Tokyo, Japan, the world’s most populous metropolitan area with about 39.1 million people

iss073e0548147 (Aug. 26, 2025) --- Tokyo, Japan, and its surrounding suburbs—the world’s most populous metropolitan area with about 39.1 million people—are pictured at approximately 1 a.m. local time from the International Space Station as it orbited 262 miles above. Visible landmarks include Haneda Airport on Tokyo Bay (lower center) and the Imperial Palace (the dark area at center) in the heart of downtown Tokyo. Credit: JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)