International > Japan

Long weekend- Osaka, Tokyo or somewhere else in Japan?

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vw08:
I have an extended weekend coming up, Saturday-Wednesday, and I want to use it to go to Japan.  Any recommendation as to which location is better for a 4 or so day break- Osaka, Tokyo or somewhere else.

miss_cho:
Which city/area really depends on your own interests and what you want to do. I doubt you'd be disappointed spending time in either city so I can only offer my own advice on what I would do if I were in your place - this is based on having lived in Japan for a couple of years and visiting Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto while living there and again in the summer of 2011.

Tokyo is a large city - it has a lot to do and see and there's a very interesting contrast between traditional and modern Japan in the city. It has a few very well known shrines and temples (Yasukuni, Amakusa, Meiji, etc) in addition to plenty of interesting (Akihibara) funky (Harajuku) neighborhoods. On my last visit I went to a bar run by Buddhist priests which was quite an interesting experience. And of course, you could visit Mt. Fuji. However, personally I don't care for Tokyo, I find myself losing interest in the city very fast. I was there for 3 days on my most recent visit and that was sufficient amount of time.

I prefer Osaka over Tokyo - the pace of the city is a slight bit slower and the city seems more manageable. The city has a replica of a castle in addition to a number of interesting shrines and temples. It's also famous for it's version of okonomiyaki (frequently referred to as Japanese pancake or pizza) in addition to takoyaki (and probably a whole slew of other foods). I visited Osaka during tenjin matsuri, one of the largest festivals in Japan and Osaka was extremely lively and colorful.

However, if I had 5 days to explore I would fly into Osaka and take the train to Kyoto and spend most of my time there. Kyoto has plenty to do, it's extremely rich with history but you'll still encounter a variety quirky and funky things. Nara, which is a short train ride from Kyoto and perfect for a day trip has a beautiful temple and a park full of deer which mingle with visitors. You could return to Osaka and spend a day there exploring the city. If you end up in Kyoto I highly recommend visiting Inari Jinja - it's a bit out of the way of the typical tourist route which includes the Golden and Silver Temples - but it's quite beautiful.

If you're heading to Japan in April check beforehand about the cherry blossom season. This is a very big time of year in Japan and many Japanese travel to enjoy the cherry blossoms. This could raise the rates of hotels and such.

vw08:
Thanks for the great suggestions!  I'll add them to my list.

iselynjenniep:
kyoto!!

superjo2092:
I'm a bit biased, having used to live in Osaka, but still I feel it's by far one of the coolest cities.  The people are much more friendly and outgoing than in Tokyo.  The food is a million times better.  It's a little cheaper than Tokyo.  Also, there are countless day trips from Osaka: Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Wakayama.  And the train from the airport to the city isn't half as long as the train from Narita to Tokyo city center.

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