Which to see first - Kyoto or Tokyo?

Old Nov 19th, 2014, 09:51 AM
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jgg
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Which to see first - Kyoto or Tokyo?

Planning a trip in April for about two weeks, will go to both Kyoto and Tokyo as well as probably include Miyajima/Hiroshima and Hakone. Since they are so different, If you had a choice which would you prefer to visit first (for a first-timer) Kyoto or Tokyo? thanks!
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Old Nov 19th, 2014, 10:09 AM
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imo, kyoto
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Old Nov 19th, 2014, 12:13 PM
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Kyoto.
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Old Nov 19th, 2014, 12:43 PM
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To me it has to do with logistics - where you will land, what is the rest of your itinerary, dates of your trip, etc....

I think you wrote on another thread that you were having problems with hotel reservations so that would be a factor as well....
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Old Nov 19th, 2014, 01:24 PM
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In general, it's better to visit Kyoto during the week and Tokyo during the weekend. Kyoto's much more of a tourist-focused city than is Tokyo. So, in Kyoto hotel rates are higher during the weekend (and availability is lower), and tourist sites can be much more crowded.
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Old Nov 19th, 2014, 01:54 PM
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Don's comment makes sense and we arranged most of our time to be in Kyoto on the weekdays, not so much for the hotel rates, but for the crowds. It also makes sense logistically to arrive by air in one location and leave by air in the other. We were happy to arrive in Tokyo and leave from Kyoto (Osaka) and would do it again in that order. Last impressions make a difference and we had no problem orienting ourselves on arrival in Tokyo. Working out the arrival details ahead of time is essential though.
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Old Nov 19th, 2014, 03:08 PM
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>

Tokyo, no doubt.

Far prefer Kyoto - leave on a high note.
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Old Nov 19th, 2014, 05:18 PM
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Pros and cons either way! In addition to the considerations already mentioned, I thought Tokyo much harder to navigate than Kyoto, which can be an argument for putting Tokyo after Kyoto, when you are a bit more accustomed to traveling in Japan. But I wouldn't select the order for that reason alone.

Are there festivals or events that make a difference to your timing? Or opening/closing hours that are relevant?
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Old Nov 19th, 2014, 05:28 PM
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Apart from logistics, I really don't see a difference. You'll get the same out of both places and enjoy both the same.
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Old Nov 19th, 2014, 05:42 PM
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Mara has nailed it, in the end it's logistics that count. We had tickets LAX to Tokyo Haneda and then onward to Kyoto; we took the train back, in several segments, to Tokyo. This is how I prefer to organize trips; to finish in the place from which the flight to North America departs.

Other than that, I found Kyoto to be less intensely paced than Tokyo, and a better place to unwind with jet lag.

Tokyo was a fun place to end the trip.
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Old Nov 19th, 2014, 07:51 PM
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Hiroshima
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Old Nov 20th, 2014, 01:01 AM
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I'd go with Russ - Tokyo first, and then Kyoto. Firstly because, like Russ, I preferred Kyoto and wouldn't want to feel disappointed by Tokyo by hitting it second.

But also because, certainly for me as a Londoner, Tokyo is more accessible, more akin to London (though at the same time, nothing like it), more what I was expecting from the stereotypes and/ or films, an easier place to acclimatise just a tiny bit. It feels very Japanese, and it is fascinating but then one goes to Kyoto and it's so much more (for me) appealing - the heady mix of modern nestled next to traditional is so much more prevalent in Kyoto.

But to be honest, the practical considerations others have put forward are probably more sensible to focus on!
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Old Nov 20th, 2014, 02:25 AM
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Hi jgg,

I feel as if we are travel twins -- always planning the same trip or one which one of us had within a few years!! I still love to read your blog! I finally did Morocco this summer and you finally did your safari! We also did Italy this summer for the 4th time like you did and now we are both planning Japan! Incidentally, we are back to South Africa for Christmas and have added on Botswana for the first time.

Anyway, our Japan trip is to celebrate my oldest daughter's 13th birthday so my dates were set when I started planning but some of the same wonderful Fodorites who commented on your post helped me settle on my proposed trip. I'm really happy someone brought up departing from Osaka after Kyoto. I'm also happy for the day trips to Nikko from Tokyo and Nara from Kyoto. The only thing I would change if the kids allow (the younger two probably won't) is to take off Disney and exchange it for another day in Kyoto.

I stopped planning to get on Christmas and Spring Break, but I will go back now to ensure we get the hotels we want for our very specific dates. But here is our itinerary for now if it helps. My thread has a lot of helpful answers from the community as well:

June 25 - travel from NYC to Tokyo
June 26 - arrive Tokyo, rest, have a nice dinner
June 27 - full day of Tokyo touring
June 28 - full day of Tokyo touring, birthday dinner and cultural celebration
June 29 - full day Nikko tour
June 30 - Disney Tokyo (unless I can talk the kids out of it)

Travel by bullet train to Hiroshima - 4 hours in duration or by plane with a 90 min flight

July 1 - Arrive Miyajima/Hiroshima, 1/2 day tour of Hiroshima and depart on last ferry to Miyajima
July 2 - full day Miyajima

Travel by bullet train from Hiroshima to Kyoto - 1 1/2 hours in duration

July 3 - Arrive Kyoto, 1/2 day Kyoto touring
July 4 - full day Kyoto touring
July 5 - full Day Nara tour
July 6 - full day Kyoto touring
July 7 - full day Kyoto touring

July 8 - depart for Bali via flight from Osaka

Happy planning. I can't wait to see your final itinerary and read about your hotel choices since I have not done mine.

Take care.
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Old Nov 20th, 2014, 01:36 PM
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Thanks for everyone's replies. All so helpful. We haven't purchased our plane tickets yet and will definitely get open jaw. We haven't planned anything yet so logistically we are open to either way. I have to say Sue won me over on doing Kyoto first with her comments about easier to unwind from jet lag and Tokyo being a fun way to end the trip! We are going late March -early April for about 2 weeks so in the heart of cherry blossom season which is why I was having trouble getting some of my top choices for hotels in Kyoto - won't matter whether we go there first or not. But there are some places still available so doable.

Lolazhara - yes we do travel very similarly! We had actually planned a trip to Japan in 2011 but then the earthquake/tsunami happened 10 days before we were set to leave and sadly we chose to cancel - so really looking forward to making it this time! Yes, finally did safari in Tanzania- it was amazing!! HOpe you loved Morocco as much as we did!
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Old Nov 20th, 2014, 04:26 PM
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Since you are traveling during cherry blossom season, I trust you are considering any likely differences between Kyoto and Tokyo in timing. I must admit I've not been to Japan at that time, so can't offer any useful specifics. It looks like the average difference in peak blooms between Kyoto and Tokyo is only 2 days, but you might want to do a bit of research before committing:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011_when.html
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Old Nov 23rd, 2014, 12:03 PM
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It doesn't matter which order. Since you hope to fly open jaw (arrive NRT, depart KIX or vice versa) you should first look at:
1) for the flights you are considering does either have you arriving after dark and/or leaving very early in the morning? It's not as easy to arrive in a new place after dark and also may be difficult to depart very early. If departing very early, you might have to pay an extra night's lodging near the airport(and have less sightseeing time). If your first night is in a ryokan or small inn they might have limited check-in times.

2)Considering the other places you plan to visit and assuming you will purchase a JR rail pass, which itinerary allows you to buy the shortest length JR pass, with the most important question being at what point in your trip will you want to use (if you do) the bullet train between Kyoto and Tokyo, or vice versa?
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Old Dec 17th, 2014, 07:20 PM
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It seems the list in this page is not a good one.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011_when.html
Because of global warming, cherry blossoms bloom earlier recently.
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Front_d...erisiers#Dates
But the next bloom might come later than the average. Today's inches of snow in Nagoya in December is quite rare...
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Old Dec 18th, 2014, 06:20 AM
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I'd fly into Kansai and go first to Kyoto. Try using Japan (help, someone having a senior moment(
______. They found us rooms at the Westin in Kyoto when no one else could. Westin gets mixed reviews, but fit our needs. Location great. Out of center, but you can walk to many lovely temples and the Philosopher's walk is really special. Better place to get over jet lag.
I'd go to Tokyo second to last, then finish with Hakone. Beautiful, peaceful, great outdoor sculpture museum and the magnificent Mt Fugii.
We did:
Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto (8 days), Koya-san, Hiroshima/Miyajima, last night in Kyoto again. It worked well, but Tokyo was a bit too much stimulation with jet lag. In fact, of all of Tokyo, what we truly appreciated was the museum.
Another trip perhaps...Tokyo did not capture my heart.
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Old Dec 21st, 2014, 01:22 PM
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Thanks cmstraf. Right now I'm planning on doing it just as you suggested. Fly into Kansai - Kyoto - Hiroshima/Miyajima - Tokyo - Hakone - fly out of Narita. Thanks for confirming my plan is a good one!!
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Old Dec 21st, 2014, 04:09 PM
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You're doing plenty of backtracking if you follow cmstraf's suggestion -- Hakone lies between Kyoto and Tokyo. It would sort of be like someone planning to visit California who then arrives in San Francisco, goes to Los Angeles, then goes to San Luis Obispo, and then flies home from LAX. You could do it, I suppose, but to me it's a waste of time and money to backtrack like that.
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