Houston
1,725 km²
Tokyo
2,194 km²
United States
Japan
Area Comparison
Houston is 1.3x smaller than Tokyo
Population Comparison
Houston has 6.1x fewer people than Tokyo
In terms of area, Tokyo is 1.3x the size of Houston. Tokyo spans 2,194 km² (847 mi²) while Houston covers 1,725 km² (666 mi²) — a difference of 469 km².
To put Houston's size in perspective, its area of 1,725 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, Tokyo at 2,194 km² is about 1.1x smaller than Moscow.
Picture Houston another way: its area is large enough to fit about 242,000 American football fields, 29 times the area of Manhattan, or 16 times the area of Paris. For Tokyo, that's about 307,000 American football fields, 37 times the area of Manhattan, or 21 times the area of Paris.
Houston is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and the Southern United States. It is the fourth-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 2.3 million at the 2020 census. The Greater Houston metropolitan area, at 7.8 million residents, is the fifth-most populous metropolitan area in the nation and second-most populous in Texas. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, Houston is the county seat of Harris County.
Known as "Space City", Houston covers 1,725 km² with a population of 2.3 million. The city was established in 1836. Houston is known for NASA Johnson Space Center, Space Center Houston, Houston Astros, among other attractions.
Houston is the fourth-most populous US city with 2.3 million residents at the 2020 census, leading the entire South.
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. 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.
Houston has a population density of 1,333 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.
Density Gap
Tokyo is 4.8x more densely populated
History
Tokyo is ~379 years older
Houston covers 1,725 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Riyadh (1,798 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), London (1,572 km²), or Bangkok (1,569 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 Houston to Tokyo is 10,741 km (6,674 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~13h 8m.
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