二十三区(にじゅうさんく)

にじゅうさんく
noun
the 23 (special) wards of Tokyo
geography
1. the 23 (special) wards of Tokyo
The twenty-three special wards (特別区(とくべつく)) that together make up the central, urban core of Tokyo, distinct from the rest of Tokyo Metropolis (which includes outer cities such as Hachioji and the Tama region). Each ward functions as an independent municipality with its own elected mayor and assembly, but together they correspond to what is loosely called 'central Tokyo' or simply 'Tokyo' in casual English.
東京(とうきょう)二十三区(にじゅうさんく)に住(す)んでいる。
I live in Tokyo's 23 wards.
二十三区(にじゅうさんく)の家賃(やちん)は特(とく)に高(たか)い。
Rent in the 23 wards is especially high.
都心(としん)と呼(よ)ばれるのは主(おも)に二十三区(にじゅうさんく)の中央(ちゅうおう)部分(ぶぶん)だ。
What is called the city center is mainly the central part of the 23 wards.
二十三区(にじゅうさんく)内(ない)と都下(とか)とでは、税金(ぜいきん)や行政(ぎょうせい)サービスの仕組(しく)みが微妙(びみょう)に異(こと)なっている。
The tax structure and administrative services differ slightly between within the 23 wards and the outer Tokyo area.

Composed of 二十三(にじゅうさん) (twenty-three) and 区(く) (ward; district). Often written with numerals as 23区(く), especially in informal contexts and on signage.

Usage

A fixed term referring specifically to Tokyo's 23 special wards: Chiyoda, Chuo, Minato, Shinjuku, Bunkyo, Taito, Sumida, Koto, Shinagawa, Meguro, Ota, Setagaya, Shibuya, Nakano, Suginami, Toshima, Kita, Arakawa, Itabashi, Nerima, Adachi, Katsushika, and Edogawa. Common phrases include 二十三区(にじゅうさんく)内(ない) (inside the 23 wards) and 二十三区(にじゅうさんく)外(がい) (outside the 23 wards). The contrasting term for the rest of Tokyo Metropolis is 都下(とか) or 多摩(たま)地域(ちいき). Real-estate listings, restaurant rankings, and public transport guides routinely use this distinction.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 特別区(とくべつく): special ward — the formal legal designation; only Tokyo has these
  • 都下(とか): areas of Tokyo Metropolis outside the 23 wards
  • 都心(としん): the city center; usually refers to the inner ring of wards (Chiyoda, Chuo, Minato)
  • 首都圏(しゅとけん): greater Tokyo area — the much broader region including Saitama, Chiba, and Kanagawa

Related Words

Compare: 特別区 (special ward)
Compare: 都心(としん) (the city center)
Compare: 首都圏(しゅとけん) (greater Tokyo area)
general
Added 2026.4.14 5:22 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
23500/23665_nijuusanku