Greater Tokyo Area

The Greater Tokyo Area is a large metropolitan area in Kantō region, Japan consisting of most of the prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Tokyo (at the center). In Japanese, it is referred to by various terms, including the Tokyo Area, National Capital Region, One Metropolis, Three Prefectures, and others. A 2007 UN estimate puts the population at 35,676,000, making it the world's most populous metropolitan area. It covers an area of approximately 13,500 km² (5,200 mi²), giving it a population density of 2,642 person/km². It is the second largest in the world in terms of built-up or urban function landmass at 7,800 km² (3,000 mi²). Only the urban area surrounding New York City, at 8,700 km², is larger. This area has the largest metropolitan economy in the world. One Metropolis, Three Prefectures, one of the definitions of the Greater Tokyo Area, had a total GDP (nominal) of approximately US$1.5 trillion (164 trillion Yen) in 2005. According to research published by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the agglomeration of Tokyo had a total GDP of US$1.479 trillion in 2008, ranking again as the largest urban agglomeration GDP in the world.