Compare: Paris→Tokyo (9,712 km) vs Paris→Sydney (16,960 km). Paris → Tokyo wins by 7,248 km (43%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team
9,712 km
6,035 miles · Flight: ~12h 38min
✓ Shorter route
16,960 km
10,538 miles · Flight: ~21h 42min
Difference: 7,248 km (43%) · Flight time difference: ~9h 4min
Verdict
Paris → Tokyo is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 7,248 km (43%) shorter, saves about 9h 4min of flight time, and cuts roughly 1,848 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Paris → Sydney only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Paris → Tokyo is the shorter route at 9,712 km, which is 7,248 km (43%) shorter than Paris → Sydney. You would save approximately 9h 4min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Paris → Tokyo | Paris → Sydney |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 9,712 | 16,960 |
| Distance (miles) | 6,035 | 10,538 |
| Flight time | ~12h 38min | ~21h 42min |
| Driving time | No road estimate | No road estimate |
| Road distance (rough estimate) | Not published | Not published |
| Continuous road link? | No | No |
| Cross-continental | Yes | Yes |
| Initial bearing | 33° (NNE) | 69° (ENE) |
| Time-zone shift | +7h | +9h |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~2,477 kg | ~4,325 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | — | — |
| Fuel cost (est.) | — | — |
Flying from Paris to Tokyo produces roughly 2,477 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Paris → Sydney flight emits about 4,325 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 1,848 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 88 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration.
The Paris to Tokyo route covers 9,712 km (6,035 miles), crossing from Europe to Asia. Paris (population: 2,161,000) is located in Île-de-France, France, while Tokyo (population: 13,960,000) is in Kanto, Japan.
The Paris to Sydney route covers 16,960 km (10,538 miles), spanning from Europe to Oceania. Paris (population: 2,161,000) is in Île-de-France, France, and Sydney (population: 5,312,163) is in New South Wales, Australia.
Flying from Paris to Tokyo takes approximately 12h 38min, while Paris to Sydney takes 21h 42min.
Since both routes depart from Paris, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Tokyo and Sydney as a destination.
The 7,248 km difference between these routes is substantial and will significantly impact travel time and cost.
Neither route has a road figure we can defend. There is no continuous road connection between Paris and Tokyo — the two cities sit on separate landmasses, so the journey requires air or sea transport. There is no continuous road connection between Paris and Sydney — the two cities sit on separate landmasses, so the journey requires air or sea transport.
Tokyo (Japan) has a population of 13,960,000 and is located in the Kanto region of Asia. As a major metropolis, it offers extensive international connections and diverse attractions.
Sydney (Australia) has a population of 5,312,163 and is situated in New South Wales, Oceania. This major global city has multiple airports and world-class infrastructure.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Tokyo (Japan) — a city of 13,960,000 in the Kanto region of Asia. It is also the shorter option at 9,712 km, which translates to a 9h 4min flight-time saving and roughly 1,848 kg less CO₂ per passenger versus the alternative. This is a fly-only route in practice — overland travel is not realistic at 9,712 km. The initial bearing is 33° (NNE), so a great-circle flight leaves Paris heading roughly NNE.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Sydney (Australia) — a city of 5,312,163 in the New South Wales region of Oceania. Even though it is the longer route at 16,960 km, it remains the obvious pick when Sydney is the actual destination, when departure schedules from Paris are more convenient, or when fares undercut the alternative. Overland travel is not practical for 16,960 km; flying is the realistic mode. Departing Paris, the great-circle bearing toward Sydney is 69° (ENE).
Paris (48.86°, 2.35°) → Tokyo (35.68°, 139.65°): Paris keeps Europe/Paris time and Tokyo keeps Asia/Tokyo time — a gap of about 7 hours, with Tokyo ahead. The exact gap moves when either zone switches to or from daylight saving, so use the live figure in the calculator for your travel dates. Paris (48.86°, 2.35°) → Sydney (-33.87°, 151.21°): Paris keeps Europe/Paris time and Sydney keeps Australia/Sydney time — a gap of about 9 hours, with Sydney ahead. The exact gap moves when either zone switches to or from daylight saving, so use the live figure in the calculator for your travel dates. Both gaps come from the cities' real IANA zones and move with daylight saving. Shifts of 5 hours or more typically produce noticeable jet lag — plan one recovery day per three time zones crossed.
Tokyo is closer at 9,712 km, which is 7,248 km (43%) shorter.
9,712 km (6,035 miles). Flight: ~12h 38min.
16,960 km (10,538 miles). Flight: ~21h 42min.
Flying to Tokyo is faster at ~12h 38min, saving about 9h 4min compared to Sydney.
All distances on SnapDistance are calculated using the Haversine formula, which determines the great-circle distance between two points on Earth's surface. This gives the shortest possible distance over the globe, which is the measurement used for aviation and navigation. Actual travel distances by road or rail are typically 20-40% longer due to terrain, borders, and infrastructure routing. Flight times assume 800 km/h cruising speed with 30 minutes for takeoff and landing. Driving estimates use 80 km/h average speed with a 30% road distance factor.