Timeline of Tokyo

The following is a timeline of the history of Tokyo, Japan.

Prior to 19th century

 * 1457 - Edo Castle built.
 * 1617 - Yoshiwara (prostitution district) begins operating.
 * 1634 - Sankin-kōtai policy established.
 * 1657 - March 2: Great Fire of Meireki occurs.
 * 1682 -.
 * 1698 -.
 * 1707 - December: Eruption of Mount Fuji; ash falls on Edo.
 * 1721 - "First population census conducted (Edo’s population about 1.3 million)."

19th century

 * 1853
 * July 8: American Perry Expedition arrives in Edo Bay.
 * Odaiba island forts built in Edo Bay.
 * Hanayashiki garden opens.
 * 1855 - November 11: 1855 Edo earthquake occurs.
 * 1856 - Hiroshige's One Hundred Famous Views of Edo published.
 * 1868 - Edo renamed "Tokyo."
 * 1869
 * Japanese imperial capital relocated to Tokyo from Kyoto.
 * Tokyo Shôkonsha (shrine) established.
 * Yokohama-Tokyo telegraph begins operating.
 * 1871 - Esaki Reiji photo studio in business.
 * 1872
 * Yushima Seido Exposition is held
 * October: Yokohama-Tokyo railroad begins operating.
 * Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun (newspaper) begins publication.
 * "Ordinances aimed at the civilizing of the populace are enacted in Tokyo."
 * Imperial Library headquartered in Tokyo.
 * 1873 - Dai-Ichi Kokuritsu Bank established.
 * 1874 - Aoyama Gakuin school and Saint Paul's school established.
 * 1877
 * University of Tokyo and established.
 * National Industrial Exhibition held.
 * 1880 - Mitsubishi Bank and Yasuda Bank established.
 * 1881
 * Tokyo Imperial Museum built.
 * Tokyo Vocational School founded.
 * 1882
 * Bank of Japan headquartered in city.
 * Ueno Zoo opens.
 * 1884 - Railway Yamanote Line begins operating.
 * 1886 - "First fixed advertising billboard in Tokyo" installed.
 * 1887 - founded.
 * 1888
 * Tokyo Asahi Shimbun (newspaper) begins publication.
 * established.
 * 1889
 * "Tokyo City and 15 wards established."
 * Kabuki-za (theatre) opens.
 * 1890
 * Telephone begins operating.
 * Population: 1,155,290.
 * 1894 - Tokyo-fu Government Building constructed in Marunouchi.
 * 1897 - March: Motion picture first shown.

1900s-1940s

 * 1901 - Tokyo Photography Circle (club) formed.
 * 1902 - Industrial Bank of Japan headquartered in city.
 * 1903
 * Electric tram begins operating.
 * Electric Hall (cinema) opens.
 * 1905 - September 5: Hibiya Incendiary Incident occurs.
 * 1906 - Harajuku Station opens.
 * 1907 - Tokyo Industrial Exhibition held.
 * 1910 - Luna Park opens.
 * 1911 - Imperial Theatre opens.
 * 1914
 * December: Central Station opens.
 * Taisho Exposition held.
 * 1916 - Tokyo Photographers Guild established.
 * 1917 - active.
 * 1918
 * Rice riot occurs.
 * Neon light installed in Ginza.
 * 1920
 * Meiji Shrine built.
 * Population: 3,699,428.
 * 1921 - November 4: Japanese prime minister Takashi Hara assassinated.
 * 1923 - September 1: 1923 Great Kantō earthquake occurs.
 * 1925 - begins operating.
 * 1926
 * "Public apartment housing" built.
 * NHK Symphony Orchestra and Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum established.
 * 1927 - Tokyo Underground Railway begins operating between Asakusa and Ueno.
 * 1928 - opens in Tokyo Bay.
 * 1929 - Tokyo March song/film become popular.
 * 1930 - Population: 4,986,913.
 * 1931 - Haneda Airport begins operating.
 * 1933 - Dai-Ichi Seimei Building constructed.
 * 1934
 * Yomiuri Giants baseball team formed.
 * opens.
 * 1936
 * Konishiroku Honten in business.
 * Japanese Folk Crafts Museum founded.
 * 1937 - Korakuen Stadium opens.
 * 1938 - Rikugi-en (park) opens.
 * 1940 - Population: 6,778,804.
 * 1941
 * Port of Tokyo opens.
 * Italian Cultural Institute in Tokyo opens.
 * 1942 - April: Bombing of Tokyo by US forces begins.
 * 1943 - "Metropolitan administration system established."
 * 1945
 * 10 March: A major air attack kills 90,000 to 100,000 people and destroys a quarter of the city's buildings
 * August: Bombing of Tokyo by US forces ends.
 * established.
 * Population: 3,488,284.
 * 1946 - Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal begins.
 * 1947
 * Seiichirō Yasui elected governor.
 * 23 Special wards of Tokyo created.
 * 1948 - National Diet Library headquartered in Tokyo.

1950s-1990s

 * 1950 - Population: 6,277,500.
 * 1955
 * Tokyo International Trade Fair begins.
 * Population: 6,966,499.
 * 1956 - City hosts the 1956 World Judo Championships.
 * 1958
 * Japanese National Stadium opens.
 * May: 1958 Asian Games held in Tokyo.
 * November: City hosts the 1958 World Judo Championships.
 * 1961
 * opens.
 * Higashi-Ikebukuro Taishôken ramen shop in business.
 * 1964
 * Tōkaidō Shinkansen (hi-speed train) begins operating;
 * October: 1964 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo.
 * Tokyo 12 Channel TV begins broadcasting.
 * Hotel New Otani Tokyo built.
 * 1967
 * January: City hosts the 1967 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship.
 * Yoyogi Park created.
 * 1968
 * Kasumigaseki Building (hi-rise) built.
 * Ramen Jiro eatery in business.
 * 1969 - " enacted."
 * 1971 - Keio Plaza Hotel (hi-rise) built.
 * 1971 - The Zengakuren demonstrate in Tokyo against terms for the return of Okinawa from US to Japanese control.
 * 1972 - Nakagin Capsule Tower built.
 * 1973 - Tokyo Metropolitan Library opens.
 * 1975
 * Ward mayoral election held.
 * Population: 8,640,000 city; 11,622,651 urban agglomeration.
 * 1979 - June: 5th G7 summit held in city.
 * 1988
 * Tokyo Dome (stadium) opens.
 * Yumenoshima Tropical Greenhouse Dome established.
 * 1989 - Bunkamura cultural venue opens.
 * 1991 - Metropolitan government relocates to new building in Shinjuku.
 * 1993
 * Rainbow Bridge opens.
 * DN Tower 21 built.
 * 1995 - March 20: Tokyo subway sarin attack.
 * 1996 - Tokyo Big Sight convention centre opens.
 * 2000 - Population: 8,130,408.

21st century

 * 2001
 * 10 March: Tokyo Stadium open.
 * October: Asian Network of Major Cities 21 meets in Tokyo.
 * 2002 - Tokyo International Anime Fair begins.
 * 2004 - bank established.
 * 2005 - Tokyo Metropolitan University established.
 * 2006 - Czech Centre in Tokyo opens.
 * 2007
 * Tokyo Marathon begins.
 * Midtown Tower built.
 * Shinjuku Wald 9 cinema in business.
 * 2008 - C40 environmental group meets in Tokyo.
 * 2010 - City hosts the 2010 World Judo Championships.
 * 2011
 * 11 March: 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami occurs and seriously Fukushima nuclear disaster.
 * 17 November: Polish Institute in Tokyo founded (see also Japan–Poland relations).
 * 2012
 * Tokyo Gate Bridge opens.
 * Tokyo Skytree tower built.
 * 2013 - September: Tokyo chosen as site of the future 2020 Summer Olympics.
 * 2014
 * Toranomon Hills (hi-rise) built.
 * Yoichi Masuzoe elected governor.
 * 2016 - Yuriko Koike elected governor.
 * 2017
 * 25 November: Musashino Forest Sport Plaza open.
 * 2019
 * August: Oi Hockey Stadium open.
 * August–September: City hosts the 2019 World Judo Championships.
 * October: Ariake Gymnastics Centre open.
 * 28 November-1 December: 2019 Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships held.
 * New Japan National Stadium open.
 * Hungarian Cultural Center in Tokyo opened (see also Hungary–Japan relations).
 * 2020
 * 24 January: First confirmed case relating to the COVID-19 pandemic in Tokyo.
 * 3 February: Ariake Arena open.
 * March: Ultimately postponement of 2020 Summer Olympics to July 2021 announced due to COVID-19 concerns.
 * October: Tokyo Aquatics Centre open.
 * 2021
 * 2020 Summer Olympics held.
 * 2020 Summer Paralympics held.