Tokyo's central area sees more migration

The loosening of COVID 19 restrictions made it easier for people to move in and out of the central area for the first time in two years.

In 2022, there were 21,420 more people who moved into the 23 wards of the capital's central area than those who moved out, according to the data released on January 30 by the internal affairs ministry.

Migration flow into Tokyo increased as COVID 19 restrictions were relaxed, said a ministry official.

The figure for the entire Tokyo area was 38,023, up 32,590 from 2021. The margin of increase was expanded for the first time in three years.

The data shows a return of the long-term demographic trend from pre-pandemic times of people moving to Tokyo from other parts of the country.

The number of people moving out of the 23 wards began to rise in 2020 when the epidemic began. The area saw a negative migration balance in 2021 for the first time since 2014 when the statistics began to include the number of foreigners.

Ten other prefectures, including Kanagawa and Saitama, followed the trend. Miyagi saw more people coming in than going out for the first time in seven years, and Nagano turned its balance positive for the first time since 2014, as it saw more people coming in than going out for the first time in seven years.

The other 36 prefectures lost residents to other areas, with Hiroshima reporting 9,207 more people leaving than coming in, the largest negative balance.