Beijing
16,411 km²
Tokyo
2,194 km²
China
Japan
Area Comparison
Beijing is 7.5x larger than Tokyo
Population Comparison
Beijing has 1.5x more people than Tokyo
In terms of area, Beijing is 7.5x the size of Tokyo. Beijing spans 16,411 km² (6,336 mi²) while Tokyo covers 2,194 km² (847 mi²) — a difference of 14,217 km². You could fit Tokyo inside Beijing approximately 7 times.
To put Beijing's size in perspective, its area of 16,411 km² is about 2.6x the size of Shanghai. Meanwhile, Tokyo at 2,194 km² is about 1.1x smaller than Moscow.
Beijing's footprint is roughly about 2,300,000 American football fields, 160 times the area of Paris, or 140 times the area of San Francisco — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Tokyo works out to about 307,000 American football fields, 37 times the area of Manhattan, or 21 times the area of Paris.
Beijing, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's most populous national capital city, as well as China's second-largest city by urban area, after Shanghai. It is located in Northern China, and is governed as a municipality under the direct administration of the State Council with 16 urban districts.
Known as "Northern Capital", Beijing covers 16,411 km² with a population of 21.5 million. The city was founded around 1045 BC. Beijing is known for Forbidden City, Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Beijing Subway.
With over 22 million residents, Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city.
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital and most populous city of Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is one of the most populous urban areas in the world. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes Tokyo and parts of six neighboring prefectures, is the most populous metropolitan area in the world, with 41 million residents as of 2024.
Also known as "Eastern Capital", Tokyo has an area of 2,194 km² and is home to 14.0 million people. Its history stretches back to 1457. Visitors come for Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Tower, Imperial Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Tokyo Metro & JR East.
Greater Tokyo holds 41 million residents as of 2024, making it the most populous metropolitan area on Earth.
Looking beyond city limits, the Beijing metropolitan area covers 16,411 km², which is 1.2x larger than greater Tokyo at 13,572 km². The Tokyo metro area is also more populous, with 37.4 million people compared to 21.5 million.
Beijing has a population density of 1,313 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Tokyo, with 6,363 people per km², is a densely populated city. Tokyo is dramatically more crowded, with 4.8x the population density.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Beijing (China) and Tokyo (Japan) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Beijing has a humid continental climate while Tokyo experiences humid subtropical conditions.
Size Ratio
Tokyo fits inside Beijing ~7 times
Density Gap
Tokyo is 4.8x more densely populated
History
Beijing is ~2,502 years older
Beijing covers 16,411 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Hangzhou (16,854 km²), Brisbane (15,826 km²), Chengdu (14,378 km²), Sydney (12,368 km²), or Xi'an (10,097 km²).
Tokyo covers 2,194 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Ho Chi Minh City (2,061 km²), Shenzhen (1,997 km²), Cape Town (2,455 km²), Moscow (2,511 km²), or Lima (2,672 km²).
The straight-line distance from Beijing to Tokyo is 2,089 km (1,298 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~2h 57m.
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