What’s the largest city you’ve visited

[Obadno]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

Tokyo is bigger, but as a person who lives in NYC I can say that Tokyo's maximum density does not match New York's. People who don't live in hyper-dense cities may not be able to tell the difference, but I certainly can.

Im not talking about maximum density, what makes Tokyo feel unbelievably massive is the same thing you get in LA it just never ends. Buildings in Tokyo arent especially tall or big, I think the tallest buildings are somewhere about 60 or 70 floors.

But there is this sort of Brooklyn level density that just goes on and on and it never ends, it gives you a crushing feeling. New york ends, there are physical barriers and you can find yourself in an average suburban or even rural environment from the very heart of the city in a relatively short period of time. Not so in Tokyo.

Example:

This is roughly 24 miles from the center of Tokyo

https://goo.gl/maps/q2FVDvPANVmzfbQK8

Here is 24 miles from Midtown

https://goo.gl/maps/hzV33G2pBA1FZUqMA

[JManc]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

Tokyo is bigger, but as a person who lives in NYC I can say that Tokyo's maximum density does not match New York's. People who don't live in hyper-dense cities may not be able to tell the difference, but I certainly can.

My impression of New York/ Tokyo was the complete opposite, Tokyo seemed much much bigger and more extreme than New York. Japanese also cram into tinier living spaces than Americans, even New Yorkers

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by JManc

My impression of New York/ Tokyo was the complete opposite, Tokyo seemed much much bigger and more extreme than New York. Japanese also cram into tinier living spaces than Americans, even New Yorkers

Not mine at all. Tokyo's streets are narrower, so it does look more dense in photos, but it did not feel more densely populated to me. Tokyo also has a lot more 2-3 story residential buildings in central areas, and that's mostly unheard of in Manhattan, and near parts of the outer boroughs.

I have friends who live in Tokyo around here: https://goo.gl/maps/nvfvFxfAzjhGcfXq8

Those low rises seem pretty characteristic of this part of the city, which is about the same distance from Shinjuku as Midtown to downtown Brooklyn (4-5 miles). You won't really find much in NYC within 5 miles of Midtown that is less than four stories tall.

[JManc]

Without looking it up, I would imagine Manhattan (geographically constrained as an island and a huge park) is denser than pretty much anything in Tokyo..or least from what I saw over there but we crisscrossed the city and the sheer amount of density and humanity crammed in that region was insane. I didn't get that sense of 'whoa' from the New York area in general.

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by JManc

Without looking it up, I would imagine Manhattan (geographically constrained as an island and a huge park) is denser than pretty much anything in Tokyo..or least from what I saw over there but we crisscrossed the city and the sheer amount of density and humanity crammed in that region was insane. I didn't get that sense of 'whoa' from the New York area in general.

Yeah, I absolutely agree with that. Tokyo is a high density environment that stretches very far. I'm really only nitpicking because my preconception before going was that it was going to be Manhattan-like throughout, but it was actually more like Brooklyn or Queens level density, with not too much Manhattan. But it's definitely a super-fucking-dense city that goes on forever.

[JManc]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

Yeah, I absolutely agree with that. Tokyo is a high density environment that stretches very far. I'm really only nitpicking because my preconception before going was that it was going to be Manhattan-like throughout, but it was actually more like Brooklyn or Queens level density, with not too much Manhattan. But it's definitely a super-fucking-dense city that goes on forever.

If Tokyo was like Manhattan throughout, Godzilla would have a really difficult time getting around all the tall buildings.

[badrunner]

Those are the two biggest cities I've been to and in my experience Tokyo definitely feels bigger. Manhattan is the most intensely urban place in the world, but you can walk across it in less than an hour. Its density is unmatched but it feels... finite... and very closed in. Tokyo feels vast and infinite in comparison, though not as intense in any one spot. It's just a different kind of urban experience. LA has that same feeling. It doesn't feel bigger than NYC, but feels more vast and free, less oppressive, like you're out in nature, if that makes any sense.

[jtown,man]

In Tokyo, it's not just that the roads are narrow that it seems denser. Those properties are right up to the road...which has no sidewalks. And the road itself doesn't provide for the obligatory parking on both sides that are common in NYC. So, buildings tightly mixed+narrow road+no sidewalks+buildings abutting the road+no street parking=a way more dense area over a large city.

Above Tokyo:

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.6989.../data=!3m1!1e3

Above NYC(Brooklyn):

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ne...!4d-74.0059728

These two images show, without a doubt, that buildings cover way more land in Tokyo than in NYC. You multiply this image over and over and you get a way more intense/dense area over a huge area.

[Steely Dan]

^ yeah, the tokyo example does seem to have greater ground coverage than the brooklyn one.

but i would MUCH rather live on this street: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.6836...7i13312!8i6656

than this one: https://www.google.com/maps/@35.6990...7i16384!8i8192

[jtown,man]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

^ yeah, the tokyo example does seem to have greater ground coverage than the brooklyn one.

but i would MUCH rather live on this street: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.6836...7i13312!8i6656

than this one: https://www.google.com/maps/@35.6990...7i16384!8i8192

aesthetically, I agree. But the Japanese example would give you much more options as far as an urban area goes. Also, you can leave your bike out and it not get stolen (ok, yeah that's a cultural thing, not a built thing)

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by jtown,man

the Japanese example would give you much more options as far as an urban area goes. Also, you can leave your bike out and it not get stolen

more isn't always better in my eyes.

i'm more into balance than intensity.

much of brooklyn is pretty ideally balanced IMO.

and i'm also just a full-blown sucker for tree-canopied urban streets.

[jtown,man]

I hear ya. The lack of trees is probably my biggest gripe with the Japanese cities. I just love how they incorporate small businesses within their neighborhoods and how the streets seem to meander. It creates an interesting environment.

[Steely Dan]

^ i've never been to tokyo.

i'm sure it's cool as hell to visit and explore.

but as a place to live? and raise a family?

from what i've seen, brooklyn seems like it would be a million times more my speed.

that's all. i can't comment on which city "feels bigger".

[Crawford]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

Tokyo is bigger, but as a person who lives in NYC I can say that Tokyo's maximum density does not match New York's. People who don't live in hyper-dense cities may not be able to tell the difference, but I certainly can.

Tokyo is the biggest city on earth, and feels it. But yeah, Tokyo isn't very dense.

I always find it odd when people talk about Tokyo's supposed density, and wonder if they've been there. It's a moderate density city, but over a massive geography.

[Crawford]

Originally Posted by jtown,man

These two images show, without a doubt, that buildings cover way more land in Tokyo than in NYC. You multiply this image over and over and you get a way more intense/dense area over a huge area.

But that isn't density. Tokyo is a much lower density city, at least the core and surroundings. There's high ground coverage, but not a lot of building mass or verticality.

Tokyo frequently has modest SFH in the middle of their "Manhattan". They have relatively few highrises. Tokyo is more like LA on steroids.

[emathias]

Originally Posted by Obadno

Im not talking about maximum density, what makes Tokyo feel unbelievably massive is the same thing you get in LA it just never ends. Buildings in Tokyo arent especially tall or big, I think the tallest buildings are somewhere about 60 or 70 floors.

But there is this sort of Brooklyn level density that just goes on and on and it never ends, it gives you a crushing feeling. New york ends, there are physical barriers and you can find yourself in an average suburban or even rural environment from the very heart of the city in a relatively short period of time. Not so in Tokyo.

Example:

This is roughly 24 miles from the center of Tokyo

https://goo.gl/maps/q2FVDvPANVmzfbQK8

Here is 24 miles from Midtown

https://goo.gl/maps/hzV33G2pBA1FZUqMA

Of course, this is ~25 miles from Midtown, too:
https://goo.gl/maps/FhvZtEeQAx5ytCsQA

And this is also 25 miles from central Tokyo:
https://goo.gl/maps/eYAiQ5UM3TdHX9iZ6

Of course depending on the direction you head, this could be 25 miles from either city:
https://goo.gl/maps/VKioVuH1tpDYq1KZ7

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by jtown,man

In Tokyo, it's not just that the roads are narrow that it seems denser. Those properties are right up to the road...which has no sidewalks. And the road itself doesn't provide for the obligatory parking on both sides that are common in NYC. So, buildings tightly mixed+narrow road+no sidewalks+buildings abutting the road+no street parking=a way more dense area over a large city.

Above Tokyo:

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.6989.../data=!3m1!1e3

Above NYC(Brooklyn):

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ne...!4d-74.0059728

These two images show, without a doubt, that buildings cover way more land in Tokyo than in NYC. You multiply this image over and over and you get a way more intense/dense area over a huge area.

But those are mostly 10+ unit apartment buildings in Brooklyn, versus buildings withe 2-4 apartments in the Tokyo example (and maybe even some SFH).

[Tom In Chicago]

I think Mexico City is the largest city I've ever been to. . . not sure how New York or Istanbul rank but they certainly feel equally as large. . .

. . .

[pianowizard]

The 10 largest cities I've visited:

1) Ranked by population of city proper:
Shanghai (24.2 mil)
Beijing (21.7 mil)
Tokyo (13.5 mil)
Seoul (9.8 mil)
London (8.8 mil)
Bangkok (8.8 mil)
New York (8.4 mil)
Hong Kong (7.3 mil)
Hanoi (7.2 mil)
Hangzhou (7.0 mil)

2) Ranked by population of metro:
Tokyo (43.9 mil)
Shanghai (38.7 mil)
Seoul (25.5 mil)
Beijing (24.9 mil)
New York (23.5 mil)
Los Angeles (18.8 mil)
London (17.6 mil)
Paris (15.9 mil)
Bangkok (14.6 mil)
Hangzhou (13.4 mil)

[Darkoshvilli]

Visited:

NYC
Paris
Toronto
Barcelona
Tel Aviv
Vancouver
Copenhagen
Tbilisi
Jerusalem
Quebec City
Victoria
Holguin
Haifa
Batumi

Lived: Montreal followed by Tel Aviv and Odessa, Ukraine.