Comparison of Large Cities in Japan and Germany

Comparison of Large Cities in Japan and Germany

Hello! In this issue, I would like to explore the large cities in Japan and Germany. In conversations with my German friends, the topic of population and the size of cities often comes up. I have been researching this topic to better understand and compare the urban landscapes of these two countries.

From a German perspective, Düsseldorf is considered a big city. However, when comparing city populations, I found it interesting that what Germans refer to as a "big city" or "metropolis" differs from the Japanese perspective. In Japan, cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Yokohama are considered big cities, but Germans seem to have different standards. Let's take a closer look at some of the major cities in both countries.


Comparison of Population and Area

According to the latest data, Japan has a population of about 125.8 million and an area of approximately 377,975 square kilometers. In contrast, Germany has a population of about 83.2 million and an area of around 357,022 square kilometers. Despite Japan's larger population, the land areas of the two countries are relatively similar, with Japan being slightly larger.


Comparison of Cities (Overall Population and Area)

Japan

  • Tokyo (Tokyo 23 Wards)

    • Population: 14 million (23 wards: 9.85 million)
    • Area: 2,194 square kilometers (23 wards: 627.6 square kilometers)
    • Population of the Tokyo metropolitan area: 37 million

  • Yokohama

    • Population: 3.7 million
    • Area: 437 square kilometers

  • Osaka

    • Population: 2.7 million
    • Area: 223 square kilometers
    • Population of Osaka metropolitan area: 19 million

  • Nagoya

    • Population: 2.3 million
    • Area: 326 square kilometers

  • Sapporo

    • Population: 1.9 million
    • Area: 1,121 square kilometers

  • Fukuoka

    • Population: 1.6 million
    • Area: 343.39 square kilometers

Germany

  • Berlin

    • Population: 3.7 million
    • Area: 891 square kilometers

  • Hamburg

    • Population: 1.8 million
    • Area: 755 square kilometers

  • Munich

    • Population: 1.5 million
    • Area: 310 square kilometers

  • Cologne

    • Population: 1.1 million
    • Area: 405 square kilometers

  • Frankfurt

    • Population: 750,000
    • Area: 248 square kilometers
    • Population of Frankfurt metropolitan area: 5.5 million

  • Düsseldorf

    • Population: 620,000
    • Area: 217 square kilometers

Although Japan's total population is much larger than Germany's, both countries have highly urbanized populations, with major cities playing crucial roles in their respective economies. The capital cities of Tokyo and Berlin are the most populous, but cities such as Osaka, Yokohama, Munich, and Hamburg also significantly contribute to population distribution and economic activity. Due to its historical background, Germany is more decentralized compared to Japan, with the population dispersed throughout the country. The issues of regional depopulation and rural decline in Japan do not seem to be as severe in Germany.


Ranking of German and Japanese Cities by Population

  1. Tokyo's 23 wards (approx. 9.85 million people)
  2. Berlin (approx. 3.7 million people)
  3. Yokohama (approx. 3.7 million)
  4. Osaka (approx. 2.7 million)
  5. Nagoya (approx. 2.3 million)
  6. Sapporo (approx. 1.9 million)
  7. Hamburg (approx. 1.8 million)
  8. Fukuoka (approx. 1.6 million)
  9. Munich (approx. 1.5 million)
  10. Cologne (approx. 1.1 million)
  11. Frankfurt (approx. 750,000)
  12. Düsseldorf (approx. 620,000)

Conclusion

In Germany, cities with populations exceeding 600,000 are considered "big cities." On the other hand, all of Japan's large cities have populations of more than 1 million. The 23 wards of Tokyo are not just "big cities" in the German sense but rather "mega cities." (Laughter) I hope this comparison will be an interesting topic of conversation with your German friends.

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