Shinagawa (品川区) is a special ward of Tokyo. It covers 22.72 sq km and has a population of 345,000 (2011 estimate). It faces Tokyo Bay and is bordered by Minato ward to the north, Meguro ward to the west and Ota ward to the south.
Shinagawa was established in 1869 as a prefecture, following the abolition of the han system, which changes the geographic division of Japan from provinces to prefectures. Much of Shinagawa Prefecture was created from reclaimed land out of Tokyo Bay. Travelers during the Edo period will pass through Shinagawa on their way from Tokyo to Kyoto on the Tokaido Highway.
Shinagawa Prefecture was absorbed by Tokyo Prefecture in 1871, which became the City of Tokyo, and then in 1943, the Metropolis of Tokyo. Within the creation of Tokyo Metropolis, the former Shinagawa Prefecture became Shinagawa Special Ward.
Shinagawa is served by a number of train lines of the East Japan Railway (Yamanote Line, Keihin-Tohoku Line, Saikyo Line, Tokaido Main Line, Yokosuka Line and Shonan-Shinjuku Line), the Tokyu Corporation trains (Tokyu Meguro Line, Tokyu Oimachi Line and Tokyu Ikegami Line), the Tokyo Metro subway (Namboku Line) and the Toei Subway (Mita Line and Asakusa Line).
Expressways entering Shinagawa include the Shuto Expressway and National Routes 1, 15 and 357.