Three cities, one shinkansen line, and a question with a usual answer: two of them.
Side by side#
| Tokyo | Kyoto | Osaka | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | The modern capital, neighbourhoods, scale | Temples, gardens, old Japan | Food, nightlife, friendliness |
| Food | The best restaurant city on earth | Kaiseki, tofu, matcha; pricier | The best street food; cheap |
| Nightlife | Range: every scene | Quiet; a few bars | Loud, cheap, sociable |
| Crowds | Big but spread out | Intense at the famous sights | Dotonbori busy, rest fine |
| Cost | Highest | High in season | Lowest |
| Days | 4–7 | 2–3 | 1–3 |
| Base for | Hakone, Nikko, Kamakura | Nara, Uji, Arashiyama | Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Himeji |
Tokyo#
The reason to come to Japan and the city you could spend a month in: the 7-day itinerary, the neighbourhoods, where locals eat, nightlife. Tokyo vs Seoul if the question is which country.
Kyoto#
Two or three nights. Fushimi Inari at dawn, Arashiyama early, Gion at dusk, a quiet temple nobody mentions in the afternoon. Beautiful and overrun; the trick is hours, not places.
Osaka#
Dotonbori's neon, Kuromon market, takoyaki and okonomiyaki, kushikatsu in Shinsekai, a crowd that talks to strangers. One night for the food, three if you use it as a base for Kyoto and Nara (both under an hour).
Splits#
- 7 days: Tokyo 4, Kyoto 3. Tokyo to Kyoto.
- 10 days: Tokyo 4, Kyoto 3, Osaka 3 (with Nara).
- 14 days: add Hiroshima and Miyajima, or Kanazawa and the Alps. Is the JR Pass worth it? starts mattering here.
How much a Japan trip costs, best time to visit.
In each city#
Post your dates on Roavi Community with your route: travellers doing the same cities on the same days appear together, and Local Friends in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka reply. Rent a friend in Japan as a foreigner explains how a Local Friend works in each; Tokyo is where most are.
Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka? Post your route and meet a local in each.
Post your tripFrequently Asked Questions
Tokyo or Osaka: which is better to visit?
Tokyo for a first trip: more to see, more neighbourhoods, the best restaurants, more range at night. Osaka for food, friendliness, lower prices and an easy base for Kyoto and Nara. Most trips do both; Osaka is the one to cut if you must.Which has better nightlife, Tokyo or Osaka?
Tokyo has more of everything (bars, clubs, jazz, tiny alleys, every scene). Osaka's Dotonbori and Namba are louder, cheaper and friendlier, and strangers talk to you. For variety, Tokyo; for a night where you meet people, Osaka.How should I split a week between Tokyo and Kyoto?
Four nights Tokyo, three Kyoto, with the shinkansen in between. If you add Osaka, take a night from each or stretch to ten days: four Tokyo, three Kyoto, two or three Osaka.Is Osaka cheaper than Tokyo?
Somewhat: hotels, eating out and drinking cost less, and Osaka's food culture is built around cheap, excellent street food. The difference is noticeable but not huge; both are reasonable by Western standards.
