newyorkais35

Hello All!!!

I will be visiting Japan for the first time in March for two weeks. I would like to know if anyone on the forum has visited both Osaka and Tokyo, who could share their insight into whether or not Osaka merits a visit if visiting Tokyo as well during the same trip. I will be spending time in Kyoto as well.

Thanks in advance.

Ross

amln

You might want to check my 2007 trip which included a stop in Osaka:
http://www.molon.de/travelogues/Japan/2007/
(I have photos as well on the site)

To summarise it, Osaka is worth a stop if it's on the way, but you wouldn't travel there if there wasn't a reason for it. In my case I had my return flight leaving in Osaka.
Tokyo is much, much more interesting.

newyorkais35

Thank you, amln.

Ross

maccabee

I found people in Osaka to be friendlier and more approachable than people in Tokyo, and on the whole I found the city more pleasant than Tokyo in terms of its architecture and layout. However, I have to admit that Tokyo is definitely more interesting.

I agree with amIn that Osaka is worth stopping by if it's on the way, but don't go out of your way to make a trip there. Tokyo and Kyoto are interesting and varied in their own ways. Osaka reminds me of a nice, mid-western US city, if that helps.

newyorkais35

Thanks, maccabee.

Ross

hawaiiantraveler

Yes, I have been to both cities and stayed in both several times now. They are both worth visiting on their own merits. You can read my trip reports, just click on my screen name.

Let us know your interests and wants and maybe we can make a better suggestion.

Aloha!

lcuy

For a first timer, I would stick with Kyoto and Tokyo. Osaka is interesting, but if you have extra time, there are a lot of other places I'd recommend besides Osaka.

mrwunrfl

I can't answer the question because I don't know how it would fit into a TWO WEEK itinerary. If it is two weeks for only Tokyo and Kyoto then, yes, Osaka merits a visit.

newyorkais35

I plan on spending the first night near Haneda airport because my flight arrives quite late from New York. I will be going to Osaka by plane the following day where I will spend 4 nights. I then will spend 4 nights in Kyoto with a daytrip to Nara, and finally 5 nights in Tokyo before returning to the US via LA. I was thinking perhaps a daytrip to Kobe or Hiroshima/Miyajima from Osaka.

Thanks for everyone's input. I appreciate it.

Ross

Kavey

We focused our time in Tokyo (6 nights split into 2 blocks but one night was after an evening arrival from the airport and the other was just before a morning departure) and Kyoto (5 nights). To that we added 2 nights in Takayama, 1 in Koyasan, 1 in Nara, 1 in Osaka and 1 in Miyajima. With less time I'd probably just do Tokyo and Kyoto and do side trips from there.

From Tokyo you could consider Nikko or Hakone (we did neither, though). From Kyoto you can readily go to Nara and Osaka on day trips. Koyasan would not be worthwhile as a day trip, in my opinion, but was a unique experience for overnight.

I didn't warm to Osaka but we had so little time there I know I haven't given it a fair chance and will still go back there next time we go to Japan.

newyorkais35

Thanks for the responses!!!

Ross

tansmets

Hi,
In November I did a 5 day trip based in Osaka, and from there went to Kobe and Kyoto - look for my trip report.　I went to Tokyo a few years earlier. Osaka is much more manageable, but there is A LOT less English. Not an issue except get a translation book for restaurant menus. I really liked Osaka, it is not as interesting as Tokyo but it has a lot of charm, and is a lot cheaper. I agree with the midwestern US city comparison. Comparing Osaka to NY is a bit like comparing Chicago to New York.

newyorkais35

Thanks Transmets. I happen to like Chicago so the comparison is welcome. I think seeing a large Japanese city other than Tokyo will give me an interesting perspective on Japan.

Ross

tansmets

I think it will help you see a more down to earth part of Japan. Osaka is nowhere near as trendy and glam as Tokyo, but has a more authentic feel. We saw very, very few other (western) tourists in Osaka. We liked using it as a jump off point to Kyoto because compared to Kyoto, it seemed like a real place, Kyoto is lovely but seemed too full of tourists and a bit manufactured 5 years later. Additionally, in Osaka we were able to stay at the St. Regis (highly recommended) for half the price of a similar hotel in Tokyo. I'm not sure how interested you are in Japanese food, but Osaka is really really well known for it's specialties - a lot of interesting egg dishes. I don't eat any seafood, so beef in Kobe was my treat instead

mrwunrfl

Thanks for more details: yes, Osaka merits a visit (as do other places in Japan).

You could go Osaka to Miyjima or Hiroshima, spending a night in either place (and visit both) and then go to Kyoto. A day trip to either place would be 4 or 5 hours of traveling roundtrip, and you would have to choose between M or H.

mrwunrfl

calling emd3 ...

My comment was: "you would have to choose between M or H" for a day trip.

Her opinion posted on another thread differs:

emd3 on Feb 2, 13

Ok, since you are having troubles with Miyajima lodgng, I will throw this in. You can do a day trip from Kyoto to both Hiroshima and Miyajima. I did it. You catch train at Kyoto Station at around 7 am ad get back around 9 pm. Long day, straight to Hiroshima, to Pace Park for couple hrs, then to ferry to Miyajima, several hrs there to the deer, shrine, soemthing to eat, and back to ferry, then to Hiroshima train station and back to Kyoto.

Easy to do, long day. It was a great option for us. On next trip to japn, we did yoto to HImeji, saw castle, then on to Hirshima, and left out Miyajima. Also good long day, great option. But castle is still covered in scaffolding...

mrwunrfl

Sunset time at Miyajima would be 6:00 to 6:30 PM depending on which day in March. You could also check on the high/low tide times.

JC98

I've been to both cities, and wouldn't recommend going out of your way to see Osaka. Tokyo is good enough to see a big city in Japan. I would spend more time in Kyoto (and Nara)--most Japanese of all places in Japan.