How many prefectures make up Japan?

Japan is made up of 47 prefectures.

The prefectures are Japan’s primary administrative divisions below the national government. They consist of one metropolitan prefecture, Tokyo; one circuit, Hokkaido; two urban prefectures, Osaka and Kyoto; and 43 ordinary prefectures. In Japanese, these categories use different suffixes, including to, dō, fu and ken.

The modern prefectural system was developed during the Meiji period, especially through reforms in the 1870s. The boundaries and local-government arrangements have changed over time, but the total has remained 47 since Okinawa Prefecture was re-established in 1972 after the end of the United States administration.

Tokyo is officially a metropolis rather than a city-prefecture in the ordinary sense. Its 23 special wards form the densely urbanized core, while western districts and outlying islands are also part of Tokyo Metropolis.