Timeline of Tokyo

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

Prior to 19th century

1457 - Edo Castle built.
1617 - Yoshiwara 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."

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 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 begins publication.
* "Ordinances aimed at the civilizing of the populace are enacted in Tokyo."
* Imperial Library headquartered in Tokyo.
1873 - Dai-Ichi 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 begins publication.
* established.
1889
* "Tokyo City and 15 wards established."
* Kabuki-za opens.
1890
* Telephone begins operating.
* Population: 1,155,290.
1894 - Tokyo-fu Government Building constructed in Marunouchi.
1897 - March: Motion picture first shown.

20th century

1900s-1940s

1901 - Tokyo Photography Circle formed.
1902 - Industrial Bank of Japan headquartered in city.
1903
* Electric tram begins operating.
* Electric Hall 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 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 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 built.
* Ramen Jiro eatery in business.
1969 - " enacted."
1971
* Keio Plaza Hotel built.
* 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 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.
2012
* Tokyo Gate Bridge opens.
* Tokyo Skytree tower built.
2013 - September: Tokyo chosen as site of the future 2020 Summer Olympics.
2014
* Toranomon Hills 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.
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.