Voters in the Japanese capital Tokyo head to the polls today to elect a new governor for the metropolis.

Ballot counting will begin immediately after polls close at 8pm local time. A record 21 candidates are vying to lead the sprawling city of 13.6 million people.

Local media surveys suggest three people are leading the race. They are former defense chief Yuriko Koike, ex-Iwate prefecture governor Hiroya Masuda and veteran TV journalist Shuntaro Torigoe.

The election was called after previous governor Yoichi Masuzoe abruptly resigned. He was felled by a funds scandal centerd on the lavish spending of public money.