Chicago
606 km²
Tokyo
2,194 km²
USA
Japan
Area Comparison
Chicago is 3.6x smaller than Tokyo
Population Comparison
Chicago has 5.2x fewer people than Tokyo
Yes — Tokyo is 3.6x larger than Chicago by area. Tokyo spans 2,194 km² (847 mi²) while Chicago covers 606 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 1,588 km². You could fit Chicago inside Tokyo approximately 3 times.
To put Chicago's size in perspective, its area of 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, Tokyo at 2,194 km² is about 1.1x smaller than Moscow.
Picture Chicago another way: its area is large enough to fit about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan. Tokyo, by comparison, equals about 307,000 American football fields, 37 times the area of Manhattan, or 21 times the area of Paris.
Chicago is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the third-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 2.74 million at the 2020 census. The Chicago metropolitan area has 9.41 million residents and is the third-largest metropolitan area in the country. Chicago is the seat of Cook County, the second-most populous county in the U.S.
Known as "The Windy City", Chicago covers 606 km² with a population of 2.7 million. The city was established in 1833. Chicago is known for Willis Tower, Millennium Park Bean, Navy Pier, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the CTA (L train).
Chicago is the third-most populous city in the United States with 2.74 million residents at the 2020 census.
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.
Nicknamed "Eastern Capital", Tokyo has an area of 2,194 km² and is home to 14.0 million people. It was established in 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 Chicago metropolitan area covers 28,160 km², which is 2.1x larger than greater Tokyo at 13,572 km². The Tokyo metro area is also more populous, with 37.4 million people compared to 9.5 million.
Chicago has a population density of 4,455 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Tokyo, with 6,363 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though Tokyo is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — Chicago in North America versus Tokyo in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Chicago has a humid continental climate while Tokyo experiences humid subtropical conditions. When it's noon in Tokyo, it's midnight in Chicago — a 15-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Chicago fits inside Tokyo ~3 times
Density Gap
Tokyo is 1.4x more densely populated
Time Difference
15 hours apart
History
Tokyo is ~376 years older
Chicago covers 606 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Seoul (605 km²), Madrid (604 km²), Mumbai (603 km²), Toronto (630 km²), or Hyderabad (650 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 Chicago to Tokyo is 10,141 km (6,302 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~12h 26m.
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