaki, Gunma.svg 群馬県高崎市市章.svg 459.16 371,820 2011-04-01 Kantō Gunma Takasaki in Gunma Prefecture Ja.svg
Takatsuki 高槻市 Flag of Takatsuki, Osaka.svg Emblem of Takatsuki, Osaka.svg 105.31 355,840 2003-04-01 Kansai Osaka Takatsuki in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg
Tottori 鳥取市 Flag of Tottori, Tottori.svg Emblem of Tottori, Tottori.svg 765.31 196,538 2018-04-01 Chūgoku Tottori Tottori City in Tottori Prefecture Ja.svg
Toyama 富山市 Flag of Toyama, Toyama.svg Symbol of Toyama, Toyama.svg 1,241.77 421,393 2005-04-01 Chūbu Toyama Toyama in Toyama Prefecture Ja.svg
Toyohashi 豊橋市 Flag of Toyohashi, Aichi.svg Emblem of Toyohashi, Aichi.svg 261.86 375,804 1999-04-01 Chūbu Aichi Toyohashi in Aichi Prefecture Ja.svg
Toyonaka 豊中市 Flag of Toyonaka, Osaka.svg Emblem of Toyonaka, Osaka.svg 36.38 390,457 2012-04-01 Kansai Osaka Toyonaka in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg
Toyota 豊田市 Flag of Toyota, Aichi.svg Emblem of Toyota, Aichi.svg 918.32 420,680 1998-04-01 Chūbu Aichi Toyota in Aichi Prefecture Ja.svg
Utsunomiya 宇都宮市 Flag of Utsunomiya, Tochigi.svg Emblem of Utsunomiya, Tochigi.svg 416.85 513,722 1996-04-01 Kantō Tochigi Utsunomiya in Tochigi Prefecture Ja.svg
Wakayama 和歌山市 Flag of Wakayama, Wakayama.svg Symbol of Wakayama, Wakayama.svg 210.25 368,684 1997-04-01 Kansai Wakayama Wakayama in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg
Yamagata 山形市 Flag of Yamagata, Yamagata.svg Emblem of Yamagata, Yamagata.svg 381.58 254,519 2019-04-01 Tōhoku Yamagata Yamagata in Yamagata Prefecture Ja.svg
Yao 八尾市 Flag of Yao, Osaka.svg Emblem of Yao, Osaka.svg 41.71 270,735 2018-04-01 Kansai Osaka Yao in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg
Yokosuka 横須賀市 Flag of Yokosuka, Kanagawa.svg 神奈川県横須賀市市章.svg 100.7 415,259 2001-04-01 Kantō Kanagawa 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 浜松市 Flag of Hamamatsu, Shizuoka.svg Symbol of Hamamatsu Shizuoka chapter.svg 1,558.06 795,350 1996-04-01 2007-04-01 (Designated city) Chūbu Shizuoka Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture Ja.svg
Kumamoto 熊本市 Flag of Kumamoto, Kumamoto.svg Emblem of Kumamoto, Kumamoto.svg 390.32 737,812 1996-04-01 2012-04-01 (Designated city) Kyushu Kumamoto Kumamoto in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Niigata 新潟市 Flag of Niigata, Niigata.svg Emblem of Niigata, Niigata.svg 726.45 807,450 1996-04-01 2007-04-01 (Designated city) Chūbu Niigata Niigata in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg
Okayama 岡山市 Flag of Okayama, Okayama.svg Emblem of Okayama, Okayama.svg 789.95 720,841 1996-04-01 2009-04-01 (Designated city) Chūgoku Okayama Okayama in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg
Sagamihara 相模原市 Flag of Sagamihara, Kanagawa.svg 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 Sagamihara in Kanagawa Prefecture Ja.svg
Sakai 堺市 Flag of Sakai, Osaka.svg Emblem of Sakai, Osaka.svg 149.82 833,544 1996-04-01 2006-04-01 (Designated city) Kansai Osaka Sakai in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg
Shizuoka 静岡市 Flag of Shizuoka, Shizuoka.svg Emblem of Shizuoka, Shizuoka.svg 1,411.90 697,578 1996-04-01 2005-04-01 (Designated city) Chūbu Shizuoka 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 茅ヶ崎市 Flag of Chigasaki, Kanagawa.svg 神奈川県茅ヶ崎市市章.svg 35.71 236,222 2020-04-01 Kantō Kanagawa Chigasaki in Kanagawa Prefecture Ja.svg
Fuji 富士市 Flag of Fuji, Shizuoka.svg Emblem of Fuji, Shizuoka.svg 244.95 253,455 TBD Chūbu Shizuoka Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture Ja.svg
Kishiwada 岸和田市 Flag of Kishiwada, Osaka.svg Emblem of Kishiwada, Osaka.svg 72.68 198,615 2020-04-01 Kansai Osaka Kishiwada in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg
Odawara 小田原市 Flag of Odawara, Kanagawa.svg 神奈川県小田原市市章.svg 113.79 197,413 2020-04-01 Kantō Kanagawa 基礎自治体位置図 14206.svg
Tsukuba つくば市 Flag of Tsukuba, Ibaraki.svg Symbol of Tsukuba Ibaraki.svg 283.72 216,221 TBD Kantō Ibaraki Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture Ja.svg
Tokorozawa 所沢市 Flag of Tokorozawa, Saitama.svg Emblem of Tokorozawa, Saitama.svg 72.11 342,321 TBD Kantō Saitama Tokorozawa in Saitama Prefecture Ja.svg
Yokkaichi 四日市市 Flag of Yokkaichi, Mie.svg Emblem of Yokkaichi, Mie.svg 206.44 307,599 2020 (aiming) Kansai Mie 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 上尾市 Flag of Ageo, Saitama.svg Emblem of Ageo, Saitama.svg 45.51 229,517 Kantō Saitama Ageo in Saitama Prefecture Ja.svg
Chōfu 調布市 Flag of Chofu, Tokyo.svg Emblem of Chōfu, Tokyo.svg 21.58 240,668 Kantō Tokyo Chofu in Tokyo Prefecture Ja.svg
Fuchū 府中市 Flag of Fuchu, Tokyo.svg 東京都府中市市章.svg 29.43 260,891 Kantō Tokyo Fuchu in Tokyo Prefecture Ja.svg
Fujisawa 藤沢市 Flag of Fujisawa, Kanagawa.svg 神奈川県藤沢市市章.svg 69.57 420,254 Kantō Kanagawa Fujisawa in Kanagawa Prefecture Ja.svg
Ichihara 市原市 Flag of Ichihara, Chiba.svg Emblem of Ichihara, Chiba.svg 368.17 274,117 Kantō Chiba Ichihara in Chiba Prefecture Ja.svg
Ichikawa 市川市 Flag of Ichikawa, Chiba.svg 千葉県市川市市章.svg 56.39 491,804 Kantō Chiba Ichikawa in Chiba Prefecture Ja.svg
Machida 町田市 Flag of Machida, Tokyo.svg Emblem of Machida, Tokyo.svg 71.80 429,040 Kantō Tokyo Machida in Tokyo Prefecture Ja.svg
Matsudo 松戸市 Flag of Matsudo, Chiba.svg Matsudo Chiba chapter.svg 61.38 498,575 Kantō Chiba Matsudo in Chiba Prefecture Ja.svg
Nishitokyo 西東京市 Flag of Nishitokyo, Tokyo.svg Emblem of Nishitokyo, Tokyo.svg 15.75 206,047 Kantō Tokyo Nishitokyo in Tokyo Prefecture Ja.svg
Tokushima 徳島市 Flag of Tokushima, Tokushima.svg Emblem of Tokushima, Tokushima.svg 191 258,554 Shikoku Tokushima Tokushima in Tokushima Prefecture Ja.svg
Tsu 津市 Flag of Tsu, Mie.svg Emblem of Tsu, Mie.svg 711.11 279,304 Kansai Mie Tsu in Mie prefecture Ja.svg

See also

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