Comparison · Osaka vs Tokyo · Japan
Osaka vs Tokyo
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: 663highland, CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
Choose Osaka for Street food, Dotonbori neon and a short break; choose Tokyo for Shibuya Crossing, Sushi and ramen and beaches. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 392 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 392 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Osaka
- March–May and October–November
- Best time for Tokyo
- March–May and October–November
Side by side
| Osaka | Tokyo | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Japan | Japan |
| Known for | Street food, Dotonbori neon and Osaka Castle | Shibuya Crossing, Sushi and ramen and Temples and shrines |
| Best time to visit | March–May and October–November | March–May and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 6 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $140–$260 | $150–$280 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | August, 34°C (93°F) | August, 31°C (88°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 10°C (50°F) | January, 10°C (50°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 9 | 11 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 7 |
| Beaches | — | Yuigahama, Kamakura |
| Airports | KIX, ITM, UKB | HND, NRT |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Osaka for…
Street food, Dotonbori neon and a short break. 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…
Choose Tokyo for…
Shibuya Crossing, Sushi and ramen and beaches. Tokyo is less a single city than a cluster of distinct centres linked by an exceptionally efficient rail network: neon-lit Shinjuku and Shibuya, the department stores of Ginza, the temple quarter of Asakusa, the museums of Ueno and the anime shops of…
Top sights compared
| # | Osaka | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Osaka Castle | Senso-ji Temple |
| 2 | Dotonbori | Meiji Jingu Shrine |
| 3 | Kuromon Market | Shibuya Crossing |
| 4 | Shinsekai and Tsutenkaku | Shibuya Sky |
| 5 | Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory | Tokyo Skytree |
Food compared
| Osaka | Tokyo |
|---|---|
| Takoyaki | Sushi |
| Okonomiyaki | Ramen |
| Kushikatsu | Tsukemen |
| Kitsune udon | Tempura |
Which is cheaper?
Osaka and Tokyo cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $140–$260 in Osaka and $150–$280 in Tokyo (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Osaka on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Osaka and Tokyo are about 392 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Osaka and 6 in Tokyo.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Osaka or Tokyo cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $140–$260 in Osaka and $150–$280 in Tokyo (estimates).
+Is Osaka or Tokyo better for a first trip?
Pick Osaka for Street food, Dotonbori neon and a short break, or Tokyo for Shibuya Crossing, Sushi and ramen and beaches.
+How far is Osaka from Tokyo?
About 392 km in a straight line.