Comparison · Hiroshima vs Kyoto · Japan
Hiroshima vs Kyoto
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: DXR, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Hiroshima for Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome and lower day-to-day costs; choose Kyoto for Temples and shrines and Fushimi Inari torii gates. Hiroshima is generally less expensive, and the two are about 311 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 311 km
- Less expensive
- Hiroshima
- Best time for Hiroshima
- March–May and October–November
- Best time for Kyoto
- March–May and October–November
Side by side
| Hiroshima | Kyoto | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Japan | Japan |
| Known for | Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome and Miyajima and Itsukushima Shrine | Temples and shrines, Fushimi Inari torii gates and Geisha district of Gion |
| Best time to visit | March–May and October–November | March–May and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $120–$230 | $150–$280 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | August, 33°C (91°F) | August, 34°C (93°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 10°C (50°F) | January, 9°C (48°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 5 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 5 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | HIJ, IWK | KIX, ITM |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Hiroshima for…
Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome and lower day-to-day costs. Hiroshima is a rebuilt, river-laced city of about 1.2 million on the delta of the Ota River, best known as the first city struck by an atomic bomb, on 6 August 1945. The Peace Memorial Park, the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Peace Memorial Museum are moving and…
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Choose Kyoto for…
Temples and shrines and Fushimi Inari torii gates. Japan's imperial capital for more than a thousand years, Kyoto holds most of the 17 temples, shrines and castles of the UNESCO-listed Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, among them Kinkaku-ji's golden pavilion, Kiyomizu-dera's wooden stage and the thousands…
Top sights compared
| # | Hiroshima | Kyoto |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park | Fushimi Inari Taisha |
| 2 | Atomic Bomb Dome | Kiyomizu-dera |
| 3 | Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum | Kinkaku-ji |
| 4 | Children's Peace Monument | Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Tenryu-ji |
| 5 | Itsukushima Shrine | Gion and Hanamikoji Street |
Food compared
| Hiroshima | Kyoto |
|---|---|
| Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki | Kaiseki |
| Oysters | Yudofu |
| Conger-eel rice | Yuba |
| Momiji manjū | Shojin ryori |
Which is cheaper?
Hiroshima is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $120–$230 per person there, against $150–$280 in Kyoto (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Hiroshima on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Hiroshima and Kyoto are about 311 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Hiroshima and 4 in Kyoto.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Hiroshima or Kyoto cheaper?
Hiroshima is usually less expensive: about $120–$230 a day mid-range against $150–$280 (estimates).
+Is Hiroshima or Kyoto better for a first trip?
Pick Hiroshima for Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome and lower day-to-day costs, or Kyoto for Temples and shrines and Fushimi Inari torii gates.
+How far is Hiroshima from Kyoto?
About 311 km in a straight line.