INI
Types of Local Governments in Japan - INI
The types of local governments in Japan are a classification system of local public entities established under the Local Autonomy Law. They are broadly divided into ordinary local public entities (prefectures and municipalities) and special local public entities (special wards, associations of local public entities, and property wards). Prefectures are wide-area local public entities that encompass municipalities, while municipalities are basic local public entities that provide administrative services closest to residents. Special wards refer to the 23 wards of Tokyo, functioning as basic local public entities similar to municipalities, but legally classified as special local public entities.
local autonomy
local public entities
prefectures
municipalities
special wards
Local Autonomy Law
administrative divisions
[item.prefecture]
code=1
slug=prefecture
name=Prefecture
description=Wide-area local public entities that encompass municipalities.
category=Ordinary Local Public Entity (Wide-area)
count=47
[item.city]
code=2
slug=city
name=City
description=Basic local public entities with a population of 50,000 or more.
category=Ordinary Local Public Entity (Basic)
count=792
[item.town]
code=3
slug=town
name=Town
description=Basic local public entities in areas that do not qualify as cities.
category=Ordinary Local Public Entity (Basic)
count=743
[item.village]
code=4
slug=village
name=Village
description=Basic local public entities in agricultural and mountain village areas.
category=Ordinary Local Public Entity (Basic)
count=183
[item.special-ward]
code=5
slug=special-ward
name=Special Ward
description=The wards of Tokyo, functioning as basic local public entities similar to municipalities.
category=Special Local Public Entity (Basic)
count=23
[item.association]
code=6
slug=association
name=Association of Local Public Entities
description=Organizations for multiple local public entities to jointly handle administrative affairs.
category=Special Local Public Entity
count=
[item.property-ward]
code=7
slug=property-ward
name=Property Ward
description=Entities within municipalities or special wards for managing property and public facilities.
category=Special Local Public Entity
count=