Compare: Sydney→Tokyo (7,826 km) vs Sydney→Hong Kong (7,376 km). Sydney → Hong Kong wins by 450 km (6%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 21, 2026
7,826 km
4,863 miles · Flight: ~10h 17min · Drive: ~127h 10min
7,376 km
4,583 miles · Flight: ~9h 43min · Drive: ~119h 52min
✓ Shorter route
Difference: 450 km (6%) · Flight time difference: ~34 min
Verdict
Sydney → Hong Kong is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 450 km (6%) shorter, saves about 34 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 115 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Sydney → Tokyo only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Sydney → Hong Kong is the shorter route at 7,376 km, which is 450 km (6%) shorter than Sydney → Tokyo. You would save approximately 34 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Sydney → Tokyo | Sydney → Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 7,826 | 7,376 |
| Distance (miles) | 4,863 | 4,583 |
| Flight time | ~10h 17min | ~9h 43min |
| Driving time | ~127h 10min | ~119h 52min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~10,174 km | ~9,589 km |
| Drivable? | No | No |
| Cross-continental | Yes | Yes |
| Initial bearing | 350° (N) | 323° (NW) |
| Time-zone shift | -1h | -2h |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~1,996 kg | ~1,881 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | — | — |
| Fuel cost (est.) | — | — |
Flying from Sydney to Tokyo produces roughly 1,996 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Sydney → Hong Kong flight emits about 1,881 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 115 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 5 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration.
The Sydney to Tokyo route covers 7,826 km (4,863 miles), crossing from Oceania to Asia. Sydney (population: 5,312,163) is located in New South Wales, Australia, while Tokyo (population: 13,960,000) is in Kanto, Japan.
The Sydney to Hong Kong route covers 7,376 km (4,583 miles), spanning from Oceania to Asia. Sydney (population: 5,312,163) is in New South Wales, Australia, and Hong Kong (population: 7,488,865) is in Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong.
Flying from Sydney to Tokyo takes approximately 10h 17min, while Sydney to Hong Kong takes 9h 43min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 127h 10min for the first route and 119h 52min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Sydney, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Tokyo and Hong Kong as a destination.
The 450 km difference between these routes is relatively modest, so other factors like ticket prices and schedules may matter more.
Neither route is practical by car. Flying is the recommended transport for both.
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.
Hong Kong (Hong Kong) has a population of 7,488,865 and is situated in Hong Kong SAR, Asia. 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. Despite being the longer of the two at 7,826 km, it makes sense when Tokyo itself is the destination, the schedule fits better, or ticket prices are noticeably lower. This is a fly-only route in practice — overland travel is not realistic at 7,826 km. The initial bearing is 350° (N), so a great-circle flight leaves Sydney heading roughly N.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Hong Kong (Hong Kong) — a city of 7,488,865 in the Hong Kong SAR region of Asia. It is also the shorter of the two at 7,376 km, saving about 34 min of flying and around 115 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Overland travel is not practical for 7,376 km; flying is the realistic mode. Departing Sydney, the great-circle bearing toward Hong Kong is 323° (NW).
Sydney (-33.87°, 151.21°) and Tokyo (35.68°, 139.65°) sit with a time-zone shift of -1 hour. Sydney (-33.87°, 151.21°) and Hong Kong (22.32°, 114.17°) have a -2-hour offset. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Hong Kong is closer at 7,376 km, which is 450 km (6%) shorter.
7,826 km (4,863 miles). Flight: ~10h 17min.
7,376 km (4,583 miles). Flight: ~9h 43min.
Flying to Hong Kong is faster at ~9h 43min, saving about 34 min compared to Tokyo.
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.
📍 Data: Coordinates from OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances calculated using the Haversine formula. Travel times are estimates only. Last verified: April 21, 2026.