Why everyone on this board recommend Kyoto over Osaka? Is there anything worth seeing there?

Bonjour Irina,<BR><BR>There's nothing wrong with Osaka, but it is less tourist oriented than Kyoto. Kyoto is also easier to navigate (grid plan) and full of original buildings and neighborhoods.<BR><BR>One reason is that Osaka has always been a commercial and industrial city, and has been bombed flat during the war. There are therefore very few original traditional buildings and areas to visit. There is still lots to see and do, as you'll see here: http://www.tourism.city.osaka.jp/en/<BR><BR>

Osaka is not much to look at, but for a gourmet or gourmand it's probably the best food destination in Japan!

Bonjour Florence,<BR>I was hoping you would reply. You seem to be very knowledgeable. Could you please help me with the transportation. I plan to take trains from Osaka airport to Kyoto, from Kyoto to Nara and Hakone, from Hakone to Tokyo and then to Narita. Is it the same train for all destinations? Do I need a rail pass and advance reservation for the seat and where do I order train tickets? I plan to go in the mid April 2003. Also where is the best location to stay in Kyoto for walkable distance to the main sites? What is the best Western style hotel? Is there any spa hotels in Kyoto? I would appreciate any help.

Bonjour Irina,<BR><BR>There is a direct train from Osaka airport (Kansai) to Kyoto. You can book it in the airport station. From Kyoto, there are two different lines: JR, covered by the railpass, and Kintetsu. Have a look at http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/GA/ for the practical details.<BR><BR>From Kyoto, you take the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Hakone (with a change on the way).<BR><BR>You don't need to book seats long in advance: just go to a "Green" window, preferably with a slip of paper where you've written your destination and timetable, give the clerk your railpass and hell give you your seat reservation. You can do that up to 10 minutes before the train leaves.<BR><BR>I never stay in western hotels in Japan, the "main sites" are pretty much scattered all over Kyoto, but a convenient location is around Gion (commands all the Higashiyama area with Kiyomizu temple) or close to Teramachi shopping streets (between shijo-dori and Oike). <BR><BR>Anyway, the bus and subway systems will take you anywhere at a reasonnable cost.

Florence,<BR>Thank you very much for the quick reply. Do you ever sleep? It must be a deep night in Europe. Where in Switzerland do you live? Are you that active on the Swiss board too? <BR>Could you please give me some advice on Takayama? Do you know when is the Spring Festival, the floating one? I looked on the map and Takayama seemed quite far from any major city. Would it be too much to go there for the day from Hakone and then go to Tokyo for the night? Or it's too little time? Do you know of any good place to stay in Takayama? Also what is the minimum time to stay in Kyoto to see whatever possible, visit Nara and Osaka? Thank you in advance.

Irina,<BR><BR>No, I don't sleep at all, I spend all my time at my computer looking for questions about Japan ;-)<BR>I live in Geneva and I occasionally give some advice on the Europe board, but there are many knowledgeable people with better writing skills than mine there.<BR><BR>Back to Japan: I breezed through Takayama once with a Japanese party (Kendo competition), and except to say it is worth visiting, I can't give much information. My forte is that I know how to travel cheaply and easily in Japan, that's what I'm trying to help other travellers with here. <BR><BR>You could stay in Kyoto for a whole lifetime and still not see it all (sigh ...). Depending on what you're interested in (art, history, architecture, antiques, craft, scenery, shopping ...), allow from 3 days to 1 week. Nara is a daytrip (less than 1 hour by train), although it is pleasant to spend a night there.<BR>