Comparison · Taipei vs Tokyo · Taiwan / Japan
Taipei vs Tokyo
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: 毛貓大少爺, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Choose Taipei for Taipei 101, Night markets, lower day-to-day costs and a milder winter; choose Tokyo for Shibuya Crossing, Sushi and ramen and beaches. Taipei is generally less expensive, and the two are about 2,095 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 2,095 km
- Less expensive
- Taipei
- Best time for Taipei
- March–April and October–December
- Best time for Tokyo
- March–May and October–November
Side by side
| Taipei | Tokyo | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Taiwan | Japan |
| Known for | Taipei 101, Night markets and National Palace Museum | Shibuya Crossing, Sushi and ramen and Temples and shrines |
| Best time to visit | March–April and October–December | March–May and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 6 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $100–$200 | $150–$280 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 34°C (93°F) | August, 31°C (88°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 19°C (66°F) | January, 10°C (50°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 9 | 11 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 7 |
| Beaches | — | Yuigahama, Kamakura |
| Airports | TPE, TSA | HND, NRT |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Taipei for…
Taipei 101, Night markets, lower day-to-day costs and a milder winter. Taipei is Taiwan's capital, a compact city of about 2.5 million people in a basin ringed by green mountains. The 508-metre Taipei 101 dominates the Xinyi skyline, the National Palace Museum holds one of the world's largest collections of Chinese imperial…
Choose Tokyo for…
Shibuya Crossing, Sushi and ramen and beaches. Tokyo is less a single city than a cluster of distinct centres linked by an exceptionally efficient rail network: neon-lit Shinjuku and Shibuya, the department stores of Ginza, the temple quarter of Asakusa, the museums of Ueno and the anime shops of…
Top sights compared
| # | Taipei | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taipei 101 Observatory | Senso-ji Temple |
| 2 | National Palace Museum | Meiji Jingu Shrine |
| 3 | Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall | Shibuya Crossing |
| 4 | Longshan Temple | Shibuya Sky |
| 5 | Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) | Tokyo Skytree |
Food compared
| Taipei | Tokyo |
|---|---|
| Beef noodle soup | Sushi |
| Xiaolongbao | Ramen |
| Braised pork rice | Tsukemen |
| Pepper bun | Tempura |
Which is cheaper?
Taipei is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $100–$200 per person there, against $150–$280 in Tokyo (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Taipei on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 2,095 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 12 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Taipei or Tokyo cheaper?
Taipei is usually less expensive: about $100–$200 a day mid-range against $150–$280 (estimates).
+Is Taipei or Tokyo better for a first trip?
Pick Taipei for Taipei 101, Night markets, lower day-to-day costs and a milder winter, or Tokyo for Shibuya Crossing, Sushi and ramen and beaches.
+How far is Taipei from Tokyo?
About 2,095 km in a straight line.