Is Tokyo or Kyoto better?

Tokyo is the political and economic capital of Japan, so it's much more bustling, modern and new. Kyoto, on the other hand, is the storehouse of Japan's traditional culture. So, if you want to see what modern Japan is all about, visit Tokyo. And, if you want to experience traditional Japan, then visit Kyoto.



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Kyoto. Kyoto, considered by many as Japan's most beautiful city, was the Japanese capital until the government was moved to Tokyo in 1868.

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Kyoto is worth visiting for an insight into Japan's Shinto and Buddhist religious practices and the area is full of shrines and temples to visit.

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By spending 4-5 days in Kyoto, you can uncover the city's hidden treasures and fully immerse yourself in its vibrant culture.

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How to Get from Tokyo to Kyoto. Kyoto is 283 miles (445 km) from Tokyo, but you can get from Tokyo to Kyoto in just over two hours if you travel on a high-speed shinkansen (bullet train). By air, the journey will take about three hours, including ground transportation.

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A standard fee for a one-way Tokyo to Kyoto ticket is around 160 USD during peak seasons and 100-120 USD off peak, although the price heavily depends on such factor as what travel class you prefer or do you purchase a ticket with reserved or unreserved seats.

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As I explained, if you're visiting as a non-Japanese speaker, you'll generally have no trouble finding someone who speaks English in restaurants, hotels, and public transport in big cities like Tokyo or tourist cities like Kyoto.

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The 10 Safest Cities to Live in Japan
  • Number 10: Osaka. Osaka is the capital of Osaka prefecture. ...
  • Number 9: Fukuoka. Photo provided by Fukuoka City. ...
  • Number 8: Kyoto. Kyoto is one of the most beautiful and safest places to live in. ...
  • Number 7: Okayama. ...
  • Number 6: Kobe. ...
  • Number 5: Sapporo. ...
  • Number 4: Hiroshima. ...
  • Number 3: Sendai.


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A Little More Relaxed The Kansai region as a whole has long been characterised as more friendly and outgoing than Tokyo and this is somewhat true. People in Osaka tend to be a bit more open and generally won't hesitate to speak to you even if you're a foreigner.

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With over 1,200 years of history, Kyoto is home to beautiful natural scenery interwoven with historical buildings and traditional architecture. At the same time, Kyoto is a city of learning and creation, with a high concentration of cutting-edge universities, research institutions, and companies.

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10 Best Local Dishes from Kyoto
  • Traditional Kyoto-style course meals (Kyo kaiseki)
  • Soba noodles with dried herring (nishin soba)
  • Buddhist vegetarian cuisine (shojin ryori)
  • Boiled tofu (yu dofu)
  • Kyoto-style home cooking (obanzai)
  • Kuzu starch noodles (kuzukiri)
  • Beef cutlet (gyu katsu)
  • Mackerel sushi (sabazushi)


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Kyoto is more relaxing. Tokyo is about 30% more expensive than Kyoto for travelers. If you prefer big cities, modern technology, nightlife and a huge selection of restaurants, Tokyo is for you. If you're after temples, shrines, garden, geisha and hiking, Kyoto is for you.

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If you've only got one full day in Kyoto, you'll have to work fast and efficiently. This itinerary allows you to get a good sampling of what the city has to offer in just one day.

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Safety at night:Very safe Nevertheless, as with any place, it's always a good idea to stay vigilant especially in less crowded areas or during the very late hours. But overall, it offers a secure setting for solo female travelers.

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Dubbed by locals as Kyoto's most beautiful street, Shirakawa (??) is a few minutes' walk from central Gion and the Hanamichi (????) area. It is off the beaten path, and there seemed to be no sight of other tourists when we visited it. The street runs into a Y-shape, with a little shrine situated at the intersection.

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