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Turkey
Japan
Area Comparison
Istanbul is 2.5x larger than Tokyo
Population Comparison
Istanbul has 1.1x more people than Tokyo
Yes — Istanbul is 2.5x larger than Tokyo by area. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while Tokyo covers 2,194 km² (847 mi²) — a difference of 3,267 km². You could fit Tokyo inside Istanbul approximately 2 times.
To put Istanbul's size in perspective, its area of 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai. Meanwhile, Tokyo at 2,194 km² is about 1.1x smaller than Moscow.
Turkey's largest city, spanning Europe and Asia. Known as "The City on Two Continents", Istanbul covers 5,461 km² with a population of 15.5 million. The city was founded around 660 BC. Istanbul is known for Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Istanbul Metro.
Istanbul is the only city in the world that spans two continents — Europe and Asia
Japan's capital and the world's most populous metropolitan area. Nicknamed "The Big Mikan", Tokyo has an area of 2,194 km² and is home to 14.0 million people. The city dates back to 1457. Visitors come for Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Tower, Tsukiji Market, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Tokyo Metro & JR East.
Greater Tokyo is the world's largest metropolitan economy, surpassing the GDP of most countries
Looking beyond city limits, the Tokyo metropolitan area covers 13,572 km², which is 2.5x larger than greater Istanbul at 5,461 km². The Tokyo metro area is also more populous, with 37.4 million people compared to 15.5 million.
Istanbul has a population density of 2,831 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Tokyo, with 6,363 people per km², is a densely populated city. Tokyo is noticeably denser, packing 2.2 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Istanbul in Europe versus Tokyo in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Istanbul has a oceanic climate while Tokyo experiences humid subtropical conditions. When it's noon in Tokyo, it's 6:00 AM in Istanbul — a 6-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Tokyo fits inside Istanbul ~2 times
Density Gap
Tokyo is 2.2x more densely populated
Time Difference
6 hours apart
History
Istanbul is ~2,117 years older
The straight-line distance from Istanbul to Tokyo is 8,943 km (5,557 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~11h 1m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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