JAPAN: Tokyo or Osaka?
Torn? It seems a lot of visitors weigh this well before arriving to Japan. After all, it's a potentially pricey trip, and you want to experience as much as you can. Personally, I'm a sucker for much more intimate areas of the country, but if you've got different goals in mind, let's talk about the pros and cons of the two biggest cities in the country. Keep in mind that this is only my personal opinion developed through my own experiences. My preferences may be weighed differently than yours. With that fully in mind, let's begin.
Extra disclaimer: at the time of this post, I've been staying in Osaka for a little over two months thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic keeping borders tightly shut. My only experience in Tokyo was staying in the city for nearly a week on and around 2019 NYE. I'll do my best to balance what I know. Thanks.
Attractions
With an Osaka population of nearly three million people and Tokyo with a little over nine million people, there's no doubting that these cities are full of activity. The population being as dense as it gets, people are often crammed together while commuting, working, and living. If you can't find something appealing at eye level, look up! Arcades, bars, and restaurants are very often on top of one another for many levels with only their business names somewhat lit in tiny blocks similarly stacked outside their windows. You'll need the same dedication when spotting the sights. To name a few:
Tokyo:
- Skytree: the highest point in the city. It contains a viewing deck with views of the city and even, on a clear day, Mt. Fuji.
- Sensoji: a large temple complex in Asakusa popular on New Years and often visited for fortune telling.
- Ueno Park: a large park packed with a lake, a zoo, and museums.
- Tokyo DisneySea / Tokyo Disneyland: world renowned theme parks.
- Akihabara: popular shopping area for electronics and fans of Japanese media.
- And many others...
Osaka:
- Osaka Castle: reconstructed castle with a museum inside and a garden area popular in cherry blossom season.
- Dotonburi: a famous food market street with lots of delicious options.
- Universal Studios Japan (USJ): well-known theme park.
- Shinsekai: a smaller version of Dotonburi with an iconic tower in the center.
- Shitennoji: Buddhist temple complex with a pagoda.
- And many others...
In terms of numbers, Tokyo has a handful more hot spots (probably not surprising). You would need a solid week or two to comfortably experience it all. While I enjoy the sights in Osaka, there really just isn't as much to participate in. I don't think that's necessarily where Osaka shines in comparison. There's a lot to see and explore in Osaka, but Tokyo wins this one by scale and diversity. Point to Tokyo.
Tokyo 1 / Osaka 0
Accommodation
Having been forced back into a hotel after being denied entry into Vietnam (thanks COVID-19), I had no way of knowing how long I would have to stay in Japan to wait out the borders. Fast forward two months, and I am still stuck in Osaka! My fiancee and I had to rearrange our lives to get through this, but luckily Osaka had, and still has, the best deals on short-term accommodation. As someone who uses the Booking.com app regularly for travel, I finally fell into the Airbnb style bookings out of necessity. Without a doubt, the best prices per night are in Osaka, and there are lots of options. Since both of us have been forced to teach online to have some sort of income while working legally on tourist visas, we had to have decent internet. Hostels simply were not an option. In this city, your two week stay could cost you less than $200 USD in a genuine apartment with full amenities. It really is your best bet.
While Tokyo also has some similar options, Osaka is king in this category. I still check daily for the best deals in the country (as I always have to be on the lookout), and this city has remained on top since my plane to Saigon left without me.
Tokyo 1 / Osaka 1
The image is of an alleyway next to our apartment in Hanazonocho.
Food
If I had to agree to live in one country, or even one city, for the rest of my life, never leaving it, I'd pick Tokyo in a second. -Anthony Bourdain
Tokyo or Osaka? How about Japan! There's no going wrong with either. These two cities consist of some of the best eats this planet has to offer, and even if you come to Japan with the sole mission to eat, it will be a trip well spent. While singular restaurants may be best stumbled upon, let's discuss the main delicacies of each city.
Tokyo:
- Sushi: the world is a better place with it. Get it from the source.
- Monjayaki: a pan-fried batter dish similar to okonomiyaki.
- Ramen: Tokyo has an exceptional variety of this goodness.
- And many others...
Osaka:
- Takoyaki: octopus fried in a special batter shaped into toothpick-friendly balls and often covered in mayonnaise.
- Okonomiyaki: a batter and cabbage pancake with a meat of your choice.
- Kushi-katsu: like tonkatsu (friend pork cutlet) but on a skewer and meant to be dipped.
- And many others...
While there are several street food streets and markets throughout Tokyo, Osaka's famous food area is one of its main attractions. Dotonburi is an excellent choice for satisfying all of your cravings. I recommend checking out the Osaka episode of the Netflix documentary series "Street Food" to get warmed up. Don't star any one restaurant in particular on Google Maps before making it to Dotonburi. Come with a focus on exploration, and try it all!
Coming down very specifically to food preference, I'm throwing my vote at "the nation's kitchen," Osaka.
Tokyo 1 / Osaka 2
As a Hub
Where else can you go from these metropolises? Thanks to the public transit system, the short answer is: anywhere! You won't find travel convenience like Japan anywhere else in the world. Buses, trains (JR), and bullet trains (shinkansen) can get you to nearly any city in the country. Let's talk about what interesting places are comfortably reachable (within a two hour travel time) from these cities.
Tokyo:
- Yokohama: an enormous port city with the nation's largest Chinatown.
- Gunma: a nearby prefecture famous for its hot spring resorts.
- Nagano: another prefecture famous for snowy hot spring resorts and the site of a former Winter Olympics. Also contains one of the original twelve remaining castles, Matsumoto.
- Nikko: a small city in Tochigi prefecture near its capital of Utsunomiya (famous for gyoza) famous for a World Heritage shrine.
- Mt. Fuji: located in Shizuoka prefecture, it is the symbol of the country. You can climb it in some summer months.
Osaka:
- Kyoto: the well-preserved ancient capital that sees some of the highest number of tourists in the world annually.
- Nara: another former capital of the country famous for its large number of deer that freely stroll the historic areas.
- Wakayama: a prefecture south with castles, beaches, and a mountain (Koyasan) famous as the headquarters of Japanese Buddhism.
- Kobe: a charming port city in Hyogo prefecture famous for its beef.
- Himeji: a city in Hyogo prefecture that surrounds one of the most famous original castles in Japan.
Again, this comes right down to personal preference. While I love what's a stone's throw from Tokyo, I'm addicted to west Japan. Osaka gets this one.
Tokyo 1 / Osaka 3
Foreigner-friendly
Japan is truly a tourist's heaven. They really couldn't make it much easier for travelers to have a great experience. Sure, there may be a language barrier. After all, a Japan Times article from 2019 did report that Japan "ranked 53rd in English skills in an annual worldwide survey." JPT Still, who's really responsible for that being a barrier, any way? If you visit Japan, or any non-native English speaking country for that matter, do not expect people to speak English to you. Common sense to many, but it's a good idea to learn some necessary words and phrases for getting what you need while visiting.
That being said, you'll come across a lot more English being used in the service industry in Tokyo. If you're too nervous to even get your feet wet in the local language, I recommend sticking around the city.
I have a much larger bone to pick with Osaka in this category, however. Osaka is the only city in Japan (and we've been all over this country) that has denied my fiancee and I service because we were foreigners. While this is a very poor representation of how generally open and kind Japanese people are, Osaka is still the only city where I've experienced this. Otherwise, attempting to guide foreign visitors elsewhere from non-English friendly restaurants will usually be shown out front of shops with signs. As two people who have lived in Japan for a handful of years, this was rather shocking to us. Point, easily, goes to Tokyo.
Personal verdict: Tokyo 2 / Osaka 3
There you have it. Perhaps you tallied differently, and that's okay. Go by your preferences, and get the best experience out of your trip as you can! Hope this helped. Now to wait for the pandemic to wither away and dream...
Check the MAP PINPOINTS button on the homepage for Google Maps markers of the places mentioned in this blog!