Should I go to Tokyo or Osaka?

Both Tokyo and Osaka have their characteristic charms and appeal to different people. If you dream of a high-energy city with an unmatched variety of attractions, go for Tokyo. On the other hand, those who want a slower trip and prefer the delicate flavours of Kansai food would find Osaka a better choice.



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The ideal duration to explore Tokyo is at least 5 days to discover the main areas of the city and the outskirts of the prefecture. To explore Japan's best, spend at least 2 weeks here. Even then, you will realize that there are so many things to discover in Japan.

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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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By rail or road, the journey is more like 515 km. The fastest, easiest, and most convenient option is the Shinkansen, especially if you have a Japan Rail Pass or are looking to arrive quick-fast. The cheapest option is usually a highway bus, followed by flights — but these are both a bit time-consuming.

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Shinkansen or bullet train In just 2 hours and 30 minutes, you can get from Tokyo Station to Shin-Osaka Station. A one-way trip costs 13,620 yen (unreserved seat) or 14,650 yen (reserved seat), and is not covered by the JR Pass.

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If you want to focus on one city, Tokyo is the one. However, Osaka offers many similar features and it's a great base to see a whole lot more. Having been to both multiple times, if I were a first-timer again and I can't afford to go to both, I would personally pick Osaka and see everything else around it.

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It's known for having some of the best food in Japan and it offers plenty to do for first-time visitors. If it's your first trip and you don't have a lot of time, then I'd say that 3 days in Osaka is ideal. It'll give you enough time to see the city's top attractions without feeling rushed.

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As the world's largest urban sprawl, Tokyo is home to an astonishing 14 million people, and a tonne of globally recognised businesses. Also, most importantly, Tokyo is more welcoming to foreigners than other cities in Japan.

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Distance from Tokyo to Osaka The shortest distance (air line) between Tokyo and Osaka is 246.34 mi (396.45 km). The shortest route between Tokyo and Osaka is 313.99 mi (505.32 km) according to the route planner.

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