The Tokyo Institute for Municipal Research (TIMR) was established in February 1922 by the then-Tokyo Mayor Shinpei Goto. TIMR is a full independent foundation which its aim is to contribute to the improvement and enhancement of municipal government as well as urban policies in Tokyo and in other cities.

The Research section is involved in planning and implementation of independent group research projects together with commissioned research projects. The Publication section is engaged in editing and publishing TIMR's monthly journal THE TOSHI MONDAI (Municipal Problems) and booklets on “Open Lectures on Municipal Problems” etc.

The Municipal Reference Library collects and provides for public reading over 130,000 copies of books, magazines, public documents and historical papers specialized in urban policies and municipal government both domestic and international.

The General Affairs Division conducts the office building management of the Shisei-kaikan (Municipal Research Building) which TIMR owns.

Moreover, TIMR annually chooses out preeminent studies on urban policies and municipal government and awards their authors the “TIMR Fujita Award“.