When you think of Japan, two pictures come to mind. In one, a Geisha dances to the sound of a plucked koto while a kimono-clad crowd rests on their knees sipping green tea thoughtfully.
In another, timid schoolgirls in sailor uniforms pass intoxicated businessmen chanting Japanese pop into the karaoke machine to relieve their weekly tension.
Both photos are very different, but they are both Japanese.
Nearly every single city in Japan has a blend of tradition and modernity, but Tokyo and Kyoto are the cultural epicenters of the country.
Many individuals, especially first-time visitors, ponder, “Should I go visit Tokyo or Kyoto?” when planning a vacation to Japan.
“BOTH!” exclaims every Japanese citizen, travel agency, blogger, and everyone who has previously set foot in this country.
Both, however, may not be suitable for all travelers.
If you decide to visit both cities, you may wonder, “Should I devote more time to Tokyo or Kyoto?”, “Which city is more interesting?”, “Is Kyoto superior to Tokyo?.”
One may appear more appealing than the other depending on your particular interests.
So, which is more appealing to take a trip: Tokyo or Kyoto? Let’s find out in this article.
Which City Has A More Japanese Feel?
Let’s look at the two images again—which one feels more “Japanese” to you? To put it another way, what aspect of Japanese culture fascinates you the most?
Do you anticipate yourself spending a lot of hours shopping, tasting every type of food, and going out at night?
Or would you prefer to engage in more artistic and cultural pursuits while learning about the area’s history?
You may indeed understand if Kyoto or Tokyo is better for you if you can readily answer that question.
A mix of Eastern and Western products, businesses, and modern artists compete throughout Tokyo, the Metropolis of Asian pop-culture, to mark their worth in the soil—or, more appropriately, the concrete.
Skyscrapers reach to the sky, the trendiest eateries adorn the avenues, and the trendiest fashions fill the stores as the Japanese heart of trade.
On every corner, there are many story karaoke places and manga shops, and the aroma of Japanese beers and ramen pervades the city at night.
Tokyo’s streets are dripping with neon, while Kyoto’s Buddhist shrines and Shinto temples stand erect and tall, some looking almost exactly just like they did early in history.
Kyoto, unlike Tokyo, was spared air strikes during WWII and has preserved most of its history and culture dating back to when the Ruling dynasty first settled there.
It’s like going through a time capsule when you wander on through the roads of Kyoto.
The sky is clear and unobstructed by big buildings, and families in housing neighborhoods typically reside within machiya, authentic Japanese wood townhouses.
It’s not unusual to see Japanese women wearing kimonos with Showa Period gas lanterns lighting restaurants and shops on the streets.
Whether you want to be whisked along by the quick pace of typical modern Tokyo or yearn to be immersed inside the history of ancient Kyoto could have a big influence on your decision.
Which City Has The Most To See And Do?
There’s never a quiet moment in Tokyo, with its millions of residents from all across the world, a diverse assortment of eateries ranging from Michelin-starred to greasy spoon, and its status as Japan’s fashion capital.
Almost every single station has its own distinct flavor and reputation that begs to be discovered.
Visit Shinjuku to experience Tokyo’s busy city core, or Shibuya to witness the city’s famous nightlife and tourist attractions (for the best things to do in Shibuya, read here).
Ikebukuro seems to be the less congested and far more compact alternative to Shinjuku, or you may visit Ginza to seek the latest styles from all of the big-name labels.
You can even delve deeper into discovering the hidden gems—mom-and-pop shops or shady back alleys—that just the locals know about.
Visitors to Kyoto can learn about traditional skills such as tea ceremony, kimono creation, Kabuki, and more, in addition to Buddhist and Shinto temples.
The voices of priests and monks singing and striking the taiko drums fill the air, ancient cultural artefacts fill the museums, and everyday marketplaces are all around.
Several of the Buddhist and Shinto temples were constructed at different times, giving them unique architectural styles and collections of treasures.
Monkeys can be seen in Gion, and Pontocho has a local (albeit lesser) nightlife.
Which City Has Better Food?
Japan boasts the finest cuisine on the planet, including regional delicacies.
Tokyo gets the award for greatest cuisine throughout Japan, because it attracts cooks and eateries from across the world.
Delicacies from Hokkaido to Okinawa can be found in Tokyo, as well as a wide range of other cuisines.
It may be easier to discover a range of eateries in Tokyo for persons on specialized diets owing to intolerance or lifestyle choices.
That isn’t to suggest Kyoto doesn’t offer wonderful food, however if you want to broaden your culinary horizons or are simply tired of eating the same thing every day, then Tokyo is the ideal place to go.
Kyoto’s cuisine, just like the city itself, is dominated by traditional Japanese dishes.
You’ll have no trouble finding a wonderful location to dine in Kyoto if you’re thrilled about enjoying Japanese food every day.
Kyoto’s cuisine, and Kansai food in general, is renowned and wonderful among Japanese people, despite not having as much diversity in global foods as Tokyo.
Final Thoughts
Although every Japanese city has a blend of modernity and history, Tokyo and Kyoto are at the heart of the country’s distinct culture.
The decision of whether to visit Tokyo or Kyoto is a difficult one for travelers (see also ‘Is It Safe To Visit Tokyo?‘).
If they plan to visit both places, they will have to pick where they should devote more time as well as which is more intriguing to them.
Hopefully, this guide has helped you towards making a decision about which of these fantastically cultural cities to visit based on your own interests and values.
I hope that, by exploring this website, you all will develop a much deeper appreciation for Japan, and that it may even influence you to pay it a visit yourself eventually! It is definitely a trip of a lifetime, and whether you experience it firsthand, or through my own website, I’m sure you will become just as passionate as I always have been!
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