Shanghai
6,341 km²
Tokyo
2,194 km²
China
Japan
Area Comparison
Shanghai is 2.9x larger than Tokyo
Population Comparison
Shanghai has 1.8x more people than Tokyo
Yes — Shanghai is 2.9x larger than Tokyo by area. Shanghai spans 6,341 km² (2,448 mi²) while Tokyo covers 2,194 km² (847 mi²) — a difference of 4,147 km². You could fit Tokyo inside Shanghai approximately 2 times.
To put Shanghai's size in perspective, its area of 6,341 km² is about 1.5x the size of Los Angeles metro. Meanwhile, Tokyo at 2,194 km² is about 1.1x smaller than Moscow.
In more relatable units, Shanghai's 6,341 km² is about 888,000 American football fields, 110 times the area of Manhattan, or 60 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.
Shanghai is a direct-administered municipality and the most populous urban area in China. It has a population of 29,558,908 in the urban area as of 2025. The city is located on the Chinese shoreline on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the Huangpu River bisecting the city. Shanghai is a global center for finance, business and economics, research, science and technology, manufacturing, transportation, tourism, and culture. The Port of Shanghai is the world's busiest container port.
Known as "Pearl of the Orient", Shanghai covers 6,341 km² with a population of 24.9 million. The city was established in 1291. Shanghai is known for The Bund, Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Shanghai Metro.
Shanghai's urban population reached 29.5 million in 2025, making it the most populous urban area in all of China.
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.
Also known as "Eastern Capital", 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, 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 Tokyo metropolitan area covers 13,572 km², which is 2.1x larger than greater Shanghai at 6,341 km². The Tokyo metro area is also more populous, with 37.4 million people compared to 28.5 million.
Shanghai has a population density of 3,922 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Tokyo, with 6,363 people per km², is a densely populated city. Tokyo is noticeably denser, packing 1.6 times more people per square kilometer.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Shanghai (China) and Tokyo (Japan) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Both cities share a humid subtropical climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each.
Size Ratio
Tokyo fits inside Shanghai ~2 times
Density Gap
Tokyo is 1.6x more densely populated
History
Shanghai is ~166 years older
Shanghai covers 6,341 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Perth (6,417 km²), Istanbul (5,461 km²), Guangzhou (7,434 km²), Wuhan (8,569 km²), or Dubai (4,114 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 Shanghai to Tokyo is 1,754 km (1,090 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~2h 34m.
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