View source for Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan

{{short description|Type of Japanese city}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2013}}
{{expand Japanese|政令指定都市|date=October 2013|topic=gov}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}

[[File:Japan ordinance designated cities (en).svg|right|frameless]]
A {{Nihongo|'''city designated by government ordinance'''|政令指定都市|seirei shitei toshi}}, also known as a {{Nihongo|'''designated city'''|指定都市|shitei toshi}} or {{Nihongo|'''government ordinance city'''|政令市|seirei shi}}, is a [[Cities of Japan|Japanese city]] that has a population greater than 500,000 and has been designated as such by order of the [[Cabinet of Japan]] under Article 252, Section 19, of the [[Local Autonomy Law]].

Designated cities are delegated many of the functions normally performed by [[prefectures of Japan|prefectural governments]] in fields such as public education, social welfare, sanitation, business licensing, and urban planning. The city government is generally delegated the various minor administrative functions in each area, and the prefectural government retains authority over major decisions. For instance, pharmaceutical retailers and small clinics can be licensed by designated city governments, but pharmacies and hospitals are licensed by prefectural governments.

Designated cities are also required to subdivide themselves into {{nihongo|[[wards of Japan|wards]]|区|ku}} (broadly equivalent to the [[boroughs of London]] or the [[boroughs of New York City]]), each of which has a ward office conducting various administrative functions for the city government, such as ''[[koseki]]'' and ''[[juminhyo]]'' resident registration and tax collection. In some cities, ward offices are responsible for business licensing, construction permits, and other administrative matters. The structure and the authorities of the wards are determined by municipal ordinances.

The [[special wards of Tokyo|23 special wards of Tokyo]] are not part of this system, as Tokyo is a prefecture, and its wards are effectively independent cities. Although the two largest wards of Tokyo, [[Setagaya, Tokyo|Setagaya]] and [[Nerima, Tokyo|Nerima]], are populous enough to become designated cities, they are not considered to be "cities" within the meaning of the Local Autonomy Law and so are not designated as such.

No city designated by government ordinance has ever lost that status.

{{Administrative divisions of Japan}}

== List of designated cities==
{{Location map+ | Japan complete
| width = 300
| caption = Designated cites in Japan (except for Kanto region and Kansai area)<br/>7:&nbsp;Okayama, 8:&nbsp;Hiroshima, 9:&nbsp;Kitakyushu
| places =
  {{Location map~ | Japan complete
    | label = Sapporo
    | position =
    | background = 
    | mark = Red pog.svg
    | alt = 
    | link = Sapporo
    | lat_deg = 43 | lat_min = 4 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 141 | lon_min = 21  | lon_dir = E
  }}
  {{Location map~| Japan complete
    | label = Sendai
    | position =
    | background = 
    | mark = Red pog.svg
    | alt = 
    | link = Sendai
    | lat_deg = 38 | lat_min = 16 | lat_sec = 5.6 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 140 | lon_min = 52 | lon_sec = 9.9 | lon_dir = E
  }}
  {{Location map~| Japan complete
    | label = Niigata
    | position = left
    | background = 
    | mark = Red pog.svg
    | alt = 
    | link = Niigata (city)
    | lat_deg = 37 | lat_min = 54 | lat_sec = 58.3 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 139| lon_min = 2| lon_sec = 11 | lon_dir = E
  }}
  {{Location map~ | Japan complete
    | label = Shizuoka
    | position = right
    | background = 
    | mark = Red pog.svg
    | alt = 
    | link = Shizuoka (city)
    | lat_deg = 34| lat_min = 58 | lat_sec = 32 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 138| lon_min = 22 | lon_sec = 58 | lon_dir = E
  }}
  {{Location map~ | Japan complete
    | label = Hamamatsu
    | position = bottom
    | background = 
    | mark = Red pog.svg
    | alt = Hamamatsu
    | link = Hamamatsu
    | lat_deg = 34| lat_min = 42 | lat_sec = 39 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 137| lon_min = 43 | lon_sec = 39 | lon_dir = E
  }}
  {{Location map~ | Japan complete
    | label = Nagoya
    | position = top
    | background = 
    | mark = Red pog.svg
    | alt = Nagoya
    | link = Nagoya
    | lat_deg = 35 | lat_min = 11 | lat_sec =  | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 136 | lon_min = 54 | lon_sec =  | lon_dir = E
  }}
  {{Location map~ | Japan complete
    | label = 7
    | position = top
    | background = 
    | mark = Red pog.svg
    | alt = Okayama
    | link = Okayama
    | lat_deg = 34 | lat_min = 39 | lat_sec =  | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 133 | lon_min = 55 | lon_sec =  | lon_dir = E
  }}
  {{Location map~ | Japan complete
    | label = 8
    | position = top
    | background = 
    | mark = Red pog.svg
    | alt = Hiroshima
    | link = Hiroshima
    | lat_deg = 34 | lat_min = 23 | lat_sec = 7 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 132 | lon_min = 27 | lon_sec = 19 | lon_dir = E
  }}
  {{Location map~ | Japan complete
    | label = 9
    | position = top
    | background = 
    | mark = Red pog.svg
    | alt = Kitakyushu
    | link = Kitakyushu
    | lat_deg = 33 | lat_min = 53 | lat_sec =  | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 130 | lon_min = 53 | lon_sec =  | lon_dir = E
  }}
  {{Location map~ | Japan complete
    | label = Fukuoka
    | position = left
    | background = 
    | mark = Red pog.svg
    | alt = Fukuoka
    | link = Fukuoka
    | lat_deg = 33 | lat_min = 35 | lat_sec =  | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 130 | lon_min = 24 | lon_sec =  | lon_dir = E
  }}
  {{Location map~ | Japan complete
    | label = Kumamoto
    | position = right
    | background = 
    | mark = Red pog.svg
    | alt = Kumamoto
    | link = Kumamoto
    | lat_deg = 32 | lat_min = 47 | lat_sec =  | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 130 | lon_min = 44 | lon_sec =  | lon_dir = E
  }}
}}
{{Location map+ | Japan Kanto
| width = 300
| caption = Designated cites in Kanto region area
| places =
  {{Location map~ | Japan Kanto
    | label = Saitama
    | position =top
    | background = 
    | mark = Red pog.svg
    | alt = 
    | link = Saitama (city)
    | lat_deg = 35| lat_min = 51 | lat_sec = 41 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 139| lon_min = 38| lon_sec = 44 | lon_dir = E
  }}
  {{Location map~| Japan Kanto
    | label = Chiba
    | position =
    | background = 
    | mark = Red pog.svg
    | alt = 
    | link = Chiba (city)
    | lat_deg = 35 | lat_min = 36 | lat_sec = 26.2 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 140 | lon_min = 6 | lon_sec = 22.9 | lon_dir = E
  }}
  {{Location map~| Japan Kanto
    | label = Kawasaki
    | position = 
    | background = 
    | mark = Red pog.svg
    | alt = 
    | link = Kawasaki, Kanagawa
    | lat_deg = 35 | lat_min = 31 | lat_sec =  | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 139| lon_min = 42| lon_sec =  | lon_dir = E
  }}
  {{Location map~ | Japan Kanto
    | label = Yokohama
    | position =left
    | background = 
    | mark = Red pog.svg
    | alt = 
    | link = Yokohama
    | lat_deg = 35| lat_min = 26 | lat_sec = 39 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 139| lon_min = 38| lon_sec = 17 | lon_dir = E
  }}
  {{Location map~ | Japan Kanto
    | label = Sagamihara
    | position =left
    | background = 
    | mark = Red pog.svg
    | alt = 
    | link = Sagamihara
    | lat_deg = 35| lat_min = 34 | lat_sec =  | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 139| lon_min = 22 | lon_sec =  | lon_dir = E
  }}
}}

{{Location map+ | Japan Kansai
| width = 300
| caption = Designated cites in Kansai area and Western Tōkai area
| places =
  {{Location map~ | Japan Kansai
    | label = Nagoya
    | position = top
    | background = 
    | mark = Red pog.svg
    | alt = Nagoya
    | link = Nagoya
    | lat_deg = 35 | lat_min = 11 | lat_sec =  | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 136 | lon_min = 54 | lon_sec =  | lon_dir = E
  }}
  {{Location map~ | Japan Kansai
    | label = Kyoto
    | position = top
    | background = 
    | mark = Red pog.svg
    | alt = Kyoto
    | link = Kyoto
    | lat_deg = 35 | lat_min = 0 | lat_sec = 42 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 135 | lon_min = 46 | lon_sec = 6 | lon_dir = E
  }}
  {{Location map~ | Japan Kansai
    | label = Osaka
    | position = 
    | background = 
    | mark = Red pog.svg
    | alt = Osaka
    | link = Osaka
    | lat_deg = 34 | lat_min = 41 | lat_sec = 38 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 135 | lon_min = 30 | lon_sec = 8 | lon_dir = E
  }}
  {{Location map~ | Japan Kansai
    | label = Sakai
    | position = bottom
    | background = 
    | mark = Red pog.svg
    | alt = Sakai
    | link = Sakai
    | lat_deg = 34 | lat_min = 34 | lat_sec = 24 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 135 | lon_min = 28 | lon_sec = 59 | lon_dir = E
  }}
  {{Location map~ | Japan Kansai
    | label = Kobe
    | position = top
    | background = 
    | mark = Red pog.svg
    | alt = Kobe
    | link = Kobe
    | lat_deg = 34 | lat_min = 41 | lat_sec = 24 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 135 | lon_min = 11 | lon_sec = 44 | lon_dir = E
  }}
}}
Cities designated by government ordinance have been established since 1956.<ref>{{cite web |author=Jacobs, A.J. |url=http://www.hindawi.com/journals/usr/2011/692764/ |title=Japan's Evolving Nested Municipal Hierarchy: The Race for Local Power in the 2000s |publisher=Hindawi, Urban Studies Research, Vol. 2011 (2011), [[doi:10.1155/2011/692764]] |access-date=March 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801090045/http://www.hindawi.com/journals/usr/2011/692764/ |archive-date=1 August 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Name
! Japanese
!Skyline
!Flag
!Emblem
!Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
![[List of Japanese cities by population|Population]]
!Population density
! Date of designation
! Region
! Prefecture
! No. of wards
! Lists of wards
!Map
|-
| [[Chiba, Chiba|Chiba]]
| {{lang|ja|千葉市}}
|[[File:View from Chiba Prefectural Government Office Main Building, north side 001.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:Flag_of_Chiba,_Chiba.svg|border|50x50px]]
|[[File:Emblem of Chiba, Chiba.svg|24x24px]]
|271.77
| style="text-align:right;"|972,861
|3,613
| 1992-04-01
| [[Kantō region|Kantō]]
| [[Chiba Prefecture|Chiba]]
| {{0}}6
| [[Chiba, Chiba#Wards|List]]
|[[File:Chiba in Chiba Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|32x32px]]
|-
| [[Fukuoka]]
| {{lang|ja|福岡市}}
|[[File:Fukuoka night view.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:Flag of Fukuoka, Fukuoka.svg|border|50x50px]]
|[[File:Emblem of Fukuoka, Fukuoka.svg|23x23px]]
|343.39
| style="text-align:right;"|1,579,450
|4,668
| 1972-04-01
| [[Kyushu]]
| [[Fukuoka Prefecture|Fukuoka]]
| {{0}}7
| [[Fukuoka#Wards|List]]
|[[File:Fukuoka City in Fukuoka Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|32x32px]]
|-
| [[Hamamatsu]]
| {{lang|ja|浜松市}}
|[[File:Skyline of Hamamatsu01.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:Flag_of_Hamamatsu,_Shizuoka.svg|border|50x50px]]
|[[File:Symbol of Hamamatsu Shizuoka chapter.svg|23x23px]]
|1,558.06
| style="text-align:right;"|795,350
|506
| 2007-04-01
| [[Chūbu region|Chūbu]]
| [[Shizuoka Prefecture|Shizuoka]]
| {{0}}7
| [[Hamamatsu#Wards|List]]
|[[File:Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|36x36px]]
|-
| [[Hiroshima]]
| {{lang|ja|広島市}}
|[[File:Night views from Mount Kogane01.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:Flag_of_Hiroshima,_Hiroshima.svg|border|50x50px]]
|[[File:Emblem of Hiroshima, Hiroshima.svg|23x23px]]
|906.68
| style="text-align:right;"|1,194,524
|1,321
| 1980-04-01
| [[Chūgoku region|Chūgoku]]
| [[Hiroshima Prefecture|Hiroshima]]
| {{0}}8
| [[Hiroshima#Wards|List]]
|[[File:Hiroshima in Hiroshima Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|36x36px]]
|-
| [[Kawasaki, Kanagawa|Kawasaki]]
| {{lang|ja|川崎市}}
|[[File:Musashi-Kosugi20190504.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:Flag_of_Kawasaki,_Kanagawa.svg|border|50x50px]]
|[[File:神奈川県川崎市市章.svg|23x23px]]
|143.01
| style="text-align:right;"|1,503,690
|10,765
| 1972-04-01
| [[Kantō region|Kantō]]
| [[Kanagawa Prefecture|Kanagawa]]
| {{0}}7
| [[Kawasaki, Kanagawa#Wards|List]]
|[[File:Kawasaki in Kanagawa Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|43x43px]]
|-
| [[Kitakyushu]]
| {{lang|ja|北九州市}}
|[[File:KokuraSkylines02.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:Flag_of_Kitakyushu,_Fukuoka.svg|border|50x50px]]
|[[File:Symbol of Kitakyushu, Fukuoka.svg|23x23px]]
|491.95
| style="text-align:right;"|945,595
|1,901
| 1963-04-01
| [[Kyushu]]
| [[Fukuoka Prefecture|Fukuoka]]
| {{0}}7
| [[Kitakyūshū#Wards|List]]
|[[File:Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|32x32px]]
|-
| [[Kobe]]
| {{lang|ja|神戸市}}
|[[File:Kobe Meriken Park area at night 2016-06-14.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:Flag_of_Kobe.svg|border|50x50px]]
|[[File:Emblem of Kobe, Hyogo.svg|23x23px]]
|557.02
| style="text-align:right;"|1,526,639
|2,719
| 1956-09-01
| [[Kansai region|Kansai]]
| [[Hyōgo Prefecture|Hyōgo]]
| {{0}}9
| [[Kobe#Wards|List]]
|[[File:Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|32x32px]]
|-
| [[Kumamoto]]
| {{lang|ja|熊本市}}
|[[File:Kumamoto Station west gate2021.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:Flag_of_Kumamoto,_Kumamoto.svg|border|50x50px]]
|[[File:Emblem of Kumamoto, Kumamoto.svg|24x24px]]
|390.32
| style="text-align:right;"|737,812
|1,892
| 2012-04-01
| [[Kyushu]]
| [[Kumamoto Prefecture|Kumamoto]]
| {{0}}5
| [[Kumamoto#Wards|List]]
|[[File:Kumamoto in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|34x34px]]
|-
| [[Kyoto]]
| {{lang|ja|京都市}}
|[[File:Skyline of Kyoto at Night.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:Flag_of_Kyoto_City.svg|border|50x50px]]
|[[File:Emblem of Kyoto, Kyoto.svg|25x25px]]
|827.83
| style="text-align:right;"|1,468,980
|1,758
| 1956-09-01
| [[Kansai region|Kansai]]
| [[Kyoto Prefecture|Kyoto]]
| 11
| [[Kyoto#Wards|List]]
|[[File:Kyoto in Kyoto Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|32x32px]]
|-
| [[Nagoya]]
| {{lang|ja|名古屋市}}
| [[File:Nagoya Night View.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:Flag_of_Nagoya,_Aichi.svg|border|50x50px]]
|[[File:Emblem of Nagoya, Aichi.svg|23x23px]]
|326.45
| style="text-align:right;"|2,283,289
|7,128
| 1956-09-01
| [[Chūbu region|Chūbu]]
| [[Aichi Prefecture|Aichi]]
| 16
| [[Nagoya#Wards|List]]
|[[File:Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|36x36px]]
|-
| [[Niigata, Niigata|Niigata]]
| {{lang|ja|新潟市}}
|[[File:Niigata City 2022-01.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:Flag_of_Niigata,_Niigata.svg|border|50x50px]]
|[[File:Emblem of Niigata, Niigata.svg|23x23px]]
|726.45
| style="text-align:right;"|807,450
|1,089
| 2007-04-01
| [[Chūbu region|Chūbu]]
| [[Niigata Prefecture|Niigata]]
| {{0}}8
| [[Niigata, Niigata#Wards|List]]
|[[File:Niigata in Niigata Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|32x32px]]
|-
| [[Okayama]]
| {{lang|ja|岡山市}}
|[[File:Okayama Station west side - panoramio.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:Flag of Okayama, Okayama.svg|border|50x50px]]
|[[File:Emblem of Okayama, Okayama.svg|23x23px]]
|789.95
| style="text-align:right;"|720,841
|912
| 2009-04-01
| [[Chūgoku region|Chūgoku]]
| [[Okayama Prefecture|Okayama]]
| {{0}}4
| [[Okayama#Geography|List]]
|[[File:Okayama in Okayama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|32x32px]]
|-
| [[Osaka]]
| {{lang|ja|大阪市}}
|[[File:Osaka Umeda Sky Building Panoramablick 05.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:Flag_of_Osaka,_Osaka.svg|border|50x50px]]
|[[File:Emblem of Osaka, Osaka.svg|23x23px]]
|225.21
| style="text-align:right;"|2,727,255
|12,226
| 1956-09-01
| [[Kansai region|Kansai]]
| [[Osaka Prefecture|Osaka]]
| 24
| [[Osaka#List of wards|List]]
|[[File:Osaka in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|32x32px]]
|-
| [[Sagamihara]]
| {{lang|ja|相模原市}}
|[[File:SagamiharaCity202108.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:Flag_of_Sagamihara,_Kanagawa.svg|border|50x50px]]
|[[File:神奈川県相模原市市章.svg|23x23px]]
|328.91
| style="text-align:right;"|720,986
|2,198
| 2010-04-01
| [[Kantō region|Kantō]]
| [[Kanagawa Prefecture|Kanagawa]]
| {{0}}3
| [[Sagamihara#Wards|List]]
|[[File:Sagamihara in Kanagawa Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|43x43px]]
|-
| [[Saitama, Saitama|Saitama]]
| {{lang|ja|さいたま市}}
|[[File:SaitamaShintoshin night view.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:Flag_of_Saitama,_Saitama.svg|border|50x50px]]
|[[File:Emblem of Saitama, Saitama.svg|23x23px]]
|217.43
| style="text-align:right;"|1,226,656
|6,072
| 2003-04-01
| [[Kantō region|Kantō]]
| [[Saitama Prefecture|Saitama]]
| 10
| [[Saitama, Saitama#Wards|List]]
|[[File:Saitama in Saitama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|56x56px]]
|-
| [[Sakai]]
| {{lang|ja|堺市}}
|[[File:Old Sakai Port202002.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:Flag_of_Sakai,_Osaka.svg|border|50x50px]]
|[[File:Emblem of Sakai, Osaka.svg|23x23px]]
|149.82
| style="text-align:right;"|833,544
|5,500
| 2006-04-01
| [[Kansai region|Kansai]]
| [[Osaka Prefecture|Osaka]]
| {{0}}7
| [[Sakai#Wards|List]]
|[[File:Sakai in Osaka Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|32x32px]]
|-
| [[Sapporo]]
| {{lang|ja|札幌市}}
|[[File:SapporoCity Skylines2020.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:Flag_of_Sapporo,_Hokkaido.svg|border|50x50px]]
|[[File:Symbol of Sapporo, Hokkaido.svg|26x26px]]
|1,121.26
| style="text-align:right;"|1,955,115
|1,750
| 1972-04-01
| [[Hokkaido]]
| [[Hokkaido]]
| 10
| [[Sapporo#Wards|List]]
|[[File:Location of Sapporo city Hokkaido Japan.svg|frameless|32x32px]]
|-
| [[Sendai]]
| {{lang|ja|仙台市}}
|[[File:SendaiCity Skylines from Mukaiyama2018.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:Flag_of_Sendai,_Miyagi.svg|border|50x50px]]
|[[File:Symbol of Sendai, Miyagi.svg|23x23px]]
|786.30
| style="text-align:right;"|1,088,669
|1,389
| 1989-04-01
| [[Tōhoku region|Tōhoku]]
| [[Miyagi Prefecture|Miyagi]]
| {{0}}5
| [[Sendai#Governance|List]]
|[[File:Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|32x32px]]
|-
| [[Shizuoka, Shizuoka|Shizuoka]]
| {{lang|ja|静岡市}}
|[[File:Higashi-Shizuoka Panorama 05.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:Flag_of_Shizuoka,_Shizuoka.svg|border|50x50px]]
|[[File:Emblem of Shizuoka, Shizuoka.svg|23x23px]]
|1,411.90
| style="text-align:right;"|697,578
|486
| 2005-04-01
| [[Chūbu region|Chūbu]]
| [[Shizuoka Prefecture|Shizuoka]]
| {{0}}3
| [[Shizuoka, Shizuoka#Wards|List]]
|[[File:Location of Shizuoka city Shizuoka prefecture Japan.svg|frameless|41x41px]]
|-
| [[Yokohama]]
| {{lang|ja|横浜市}}
|[[File:Skyline ofe YokohamaCity2020.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:Flag_of_Yokohama,_Kanagawa.svg|border|50x50px]]
|[[File:Emblem of Yokohama, Kanagawa.svg|23x23px]]
|437.56
| style="text-align:right;"|3,732,616
|8,588
| 1956-09-01
| [[Kantō region|Kantō]]
| [[Kanagawa Prefecture|Kanagawa]]
| 18
| [[Yokohama#Wards|List]]
|[[File:Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|43x43px]]
|}

<gallery mode=packed heights=150>
</gallery>

== Designated city requirements ==
To become a candidate for designated city status, a city must have a population greater than 500,000. An application for designation is made by a city with the approval of both the city and the prefectural assemblies.

The following cities have populations greater than 500,000 but have not yet been nominated.
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=80% style="font-size:100%;" align=center
|-
! Name
! Japanese
!Flag
!Emblem
!Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
! Population ([[List of Japanese cities by population|2012]])
! Region
! Prefecture
!Map
|-
| [[Funabashi]]
| {{lang|ja|船橋市}}
|[[File:Flag of Funabashi, Chiba.svg|50x50px]]
|[[File:Emblem of Funabashi, Chiba.svg|frameless|30x30px]]
|85.62
| 610,492
| [[Kantō region|Kantō]]
| [[Chiba Prefecture|Chiba]]
|[[File:Funabashi in Chiba Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|32x32px]]
|-
| [[Hachiōji]]
| {{lang|ja|八王子市}}
|[[File:Flag of Hachioji, Tokyo.svg|50x50px]]
|[[File:Emblem of Hachiōji, Tokyo.svg|frameless|30x30px]]
|186.38
| 579,799
| [[Kantō region|Kantō]]
| [[Tokyo]]
|[[File:Hachioji in Tokyo Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|42x42px]]
|-
| [[Himeji]]
| {{lang|ja|姫路市}}
|[[File:Flag of Himeji, Hyogo.svg|50x50px]]
|[[File:Symbol of Himeji, Hyogo.svg|frameless|30x30px]]
|534.43
| 536,218
| [[Kansai region|Kansai]]
| [[Hyōgo Prefecture|Hyōgo]]
|[[File:Himeji in Hyogo Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|32x32px]]
|-
| [[Kagoshima]]
| {{lang|ja|鹿児島市}}
|[[File:Flag of Kagoshima, Kagoshima.svg|50x50px]]
|[[File:Symbol of Kagoshima, Kagoshima.svg|frameless|30x30px]]
|547.58
| 607,257
| [[Kyushu]]
| [[Kagoshima Prefecture|Kagoshima]]
|[[File:Location of Kagoshima city Kagoshima prefecture Japan.svg|frameless|32x32px]]
|-
| [[Kawaguchi, Saitama|Kawaguchi]]
| {{lang|ja|川口市}}
|[[File:Flag of Kawaguchi, Saitama.svg|50x50px]]
|[[File:埼玉県川口市市章.svg|frameless|30x30px]]
|61.95
| 561,788
| [[Kantō region|Kantō]]
| [[Saitama Prefecture|Saitama]]
|[[File:Kawaguchi in Saitama Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|56x56px]]
|-
| [[Matsuyama]]
| {{lang|ja|松山市}}
|[[File:Flag of Matsuyama, Ehime.svg|50x50px]]
|[[File:Emblem of Matsuyama, Ehime.svg|frameless|31x31px]]
|429.40
| 516,823
| [[Shikoku]]
| [[Ehime Prefecture|Ehime]]
|[[File:Ehime-matsuyama-city.svg|frameless|32x32px]]
|-
| [[Utsunomiya]]
| {{lang|ja|宇都宮市}}
|[[File:Flag of Utsunomiya, Tochigi.svg|50x50px]]
|[[File:Emblem of Utsunomiya, Tochigi.svg|frameless|30x30px]]
|416.85
| 513,722
| [[Kantō region|Kantō]]
| [[Tochigi Prefecture|Tochigi]]
|[[File:Utsunomiya in Tochigi Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|32x32px]]
|}

==History==
The first form of the designated city system was enacted under Japan local government system in 1878 with the introduction of "wards." Under that system, wards existed in every city. Most cities had only one ward, but the largest cities at the time (Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto) were divided into 15, four, and two wards, respectively.

The municipal system enacted in 1889 replaced ward assemblies with city assemblies but retained ward assemblies in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, which had no assembly of their own but were governed by the prefectural assembly. In 1898, the three cities were allowed to form city assemblies. The ward system was adopted by three more cities prior to World War II: [[Nagoya]] (1908), [[Yokohama]] (1927), and [[Kobe]] (1931). Under a 1911 statute, wards were granted a corporate personality and so treated as local entities.

Following the war, the 1947 Local Autonomy Law grandfathered in the five subdivided cities (Tokyo having become a prefecture in 1943) as {{nihongo|[[special cities of Japan|special cities]]|特別市|tokubetsu shi}}. The system was replaced by the designated city system when the Local Autonomy Law was amended, in 1956.

During the ensuing Japanese economic growth period, the government required designated cities to be forecast to reach a population of one million within the near future, but the requirement was dropped in 2005 to accommodate several geographically large cities that were formed by mergers, under the government of [[Junichiro Koizumi]].

==See also==
* [[Administrative divisions of Japan]]
* [[Urban area]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://citymayors.com/mayors/japanese-mayors.html Directory of Designated Cities and Mayors (in English)]
* [http://www.hindawi.com/journals/usr/2011/692764/  "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); [[doi:10.1155/2011/692764]]
* [http://www3.grips.ac.jp/~coslog/activity/01/04/file/Bunyabetsu-20_en.pdf "Large City System of Japan"; graphic shows designated cities compared with other Japanese city types at p. 1 <nowiki>[PDF 7 of 40]</nowiki>]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131203003710/http://www.corecities.com/sites/default/files/images/publications/Growth%20in%20second%20tier%20cities%20-%20urban%20policy%20lessons%20from%20Japan_0.pdf "Growth in Second Tier Cities – Urban Policy Lessons from Japan"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190917003255/http://www3.grips.ac.jp/~coslog/activity/01/04/file/Bunyabetsu-20_en.pdf |date=17 September 2019 }} briefing by [[Council of Local Authorities for International Relations|CLAIR London]] on classes of Japanese cities (PDF)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050205041444/http://law.e-gov.go.jp/htmldata/S22/S22HO067.html Text of the Local Government Law] {{in lang|ja}}

{{Metropolitan cities of Japan}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:City Designated By Government Ordinance}}
[[Category:Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Japan| ]]
[[Category:Subdivisions of Japan]]
[[Category:Law of Japan]]
[[Category:Local government in Japan]]