Comparison · Kyoto vs Osaka · Japan
Kyoto vs Osaka
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Nina R from Africa, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Choose Kyoto for Temples and shrines and Fushimi Inari torii gates; choose Osaka for Street food, Dotonbori neon and free sights. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 43 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 43 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Kyoto
- March–May and October–November
- Best time for Osaka
- March–May and October–November
Side by side
| Kyoto | Osaka | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Japan | Japan |
| Known for | Temples and shrines, Fushimi Inari torii gates and Geisha district of Gion | Street food, Dotonbori neon and Osaka Castle |
| Best time to visit | March–May and October–November | March–May and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $150–$280 | $140–$260 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | August, 34°C (93°F) | August, 34°C (93°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 9°C (48°F) | January, 10°C (50°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 5 | 9 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | KIX, ITM | KIX, ITM, UKB |
Which one is right for you?
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…
Choose Osaka for…
Street food, Dotonbori neon and free sights. Osaka is Japan's third-largest city and its self-declared kitchen, where the local motto kuidaore — eat until you drop — plays out in the takoyaki stands and okonomiyaki grills of Dotonbori. The city splits into Kita, around the Umeda stations and…
Top sights compared
| # | Kyoto | Osaka |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fushimi Inari Taisha | Osaka Castle |
| 2 | Kiyomizu-dera | Dotonbori |
| 3 | Kinkaku-ji | Kuromon Market |
| 4 | Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Tenryu-ji | Shinsekai and Tsutenkaku |
| 5 | Gion and Hanamikoji Street | Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory |
Food compared
| Kyoto | Osaka |
|---|---|
| Kaiseki | Takoyaki |
| Yudofu | Okonomiyaki |
| Yuba | Kushikatsu |
| Shojin ryori | Kitsune udon |
Which is cheaper?
Kyoto and Osaka cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $150–$280 in Kyoto and $140–$260 in Osaka (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Osaka on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Kyoto and Osaka are about 43 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Kyoto and 3 in Osaka.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Kyoto or Osaka cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $150–$280 in Kyoto and $140–$260 in Osaka (estimates).
+Is Kyoto or Osaka better for a first trip?
Pick Kyoto for Temples and shrines and Fushimi Inari torii gates, or Osaka for Street food, Dotonbori neon and free sights.
+How far is Kyoto from Osaka?
About 43 km in a straight line.