The site survey team will spend nearly a week in each city reviewing venues, traffic plans and other proposals.
The winning city will be announced in October of 2009.
The timing may present Tokyo with an aesthetic advantage as it coincides with the city's Cherry Blossom season.
However Chicago may already have one vote among the site selection committee as C.K Wu of Taipei proclaimed Chicago earned his support after staging a successful World Boxing Championship competition earlier this year.
