Kyoto or Osaka for the weekend?

[msamyfarrahfowler]

I'll be taking weekend trips from Seoul. I've already booked Tokyo. I have one more open weekend and can't decide if Tokyo or Osaka is the better option. My travel goal is to get a best taste of Japan. Any thoughts?

[GilliC]

How long a weekend? Kyoto is the better choice of your goal is to experience Japan, since it's the heart of history and culture. However there's a lot to see and you can easily fill 4+ days. Osaka is more of a 2-day stop if you're not making day trips elsewhere. If it's on your radar to return to Japan, I'd do the weekend in Osaka and spend more time in Kyoto later. But if this is going to be it, definitely Kyoto. A few days is better than none.

[msamyfarrahfowler]

We would leave Friday morning and return to Seoul on Sunday night.

It's my first time in Japan. I'm hoping the weekend excursions will give me a good idea of where to return for a longer stay.

[mdgirl]

I'd vote Kyoto because if you get there and you're not into temples that would be good to know for future trips. However I suspect you'll love it and want to go back ASAP! There are a lot of cool things to see outside of Kyoto proper, too, so if you do go back I would allot several days for it.

[iammalcolmx]

I LOVED Kyoto. Let me live through you and stay at a Ryokan please. origami!!! Wanna meet in Japan?

[origami]

Oct 23, 2014 14:20:10 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

I LOVED Kyoto. Let me live through you and stay at a Ryokan please. origami!!! Wanna meet in Japan?

YES!!! :::packs suitcase:::

[vigurl]

Kyoto is historic. So if you are a history buff then you will enjoy it. I didn't. Osaka is more happening if that is more your style. I haven't been to Osaka but that is what I heard. I would think Osaka would be more similar to Tokyo than Kyoto is. So maybe you want to break up the monotony by going to Koyto. Gosh I dont think my post was helpful lol

[earlybird]

Kyoto. No question.

[Deleted]

Kyoto!

It's just a special place. Osaka doesn't have that personality. Especially if you're already doing Tokyo.

[larzhope]

Oct 23, 2014 16:21:45 GMT -5 vigurl said:

Kyoto is historic. So if you are a history buff then you will enjoy it. I didn't. Osaka is more happening if that is more your style. I haven't been to Osaka but that is what I heard. I would think Osaka would be more similar to Tokyo than Kyoto is. So maybe you want to break up the monotony by going to Koyto. Gosh I dont think my post was helpful lol

this is exactly how we felt. we went from Tokyo where it was all hustle and bustle to Kyoto and we were super bored. we hit all the major sites in a day. We were only in Osaka one day and were so exhausted from all of our travels that we didn't leave the hotel, so I'm not much help w/ Osaka, but I think I would prefer to go back there vs Kyoto.