This is a list of metropolitan areas (都市圏) in Japan by population as defined by the Statistics Bureau of Japan (SBJ) and the Center for Spatial Information Service of the University of Tokyo. The region containing most of the people in Japan between Tokyo and Fukuoka is often called the Taiheiyō Belt.

Population Census

The Statistics Bureau of Japan (SBJ) defines a metropolitan area as one or more central cities and its associated outlying municipalities. To qualify as an outlying municipality, the municipality must have at least 1.5% of its resident population aged 15 and above commuting to school or work into one of the central cities. To qualify as a central city, a city must either be a designated city of any population or a non-designated city with a city proper population of at least 500,000. Metropolitan areas of designated cities are defined as "major metropolitan areas" (大都市圏) while those of non-designated cities are simply "metropolitan areas" (都市圏). If multiple central cities are close enough such that their outlying cities overlap, they are combined and a single metropolitan area is defined rather than independently.

2015 Population Census

The metropolitan areas written in bold are the 11 major metropolitan areas of Japan.

2010 Population Census

The metropolitan areas written in bold are the 11 major metropolitan areas of Japan. Changes from 2005 census The following changes to metropolitan area definitions were made in the 2010 Census report.

2005 Population Census

The metropolitan areas written in bold are the 8 major metropolitan areas of Japan.

Urban Employment Area

Urban Employment Area is another definition of metropolitan areas, defined by the Center for Spatial Information Service, the University of Tokyo.

2015

The Center for Spatial Information Service, the University of Tokyo has defined 100 metropolitan employment areas (MEAs) and 122 micropolitan employment areas (McEAs) for Japan.

2010

The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry defined 233 areas for the UEAs of Japan.