Kyoto
828 km²
Tokyo
2,194 km²
Japan
Japan
Area Comparison
Kyoto is 2.6x smaller than Tokyo
Population Comparison
Kyoto has 9.6x fewer people than Tokyo
Yes — Tokyo is 2.6x larger than Kyoto by area. Tokyo spans 2,194 km² (847 mi²) while Kyoto covers 828 km² (320 mi²) — a difference of 1,366 km². You could fit Kyoto inside Tokyo approximately 2 times.
To put Kyoto's size in perspective, its area of 828 km² is roughly the same size as New York City. Meanwhile, Tokyo at 2,194 km² is about 1.1x smaller than Moscow.
In more relatable units, Kyoto's 828 km² is about 116,000 American football fields, 14 times the area of Manhattan, or 8 times the area of Paris. Tokyo works out to about 307,000 American football fields, 37 times the area of Manhattan, or 21 times the area of Paris.
Kyoto, officially Kyoto City , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan's largest and most populous island of Honshu. As of 2020, the city had a population of 1.46 million, making it the ninth-most populous city in Japan. More than half (56.8%) of Kyoto Prefecture's population resides in the city. The city is the cultural anchor of the substantially larger Greater Kyoto, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) home to a census-estimated 3.8 million people.
Known as "Thousand-Year Capital", Kyoto covers 828 km² with a population of 1.5 million. The city was established in 794. Kyoto is known for Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion, Gion geisha district, among other attractions.
More than half of Kyoto Prefecture's entire population lives within Kyoto City itself.
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.
Kyoto has a population density of 1,763 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 3.6x the population density.
Size Ratio
Kyoto fits inside Tokyo ~2 times
Density Gap
Tokyo is 3.6x more densely populated
History
Kyoto is ~663 years older
Kyoto covers 828 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Santiago (838 km²), New York (783 km²), Berlin (892 km²), Hamburg (755 km²), or Bangalore (741 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 Kyoto to Tokyo is 360 km (224 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~55m.
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