metropolis, capital, all, everything
都 centers on a large, important city: a metropolis or capital. The senses 'all' and 'everything' extend from the idea of a capital as the place where everything gathers.
都 combines 者 (which likely contributes the sound) with ⻏ (a variant of 邑, meaning a settlement or city). Together they express the idea of a capital or large city.
The left side 者 suggests a person or thing, and the right side ⻏ is a city wall. Picture a person arriving at the great walled capital where everything comes together.
For ト, imagine a towering metropolis: the 'to' in 'tower' cues ト, and the capital's tall buildings dominate the skyline.
ancient city; former capital
Kyoto (city, prefecture)
capital (esp. Kyoto, Japan's former capital); seat of government
town; city; municipal; urban
circumstances; condition; convenience
capital (city); metropolis
within the (Tokyo) metropolitan area
city
prefectures (of Japan); largest administrative divisions of Japan: Tokyo-to, Osaka-fu, Kyoto-fu, Hokkaido and the remaining prefectures
city centre (esp. of Tokyo); heart of a city; downtown area
metropolis; large city
each (every) time; whenever
resident of Tokyo; citizen of Tokyo; Tokyoite
inconvenient; inexpedient; unfavourable; troublesome; difficult
(under) metropolitan government management
metropolitan; managed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Tokyo Metropolitan Government (Office)
Metropolitan assemblyman
convenient; favorable; favourable; expedient; expedience
metropolitan government (of Tokyo)
state capital; provincial capital; county town
relocation of the capital; transfer of the capital
the Eastern Capital (now Tokyo); Yedo; Edo
city gas; mains gas; gas supplied to buildings via pipes