Kyoto or Osaka: Where Should I Stay? My Honest Comparison 2026

I feel like this is one of the questions I hear the most from you guys! Everyone is always asking me: “Where should I stay? Where should I go? Should I spend more time in Kyoto or Osaka?”

If you look on a map, you’ll probably realize pretty quickly that they’re right next to each other. In fact, the train only takes about 30 minutes from station to station, so I totally get why people feel like they have to choose one or the other as a base.

I have to say, though, these two cities couldn’t be any more different if they tried! Osaka is big and bold, full of high buildings, neon signs, and incredible street food. It’s got a super cool, slightly “grimy” vibe around the edges that I personally love.

Kyoto, on the other hand, is much quieter and more traditional. It’s calm and serene, with tons of beautiful temples and shrines.

I’ve personally spent quite a bit of time in both cities now, and honestly, I had an amazing time in both of them. However, I know not everyone has the luxury of time to move around like I do, which is why I figured I’d put together this little guide on Kyoto or Osaka: Where Should I Stay as a first-timer.

In this post, I’m going to give you some insight into which city might be better for you depending on what you want to see, whether you’re traveling as a couple, with kids, or just trying to find your vibe. Let’s get into it!

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Kyoto or Osaka: Where Should I Stay? My Honest Comparison 2026

Should I stay in Kyoto or Osaka? My Quick Answer

I know not all of you have the patience or time to read this novel, so I’m starting this off by giving you my quick answer right away.

I spent four full days in each city, four in Osaka and four in Kyoto, and for me personally, I would probably choose Kyoto over Osaka any day of the week.

I honestly went to so many temples and did so many cool things in Kyoto; I went to the bamboo forest, visited the most beautiful shrines, and had some of the most amazing food of my life there. I’m not saying Kyoto is “better” than Osaka, I’m just saying I had the better experience there.

As someone who loves pretty much everything about Japanese culture, from the temples and shrines to the traditional geisha districts, tea ceremonies, and that gorgeous architecture, Kyoto was the winner for me, no doubt.

However, I don’t want to leave Osaka out in the rain! I also had a great time there. Osaka was the very first city I arrived in when I got to Japan, so everything felt so new and exciting. It has that futuristic, neon-sign vibe that fits the “stereotypical” image I always had of Japan, especially in areas like Dotonbori or Shinsekai, which were so cool to see.

Also, I spent a whole day at Universal Studios, which was such a highlight! I’m a bit of a Harry Potter nerd and this was my first time seeing a Harry Potter world in a Universal Studios, so I honestly loved it.

Do you see what I mean when I say it depends? I feel like for couples, or anyone looking for a more traditional and calmer experience, I would definitely pick Kyoto. (That is, if you had to pick, my number one recommendation is still to just do both!). But for kids, for example, they will absolutely love Universal Studios in Osaka!

Activities in Kyoto vs Osaka: Where is it Better?

This is honestly a pretty tough one for me because I absolutely loved Universal Studios. Like, I’m being serious, I spent over 10 hours there! I did the whole thing; I went to Super Nintendo World, I went to Harry Potter World, and it was genuinely one of my favorite days in Japan. I also loved Osaka Castle, which I actually think is my favorite castle in the whole country.

However, Kyoto just kind of takes the cake for me, to be honest. I went to a ridiculous amount of temples there. For some of them, I even dragged myself out of bed at 6:00 AM just to get there before the crowds, like at Fushimi Inari Shrine, Yasaka Pagoda, and Kiyomizu-dera.

But Kyoto definitely had way more than just temples. One of my personal highlights, which, if you’ve been reading my other guides, you know I was super skeptical about at first, was joining a tea ceremony with the kimono dress-up. That turned out to be one of the coolest things I did!

One thing I’m actually so sad I missed out on was a geisha show in Gion (Kyoto’s famous geisha district); I had it high on my list, but I just didn’t get to it this time. I also did a day trip from Kyoto to Nara, which, to be fair, I could’ve done from Osaka too, but I just think with the sheer amount of amazing and iconic things to do, Kyoto is the clear winner here.

Winner: Kyoto

Accommodation in Kyoto or Osaka: Where are the better hotels?

As far as accommodation in Kyoto or Osaka goes, I can, of course, only speak from my own experience and the hotels I actually stayed at. However, I did a ton of research myself, mainly on Booking.com and Expedia, and from what I paid versus what I saw online, I think they’re very similar price-wise.

I stayed in mid-range hotels in both cities and paid around $150 USD a night, which I was totally fine with. But in both Osaka and Kyoto, I also saw much cheaper options as well as super high-end, expensive ones, so as far as the hit to your wallet goes, I’d say they’re pretty neck-and-neck.

Where I do think they’re different, and again, this is just my opinion based on what I experienced and saw myself, is the vibe. Osaka hotels are often more on the modern side, almost like a sleek business hotel. Don’t get me wrong, my stays in Osaka were amazing and super comfortable! However, in Kyoto, the hotels definitely had more character to them.

For instance, I stayed in a traditional ryokan in Kyoto which was just beautiful, and then I also stayed in a city hotel downtown that still had a really strong Japanese influence in the design. And if you really want to go all out, the Gion geisha district has some amazing traditional but luxurious hotels that are just super cool.

Book Here: Hotel Century Kyoto (My Favorite Hotel in Kyoto)

Book Here: Fraser Residence Osaka (My Favorite Hotel in Osaka

Winner: Kyoto

Food in Kyoto vs Osaka: Where Did I Eat Better

Okay, so if you’ve read any of my other Japan guides before, you probably already know this: I am a huge foodie!

Literally every single day in Japan, I made it a priority to eat well. And don’t get me wrong, that didn’t mean I was going for fancy, expensive dinners every night. I just always wanted to have a great Japanese meal, whether that was sushi, ramen, curry, steak, or even just street food at a market. I just wanted it to be good and memorable, and looking back, I think I did a pretty good job!

Comparing Kyoto and Osaka is a little difficult for me, though. To be honest, I technically had “better” sit-down meals in Kyoto, but that’s mostly because when I first arrived in Osaka, I was still a little hesitant. I was less confident trying things and a bit intimidated by Japanese restaurants with no English menus.

However, I have to say that I had some absolutely amazing street food in Dotonbori Osaka. It was such a highlight for me and the vibe there is just unmatched! So, as far as actual restaurants go, I would pick Kyoto as the winner, but for the street food experience, I’m absolutely picking Dotonbori in Osaka.

Winner: Osaka & Kyoto (It’s a tie!)

Culture and Tradition (Shrines & Temples) – Osaka or Kyoto

This is going to be a super easy one for me, and obviously, the answer is Kyoto!

Personally, I am a huge fan of anything involving Japanese culture, history, or architecture. I’ve traveled so much throughout the last 7+ years, so I don’t usually get blown away easily, but Japan really had me so impressed!

It’s just so different from anything I had seen or experienced before. The architecture, the shrines, the temples, the customs, and the traditions, everything was brand new to me.

Kyoto is definitely the most amazing city to see all of that. I went to an insane amount of temples and I honestly never got sick of it, whereas in countries like Thailand or Indonesia, that “temple burnout” definitely happened a little quicker for me.

Another cultural highlight for me was definitely that tea ceremony I did. I know, I know, it sounds like one of those touristy, cringy, gimmicky attractions, but it was actually such a cool experience and I would highly recommend it!

Winner: Kyoto

Kyoto or Osaka for Families: Which is Better

I feel like I’ve been a little hard on Osaka in this guide so far! I really hope that doesn’t make you think I didn’t like it, in fact, I loved it, I just loved Kyoto a little bit more.

However, I’m finally giving you a category where I think Osaka takes the win, and that is: which city is better for families and kids.

As much as I loved Kyoto and all the temples, I also know that if I were a little kid again, I would probably find all of that super boring. From what I saw, Kyoto just didn’t have a ton of those kid-friendly activities that also keep the little ones entertained.

Osaka, on the other hand, is basically unbeatable because of Universal Studios. I had the most amazing day there myself! I loved everything about it, and if I were you, I would definitely dedicate a full day to taking the kids there, I promise they will love it.

Another thing that I think is a great mix of culture and kid-friendly fun is a day trip to Nara. It’s a small town close to both Osaka and Kyoto with loads of free-roaming deer and cool temples.

I’m positive the kids would have a blast feeding the deer there (just watch out, they can get a little pushy for those crackers!).

Winner: Osaka

Is it Cheaper to Stay in Kyoto or Osaka?

This is another one that is honestly a little difficult to call. If I’m being totally honest with you, I probably spent a little more money in Kyoto than I did in Osaka.

In Kyoto, I generally spent more on food because I treated myself to some nice Kobe and Wagyu restaurants, as well as an omakase (that’s a set sushi course meal).

I think I also spent slightly more on my hotels in Kyoto, and I found myself taking Ubers to get around a bit more often. But at the same time, a lot of the temples and shrines I visited were super cheap or even entirely free to enter.

On the flip side, I spent slightly less on hotels in Osaka and less on food because I was eating loads of street food and cheap ramen (By the way, I love a cheap ramen restaurant, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that!).

However, Universal Studios definitely ruined my budget. For me as a single person, I spent close to $300 USD for that one day once you factor in the ticket, the Express Pass, and food and drinks in the park. That is kind of insane and can definitely add up fast for a family!

So, I would say Osaka is definitely the cheaper option if you don’t go to Universal Studios (or if you skip the Express Pass and eat cheap), but if you decide to go all out on the theme park, it’s probably a tie.

Winner: Osaka & Kyoto

Nightlife in Osaka or Kyoto: Which is more fun?

This one is a total no-brainer, and I can keep it pretty simple: it’s Osaka for sure!

This might have to do with me just not knowing the secret spots in Kyoto, but whenever I tried to go out for fun bars, a late dinner, or just somewhere with a lively atmosphere, I literally couldn’t find a busy, “fun” place in Kyoto after hours. It felt much more sleepy and quiet.

Osaka, on the other hand, was so easy! If you just head to Dotonbori, there are tons of restaurants and bars that are open late into the night. So, maybe the nightlife in Osaka isn’t necessarily “better” for everyone (though for me, it definitely was), but it was way easier to find as a tourist.

Winner: Osaka

FAQs About Kyoto or Osaka Which is Better

Can I do a daytrip from Osaka to Kyoto?

Yes, you absolutely can! The train journey from Osaka Station to Kyoto Station only takes about 30 minutes, so if you don’t have the time to stay in both cities, I actually highly recommend doing a day trip. It is so worth it!

Is Kyoto better than Osaka?

As someone who spent time in both cities back-to-back, I would say yes, it is! At least from the perspective of a tourist visiting for the first time. Kyoto just has more culture, temples, and more things to do. And honestly, if you really want to do Universal Studios too, you can even get there as a day trip from Kyoto.

Should I stay in Kyoto or Osaka with kids?

I would say that depends on what you would like to see and what your kids find interesting, but Osaka is usually amazing for kids! Universal Studios Japan is a total winner there, and kids also tend to love a day trip to Nara to see the deer.

Should I spend more time in Kyoto or Osaka?

If you had to pick one over the other, I would spend more time in Kyoto just because there is more to see. From my experience, one full day in Osaka is enough (make it two full days if you want to visit Universal Studios), and then I would spend at least three full days in Kyoto.

Final Thoughts on Should I stay in Osaka or Kyoto

Okay, so here is my little verdict: I personally would spend time in both cities! If you can make it work, I would visit and stay in both. I would probably do at least two nights in Osaka, one for the city and Osaka Castle, and the other full day for Universal Studios, and then I would want at least three full days in Kyoto to see all the cool temples and markets. That is exactly how I would plan it.

However, if you are on a tighter schedule or a tighter budget and you HAVE to pick one or the other, what a shame, but it is what it is, then I would recommend only staying in Kyoto.

You can always do a day trip to Osaka from Kyoto if you can make it work. I really think Kyoto is the better destination from a pure “Hey, I’m a tourist here for the first time and I want to see Japanese stuff” perspective.

I hope this little guide I put together helps you plan your next trip a little better. Happy travels and enjoy Japan!