Tokyo is a city that needs no introduction. It’s where Japan’s two busiest airports are located, which means that most travelers end up spending a night there, whether they want to or not. But everyone wants to spend a night (or five) in Tokyo.
Osaka, but contrast, is something of an enigma. Although it’s ostensibly Japan’s second city, it’s much further down the list of must-visit destinations. Well, except when it comes to travelers who love street food—they really want to go to Osaka. Like really, really.
No matter which of these camps you fall into (or think you fall into) now, I’m here to break things down. Armed with more than a decade of experience in both cities, I’ll help you decide whether to visit Tokyo or Osaka—assuming, of course, that you don’t end up visiting both.
Where to Stay in Tokyo and Osaka
Both Osaka and Tokyo are home to some of my favorite hotels. In Tokyo, I usually encourage younger (or younger-at-heart) travelers to stay in exciting Shinjuku, where the Godzilla-themed Hotel Gracery Shinjuku is my favorite property. Ginza, on the other hand, is arguably even more convenient than Shinjuku, but with higher-end properties (like Hotel the Celestine) and a slightly calmer ambiance.
In Osaka, meanwhile, I almost always like to stay in Namba, the part of the city that’s closest to its famous street food. Properties here range from the spartan Sotetsu Fresa Inn “business” hotel, to the higher-end Hotel Keihan Namba Grande. Other great Osaka hotels include Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower up Midosuji Avenue near Yodoyabashi, and the five-star Ritz-Carlton Osaka in Umeda near Osaka Station.
Ways to Compare Tokyo With Osaka
Things to do
Most travelers arrive in Tokyo with a long list of things to do, be that saying a prayer at Senso-ji temple, walking in Shibuya Crossing or immersing themselves in the “digital art” of the teamLab Borderless and Planets museums. In Osaka, on the other hand, attractions apart from Osaka Castle are poorly-known among Westerners, who’ve never heard of the unique Namba Yasaka Shrine, or even Tsutenkaku Tower.
Neighborhoods
Another way to approach the Tokyo vs Osaka debate? Neighborhoods, of course. Tokyo’s run the gamut, from ultra-modern Shinjuku to historical Asakusa, and from upmarket Ginza to too-cool-for-school Shimokitazawa. In Osaka, meanwhile, most travelers stay somewhere along Midosuji Avenue, be it closer to Osaka Station in Umeda or Shinsaibashi, or nearer to the city’s street food in Namba or Yodoyabashi.
Food
Speaking of food, Tokyo has its share of foodie experiences, from accessible ones like Tsukiji Fish Market near Ginza and Omoide Yokocho Alley in Shinjuku, to exclusive high-end restaurants in trendy neighborhoods like Aoyama and Kagurazaka. Osaka has Michelin-starred restaurants, too, but most foodies can get there fill eating street food near Dotonbori Canal, or in the colorful Shinsekai area.
People
While this might not be a typical metric by which people choose Tokyo or Osaka, I think it’s worth mentioning. Broadly speaking, Osaka locals are friendlier and more outgoing than Tokyoites, especially with foreign tourists. If you speak Japanese, meanwhile, you’ll notice that the Osaka-ben (dialect) is distinct from what they speak in Tokyo, though it’s difficult to say for sure if one is “better” than the other.
Events
Every July, Osaka hosts the Tenjin Matsuri, which is one of the most famous and impressive summer festivals in all of Japan. Tokyo hosts a number of summer festivals as well (including the annual Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival), but in my opinion, nothing is quite on the level of Osaka’s matsuri. Well, unless you’re really into the sumo tournaments that are larger and more frequent than the ones in Osaka.
Getting there and around
The Osaka vs Tokyo debate is pretty tilted in this category. Tokyo is better-connected to the world (Haneda and Narita are Japan’s only two legitimate international gateways), the rest of Japan (Haneda is Japan’s busiest domestic airport, while Tokyo Station, Ueno Station and Shinagawa Station are all Shinkansen hubs) and even to itself, with Tokyo’s underground (the Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway) and local rail network more than twice as extensive and busy as Osaka’s.
Day trips
You could spend a lifetime exploring both central Tokyo and central Osaka, but why would you, with so many excursions to take? From Tokyo, many travelers head north to historical Nikko, southward to coastal Kamakura and westward to the Fuji Five Lakes region, which really needs no qualification.
From Osaka, meanwhile, UNESCO World Heritage Himeji Castle and the “beef city” of Kobe are the most convenient day trips, though you can also easily head east to Japan’s former capital of Nara. Kyoto, too, is technically within day-trip distance, though people almost always spend several nights there.
How Many Days Do You Need in Tokyo? What About Osaka?
Many people think they need a week or even longer in Tokyo, and while there’s plenty to do here for that, I consider it overkill. In reality, most travelers can see Tokyo’s main attractions in a full day, and spend parts of 2-3 others days split between day trips (Nikko, Kamakura, Kawaguchiko—on my!) and seeing secondary and tertiary parts of the city center.
For Osaka, on the other hand, I’m lucky if I can convince uninitiated travelers to spend a single night here—some even see the city on a day trip from Tokyo! In reality, 2-3 nights (in total) is ideal for most travelers. As is the case in Tokyo, you need just a full day for your core sightseeing; street food in Dotonbori and Kuromon Market can be handled during evenings or mornings (respectively), including before or after day trips to Himeji, Kobe and Nara.
Other FAQ About Osaka and Tokyo
Is it better to visit Osaka or Tokyo?
Tokyo and Osaka are both huge Japanese cities, but the similarities end there. Tokyo is a global metropolis with world-famous attractions and neighborhoods—it’s satisfying, but never really surprising. Osaka, on the other hand, is relatively unknown, apart from its nascent fame as Japan’s street food hub; I’ve found this makes it easier for most travelers to be pleasantly surprised by it.
How different is Osaka to Tokyo?
One of the many ways Osaka is different from Tokyo is how much more laid-back it is. People walk at a more humane pace, smile more often and even speak different. This is to say nothing of the fact that because of how much less famous Osaka is, many of its top attractions (for locals) are virtually unknown to foreign travelers.
Does Osaka or Tokyo have better food?
Osaka is known as the “Kitchen of Japan,” and boasts many impressive culinary options, from the street food of Dotonbori, to the kushikatsu (food on sticks) of Shinsekai, to its own version of okonomiyaki to rival Hiroshima’s. Tokyo also has a lot of great food (namely Edo-style sushi, which most of the world knows simply as, well, sushi) but in recent years has gained fame mostly among well-heeled travelers seeking Michelin-starred experiences.
The Bottom Line
Is Tokyo or Osaka a better city for travelers like you? Most travelers want to visit Tokyo—it’s the capital of Japan, after all, and by some metrics the world’s largest city—but few can say in detail why, beyond pieces of trivia like this. While comparatively fewer travelers actively seek out trips to Osaka, those who do visit Japan’s second city intentionally are extremely eager to do so. For me, it’s a draw. Osaka is probably more satisfying, given how low expectations of it tend to be, though Tokyo is timeless and world-famous for a reason. Thankfully, when you hire me to plan your Japan itinerary, you can leverage my experience, expertise and objectivity to take a one-of-a-kind trip you’ll never forget.
