🏛️ Japan Municipality Lookup (JIS City Codes)

Every Japanese municipality (市区町村) has a 5-digit JIS code (全国地方公共団体コード). The structure is simple: the first two digits are the prefecture code (01–47, matching the prefecture picker), and the last three identify the city, ward, town or village within it. For example, 13101 = 13 (Tokyo) + 101 (Chiyoda Ward), and 27100 = 27 (Osaka) + 100 (Osaka City).

The prefecture codes follow the familiar north-to-south order:

These codes appear on tax filings, real-estate documents, administrative data, and many government forms - often in the header of a resident registration. Knowing how to read them is useful for anyone doing paperwork in Japan, and a lookup list of the most important codes (ordinance-designated cities, Tokyo’s 23 wards, and all prefecture capitals) covers the vast majority of everyday references.

This tool decodes any 5-digit input into its prefecture and, if the code is in the built-in table, shows the municipality name. It can also search by municipality name and returns its code. For the postal code side of the same paperwork, use our postal code lookup, and for tax-related documents the fixed asset tax calculator is a common next step.

Enter a 5-digit code and the tool splits it: digits 1–2 → prefecture, digits 3–5 → municipality within that prefecture. If the full code is in the table, the exact name is shown; otherwise the prefecture is still reported so the code remains useful.

The reverse search accepts a municipality name (Japanese or English) and returns its code. For example, typing さいたま or Saitama returns 11100. The table embedded in the tool contains the 20 ordinance-designated cities, Tokyo’s 23 wards, and all 47 prefecture capitals - 74 municipality codes in total, plus the 13100 Tokyo ward-area aggregate. English search covers every entry (try Shinjuku or Naha). If a code is not in the list, the prefecture decode still works for every 5-digit input. Real-estate documents also commonly show these codes - pair this tool with the fixed asset tax calculator to understand what a property bill means.

1. Enter a 5-digit municipality code, or type a municipality name to search the other way.
2. For codes, the tool shows the prefecture (first two digits) and the matching municipality if known.
3. For names, type Japanese or English and the code appears.
4. Cross-check with the reference table for ordinance-designated cities and Tokyo wards.
5. Use the prefecture decode on forms that only show a partial code.

What do the five digits of a municipality code mean?

Digits 1–2 are the JIS prefecture code (01–47). Digits 3–5 identify the city, ward, town or village. 13101 = Tokyo (13) + Chiyoda Ward (101).

How many municipalities are there in Japan?

About 1,700 after the consolidation wave that ended in the 2010s. The tool covers the most commonly referenced subset: ordinance-designated cities, Tokyo wards, and prefecture capitals.

What is an ordinance-designated city (政令指定都市)?

A city with over 500,000 people that is split into wards (区). There are 20 of them, including Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo and Fukuoka. Their codes end in 100 or 130.

Do Tokyo's 23 wards have their own codes?

Yes - 13101 (Chiyoda) through 13123 (Edogawa). Tokyo is unique because its 23 special wards are each treated as a municipality.

What happens if I enter a code for a merged municipality?

The prefecture decode still works, but the last three digits may no longer match the current table if the town merged into a larger city. The tool reports the prefecture either way.

Where can I find my municipality code?

On your 住民票 (residence certificate), tax bills, or through your city's official website. The first two digits tell you the prefecture immediately.

The last three digits have a loose pattern: capitals and ordinance cities usually end in 100 or 130 (e.g. Osaka 27100, Shizuoka 22100, Hamamatsu 22130), while Tokyo’s 23 wards use 101–123 (Chiyoda 13101 through Edogawa 13123). This pattern makes many codes guessable once you know the prefecture. Since the 2000s consolidation wave (平成の大合併), hundreds of towns and villages merged into larger cities, and their codes were retired - an old code from a merged town will decode to a prefecture but not match the current table. When a form asks for a 5-digit code, it usually means the code of your city of residence; foreign residents can find it on their 住民票 (residence certificate). For address-building workflows, the address formatter turns the same location into a mailing address, and the postal code lookup covers the 7-digit code side.