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South Korea
Japan
Area Comparison
Seoul is 3.6x smaller than Tokyo
Population Comparison
Seoul has 1.4x fewer people than Tokyo
Yes — Tokyo is 3.6x larger than Seoul by area. Tokyo spans 2,194 km² (847 mi²) while Seoul covers 605 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 1,589 km². You could fit Seoul inside Tokyo approximately 3 times.
To put Seoul's size in perspective, its area of 605 km² is about 1.3x smaller than New York City. Meanwhile, Tokyo at 2,194 km² is about 1.1x smaller than Moscow.
Capital of South Korea and a major tech hub. Known as "The Soul of Asia", Seoul covers 605 km² with a population of 9.8 million. The city was founded around 18 BC. Seoul is known for Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gangnam district, K-pop culture, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Seoul Metro.
Seoul's metro area contains nearly half of South Korea's entire population
Japan's capital and the world's most populous metropolitan area. Often called "The Big Mikan", 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, 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 1.2x larger than greater Seoul at 11,704 km². The Tokyo metro area is also more populous, with 37.4 million people compared to 25.5 million.
Seoul has a population density of 16,149 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Tokyo, with 6,363 people per km², is a densely populated city. Seoul is noticeably denser, packing 2.5 times more people per square kilometer.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Seoul (South Korea) and Tokyo (Japan) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Seoul has a humid continental climate while Tokyo experiences humid subtropical conditions.
Size Ratio
Seoul fits inside Tokyo ~3 times
Density Gap
Seoul is 2.5x more densely populated
History
Seoul is ~1,475 years older
Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide.