Cape Town
2,455 km²
Tokyo
2,194 km²
South Africa
Japan
Area Comparison
Cape Town is 1.1x larger than Tokyo
Population Comparison
Cape Town has 3.7x fewer people than Tokyo
Cape Town is significantly larger, covering 1.1 times the area of Tokyo. Cape Town spans 2,455 km² (948 mi²) while Tokyo covers 2,194 km² (847 mi²) — a difference of 261 km².
To put Cape Town's size in perspective, its area of 2,455 km² is roughly the same size as Moscow. Meanwhile, Tokyo at 2,194 km² is about 1.1x smaller than Moscow.
Cape Town's footprint is roughly about 344,000 American football fields, 42 times the area of Manhattan, or 23 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Tokyo, by comparison, equals about 307,000 American football fields, 37 times the area of Manhattan, or 21 times the area of Paris.
Cape Town is the legislative capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. Cape Town is the country's second-largest city by population, after Johannesburg, and the largest city in the Western Cape. The city is part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality.
Known as "The Mother City", Cape Town covers 2,455 km² with a population of 3.8 million. The city was established in 1652. Cape Town is known for Table Mountain, Cape of Good Hope, Robben Island, among other attractions.
Cape Town is South Africa's oldest city, founded in 1652 and home to the seat of the national Parliament.
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.
Often called "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.
Cape Town has a population density of 1,540 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 4.1x the population density.
Density Gap
Tokyo is 4.1x more densely populated
History
Tokyo is ~195 years older
Cape Town covers 2,455 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Moscow (2,511 km²), Lima (2,672 km²), Tokyo (2,194 km²), Ho Chi Minh City (2,061 km²), or Shenzhen (1,997 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 Cape Town to Tokyo is 14,728 km (9,151 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~17h 50m.
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