Tokyo or Singapore: Which is a Better Fit for You to Visit?

Tokyo is the world’s largest city with a staggering 37 million people. The metropolis is packed with modern infrastructure that transports visitors into a futuristic setting that coexists with centuries of historic sites and a traditional past. Singapore was once a sleepy fishing village that exploded into a modern Asian melting pot, with large populations of ethnic Chinese, Malay and Indians.

Both Tokyo and Singapore offer fascinating modern city escapes, with a wealth of cultural highlights and a myriad of gastronomic delights. But which destination should you place higher on your bucket list? The choice comes down to personal preference, and this article will break down some key differences!

For starters, Japan has definitive seasons. If you visit in winter, you can ski near Mt Fuji. Singapore’s southeast Asian location lends to year round hot and humid temperatures, meaning visitors can relax on the beach at Sentosa Island during any month. Weather alone can be a deciding factor, depending on which activities interest you most.

Both Tokyo and Singapore are two of the safest cities the world, with violent crime being rare. English speakers will find getting around Singapore to be a little easier. But with GPS on your phone, translation apps, and great public transportation, it has never been easier for English speakers to explore Tokyo.

1. The Vibe: Tokyo’s Bustling Energy vs. Singapore’s Sleek Sophistication

As the world’s largest metropolis, Tokyo buzzes with an electric energy. The cross walk at Shibuya train station, one of the world’s busiest, typically sees thousands of people cross the intersection each time the traffic lights change. It encapsulates the moment of visiting the world’s largest city. I enjoyed watching the huge throngs of people out the window of a Starbucks that overlooks the spectacle.

Singapore by contrast, generally offers a more relaxed, yet polished vibe. The former British colony meshes British influence with a blend of Asian cultures. A walk along the Singapore River is lovely, and a historical journey with statues representing an array of British and Asian heroes from Lord Byron to Ho Chi Minh.

Singapore is generally extremely clean. No food or drinks are allowed on public transportation – not even bottled water! I once took some sips of bottled water on the Singapore metro and a few fellow passengers gazed at me as if I were insane. I immediately realized my mistake and it is fortunate transportation authorities did not notice as the fine is steep. Singapore’s metro is not the New York City metro, which can be littered with fast food remnants and random objects.

Tokyo’s Akihabara is unlike anywhere else on the planet. Electronics and anime shops dot the buzzing district. There are also an array of quirky maid cafes, where young women in kitsch cosplay outfits perform and serve mediocre food by Japanese standards.

Akihabara is in stark contrast to the tranquil feeling of walking through green spaces like Ueno Park and Hibiya Park. Autumn is a wonderful time to visit these parks, as they teem with colorful foliage. Spring is the most popular time, as the cherry blossoms draw large throngs of visitors.

Houses of worship like the Meiji Shrine offer additional moments of zen. Tokyo’s temples offer an incredible contrast to a city often gleaming in futuristic modernity.

Tokyo or Singapore Pro Tip

If you’re seeking a high-energy, techy, immersive experience, Tokyo should rank higher on your list. But if you seek a more relaxed vibe with modern luxury, Singapore may offer an overall more polished escape. Both Tokyo and Singapore rank highly for cleanliness and a variety of experiences to suit various budgets.

2. Attractions: Entertainment, Temples and Skyscrapers

Both Tokyo and Singapore offer an array of highlights. For family entertainment, Tokyo features Tokyo Disneyland. Singapore offers Universal Studios Singapore on Sentosa Island, close to the beach. For fans of theme parks, if you have a preference of one park over another, this may guide your decision.

As an older city compared to Singapore, Tokyo features significant cultural highlights that date back well over a millenium. Sensō-ji (Asakusa Kannon Temple) is one of the most notable and historic highlights. Dating to 645, it is Tokyo’s oldest-established temple, which is dedicated to Kannon, the bodhisattva of compassion.

Plan to visit Asakusa around mid-day and have lunch from one of the many traditional food stalls nearby. This is one of the only districts in Tokyo where it is culturally acceptable to eat and drink on the street. Elsewhere, it is generally culturally frowned upon to eat and drink outside. Tokyo’s streets are busy – so people do not want to spill things on each other.

Singapore features of the world’s most unique and Instagrammable resorts, the luxurious Marina Bay Sands. The Singapore landmark features the largest rooftop Infinity Pool, a wide range of shopping and entertainment options and award-winning dining.

Singapore’s impressive Gardens by the Bay offers visitors a vibrant horticultural oasis of lush greenery, floral displays and futuristic structures. Stroll among the botanical wonders of the tropical highlands in the Cloud Forest, where a fantastic waterfall and mountain covered in vegetation impresses visitors. Traverse along the 22-meter high OCBC Skyway suspended from the iconic Supertrees, while admiring striking scenic views of Marina Bay and Singapore’s Skyline.

The Singapore Botanic Gardens is another wonderful natural reprieve that is a must during a visit to Singapore. It is one of three gardens, and the only tropical garden to be designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 165-year-old tropical garden is located at the edge of Singapore’s Orchard Road shopping district. Singapore’s Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is a remarkable temple to visit, filled with ornate pieces for worshippers and tourists to admire.

Tokyo offers multiple great opportunities to enjoy fantastic vantage points spanning across the world’s largest city. Tokyo Skytree is Japan’s tallest structure, but as the wait can be long, it is advisable to book ahead. If you don’t want to book ahead and wait in a likely shorter line, visit Tokyo Tower. Tokyo Tower is a lattice inspired structure modeled after the Eiffel Tower that also offers excellent vistas across Tokyo.

Singapore or Tokyo Verdict

Tokyo offers a wider variety of experiences, from historical places and sites to futuristic museums. The heart of Singapore is smaller and more walkable, with every major attraction easily accessible. Both cities feature excellent public transportation, with modern, efficient and clean metro lines.

Read this 12 day Japan itinerary I wrote. It covers iconic attractions and activities across Tokyo, Japan’s cultural capital of Kyoto, the foodie hub of Osaka, and the relaxation haven of Hakone, near Mt. Fuji.

3. Food: A Feast for Every Palate

Immediately upon arrival in Tokyo, visitors will be impressed with the city’s modern and varied culinary scene. My first meal after landing at Tokyo’s Narita Airport, was a conveyor belt sushi restaurant, offering a great selection of sushi and sashimi plates making their rounds in front of patrons. Prices are noted by the color of plates (know that white plates are different to very light blue plates, a tricky marketing tactic). It is a fantastic concept for a fast paced society, as diners can begin eating right away. While you typically will not find the very best sushi and sashimi at the conveyor belt establishments – the food is still good and the concept is unique and fun!

Culinary choices in both Japan and Singapore are outstanding. While Singapore has more depth of flavors, with diverse minority populations of Chinese, Malay, Indian, Thai and more, representing a melting pot of flavorful Asian cuisine in the small city. If you enjoy spicy noodle dishes, you’ll be delighted to explore Singaporean cuisine – particularly dishes like Laksa curry, which is a personal favorite.

Japanese cuisine is also diverse, but typically not spicy. Cozy Izakayas welcome visitors with a traditional convivial greeting that often grabs the attention of the entire restaurant. Sitting around the bar while sushi and other dishes are made offers an opportunity to strike conversations with guests seated at bar stools next to you. A couple Japanese businessmen in broken English happily gave me some drink and dinner recommendations while dining in historic Kyoto.

Japanese Wagyu beef is highly regarded for the meticulous care that goes into the massged cows’ marbled cuts. These cuts are extremely expensive and worth trying if your budget allows. But choose establishments you visit to enjoy Wagyu beef carefully through trusted recommendations and Google reviews. Alternatively, there are great Japanese steakhouses grilling excellent quality cuts of steak that are significantly less expensive than Wagyu beef.

Ramen is also ubiquitous throughout Tokyo, and it continues to gain popularity around the world. Note that at some casual ramen establishments, you place your order from a machine outside the front entrance of the restaurant. Then you hand your ticket to a staff member and grab a seat at the bar. It makes the concept more efficient, like a well oiled machine.

Tokyo or Singapore for Food Verdict

This is an extremely difficult choice. Tokyo is a paradise for food lovers, especially if you’re into sushi, ramen, and high-end dining. Singapore’s food culture is even more varied and inclusive of different cuisines, which could be a better choice if you’re looking for vast diversity flavor profiles.

Japan is one of the most homogenous countries in the world. Singapore by contrast, is a southeast Asian cultural melting. Singapore’s expansive hawker stalls offer an incredible variety of excellent Asian dishes like curries, chili crab and a wealth of traditional and enticing flavors.

4. Shopping: Fashion Mecca vs. Shopping Paradise

Either Tokyo or Singapore offer an abundance of shopping opportunities. Tokyo is among the fashion capitals of the world, with Ginza, Omotesando and Akihabara offering notable shopping experiences. Visitors will find a wide variety of luxury and intermediary brands, along with a wealth of other offerings difficult to find in Europe, North America and beyond. Omotesando is a haven for luxury shopping, trendy restaurants, cafes and unique architecture.

Akihabara is the electronics and anime hub of Tokyo. It is a bustling and unique district with both small and huge department stores like Yodobashi Multimedia Akiba. Swing into Radio Kaikan, offering 10 floors of toys, quirky trading cards, and collectibles. Akihabara also features some quirky maid cafes, with kitsch food and shows.

Harajuku is a buzzing Tokyo district renowned for youth fashion and colorful street art. Visitors can explore quirky vintage clothing stores and cosplay shops along Takeshita Street.

Singapore offers a wealth of luxury shopping in high end malls along Orchard Road and beyond. Visitors can find local artisan goods at the Bugis Street Market. The Mustafa Shopping center is like the Super Wal-Mart of Little India, featuring a wide selection of consumer products from south Asia and beyond.

VivoCity is Singapore’s largest shopping mall, located in the HarbourFront precinct of Bukit Merah, Singapore. VivoCity is packed with a variety of local brands.

• Pro Tip: Fashion enthusiasts will be delighted with a trip to Tokyo. But Singapore also has a popular shopping scene, with mega malls offering a refined, global feel along Orchard Road. Budget shoppers can find deals in Singapore throughout Chinatown and Little India.

5. Relaxation: Finding Zen Amidst the Hustle

Tokyo might not be the first city that comes to mind when you think “relaxation,” but it offers some surprisingly peaceful escapes. Many luxury, as well as mid-range and budget accommodations in and around Tokyo offer on-site hot springs (onsen).

The resort town of Hakone, on the doorstep of Mt. Fuji. features an array of idyllic wellness properties with onsen and delicious on-site kaiseki dining (Japanese haute cuisine). Quaint temples, green spaces, outdoor activities and clean food offer a host of zen wellness features.

Singapore has been designed with relaxation in mind. It boasts ample green spaces like the Singapore Botanic Gardens (a UNESCO World Heritage site), East Coast Park, and relaxing beaches on Sentosa Island. We have enjoyed relaxing strolls in the Botanic Gardens and lounging on the beach on Sentosa Island during multiple trips to Singapore.

Near bustling Shinjuku Shibuya, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (Shinjuku Gyo-en) is a large public garden offering a den of zen. During the Edo period, this was originally a residence of the Naitō family. 

Tokyo and Singapore each offer a wide choice of spas to book a variety of therapeutic treatments. Additionally, each city has a wide choice of massage parlors to book a relaxing massage during a city break.

• Pro Tip: Tokyo offers moments of calm amidst its urban chaos, but Singapore’s overall vibe is geared towards relaxation and nature, making it easier to unwind.

6. Overall Vibe and Accessibility

Tokyo is undoubtedly a city of contrasts and extremes. Each corner of the world’s largest city offers something different, like cozy and bustling izakayas, boutique shops, modern structures, historic temples and so much more.

While Tokyo can feel overwhelming at times, it is easy to get around thanks to the efficient metro system. Tokyo’s metro can be packed during busy times, but there are even ladies carriages for additional comfort for women.

Singapore offers a more condensed experience. It can be a little more manageable for travelers, as it also has excellent public transport, a general sense of order and cleanliness. Most importantly, it is also more English-friendly, which can make navigating the city easier for non-Japanese speakers compared to Tokyo.

Pro Tip: Tokyo offers a vast, dynamic range of experiences, but it’s more sprawling. Singapore’s compact layout makes it easier to relax and explore without feeling too overwhelmed from the crowds.

Visitors may feel stifled from the heat in Singapore, especially during the afternoon. So take particular advantage of exploring the southeast Asian city during mornings and evenings.

Conclusion: Should You Pick Tokyo or Singapore for Your Next Trip?

Select Tokyo if you’re seeking a vibrant mix of old and new, a culinary adventure, and a city that buzzes until late. If you’re an anime fan, or love the energy of a massive metropolis with centuries old cultural roots, this is the place to go. If you visit in winter and enjoy cold weather sports, you can ski and visit spas near Mt Fuji.

Choose Singapore if you’re seeking a smaller, easier-to-navigate city that is a haven for food lovers, shoppers, and nature enthusiasts. It is a destination that fuses luxury, relaxation, and cultural diversity wonderfully. With its close proximity to the equator, Singapore features year round hot weather, meaning a beach vacation can be added to a cultural city getaway during any month. You can even catch a short one hour ferry to Malaysia or even Batam Island, Indonesia.

Is Tokyo or Singapore higher on your bucket list? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!