Compare: Tokyo→Seoul (1,149 km) vs Tokyo→Shanghai (1,754 km). Tokyo → Seoul wins by 605 km (34%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team
1,149 km
714 miles · Flight: ~1h 56min
✓ Shorter route
1,754 km
1,090 miles · Flight: ~2h 42min
Difference: 605 km (34%) · Flight time difference: ~46 min
Verdict
Tokyo → Seoul is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 605 km (34%) shorter, saves about 46 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 154 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Tokyo → Shanghai only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Tokyo → Seoul is the shorter route at 1,149 km, which is 605 km (34%) shorter than Tokyo → Shanghai. You would save approximately 46 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Tokyo → Seoul | Tokyo → Shanghai |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 1,149 | 1,754 |
| Distance (miles) | 714 | 1,090 |
| Flight time | ~1h 56min | ~2h 42min |
| Driving time | No road estimate | No road estimate |
| Road distance (rough estimate) | Not published | Not published |
| Continuous road link? | No | No |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 284° (WNW) | 259° (W) |
| Time-zone shift | None | -1h |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~293 kg | ~447 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | — | — |
| Fuel cost (est.) | — | — |
Flying from Tokyo to Seoul produces roughly 293 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Tokyo → Shanghai flight emits about 447 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 154 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 7 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration.
The Tokyo to Seoul route covers 1,149 km (714 miles), staying within Asia. Tokyo (population: 13,960,000) is located in Kanto, Japan, while Seoul (population: 9,776,000) is in Capital Area, South Korea.
The Tokyo to Shanghai route covers 1,754 km (1,090 miles), remaining within Asia. Tokyo (population: 13,960,000) is in Kanto, Japan, and Shanghai (population: 24,870,000) is in East China, China.
Flying from Tokyo to Seoul takes approximately 1h 56min, while Tokyo to Shanghai takes 2h 42min.
Since both routes depart from Tokyo, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Seoul and Shanghai as a destination.
The 605 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 Tokyo and Seoul — the two cities sit on separate landmasses, so the journey requires air or sea transport. There is no continuous road connection between Tokyo and Shanghai — the two cities sit on separate landmasses, so the journey requires air or sea transport.
Seoul (South Korea) has a population of 9,776,000 and is located in the Capital Area region of Asia. As a major metropolis, it offers extensive international connections and diverse attractions.
Shanghai (China) has a population of 24,870,000 and is situated in East China, Asia. This major global city has multiple airports and world-class infrastructure.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Seoul (South Korea) — a city of 9,776,000 in the Capital Area region of Asia. It is also the shorter option at 1,149 km, which translates to a 46 min flight-time saving and roughly 154 kg less CO₂ per passenger versus the alternative. This is a fly-only route in practice — overland travel is not realistic at 1,149 km. The initial bearing is 284° (WNW), so a great-circle flight leaves Tokyo heading roughly WNW.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Shanghai (China) — a city of 24,870,000 in the East China region of Asia. Even though it is the longer route at 1,754 km, it remains the obvious pick when Shanghai is the actual destination, when departure schedules from Tokyo are more convenient, or when fares undercut the alternative. Overland travel is not practical for 1,754 km; flying is the realistic mode. Departing Tokyo, the great-circle bearing toward Shanghai is 259° (W).
Tokyo (35.68°, 139.65°) → Seoul (37.57°, 126.98°): Tokyo keeps Asia/Tokyo time and Seoul keeps Asia/Seoul time, and the two zones hold the same clock time for most of the year. Because each zone changes to and from daylight saving on its own schedule, check the live difference in the calculator for your travel dates. Tokyo (35.68°, 139.65°) → Shanghai (31.23°, 121.47°): Tokyo keeps Asia/Tokyo time and Shanghai keeps Asia/Shanghai time — a gap of about 1 hour, with Shanghai behind. 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. Both routes have manageable shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Seoul is closer at 1,149 km, which is 605 km (34%) shorter.
1,149 km (714 miles). Flight: ~1h 56min.
1,754 km (1,090 miles). Flight: ~2h 42min.
Flying to Seoul is faster at ~1h 56min, saving about 46 min compared to Shanghai.
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.