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Kyoto or Tokyo? An honest comparison
The short answer
Pick Tokyo for a first trip to Japan: the biggest choice of food, neighbourhoods, nightlife and day trips, with transport that makes it all easy. Pick Kyoto for temples, gardens and traditional streets at a slower pace; it is also cheaper on our numbers. On any trip of a week or more, do both by shinkansen.
Kyoto: suits couples, families and travellers who want shrines, temples, gardens and a traditional inn rather than big-city energy.
Tokyo: suits solo travellers, couples and photographers who want endless food, distinct neighbourhoods, nightlife and modern Japan.
Side by side
| Kyoto | Tokyo | |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range day* | €122 ¥21,700 local | €136 ¥24,200 local |
| Budget day* | €66 | €66 |
| Value for money | ●●●●●Mid-range about ¥21,700 (€122) per day | ●●●●●Mid-range about ¥24,200 (€136) per day |
| Crowds (5 = calm) | ●●●●●Top temples are packed by mid-morning, especially in season | ●●●●●Huge crowds at Shibuya and Shinjuku, but plenty of quiet corners |
| Food | ●●●●●Refined kaiseki, tofu and sweets; fewer late options | ●●●●●The world's deepest restaurant scene at every price |
| Nightlife | ●●●●●Pontocho and Gion bars; quiet after dinner | ●●●●●Shinjuku, Shibuya and Golden Gai go all night |
| Family-friendly | ●●●●●Temples, gardens and deer at nearby Nara | ●●●●●Museums, theme parks, parks and very safe streets |
| Getting around | ●●●●●Crowded buses to main sights; limited subway | ●●●●●Superb rail network, but complex and busy at rush hour |
| Best months | Oct | Nov |
| Warmest / coolest | Aug 32°C / Jan 8°C | Aug 32°C / Jan 9°C |
| Known for | Fushimi Inari, Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Gion District | Shibuya crossing, Meiji Shrine, Michelin sushi, cherry blossoms and ginkgo |
* Per person per day with two sharing a room: bed, food, sights and local transport, from our Kyoto and Tokyo day-cost tables (approximate 2026 prices; other currencies converted at recent rates). Ratings are our editorial judgement.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Kyoto if…
- Temples, shrines and gardens are your priority
- you want a ryokan stay and quiet evenings
- you prefer a slower pace and lower costs
- you travel in October for comfortable weather
Pick Tokyo if…
- It is your first trip to Japan
- Food, shopping and nightlife are a big part of the trip
- you want day trips to Nikko, Kamakura or Hakone
- you are travelling with children
Weather month by month
| Month | Kyoto high / rainy days | Tokyo high / rainy days |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8°C · 9 | 9°C · 5 |
| Feb | 9°C · 7 | 11°C · 6 |
| Mar | 15°C · 11 | 16°C · 12 |
| Apr | 19°C · 11 | 19°C · 10 |
| May | 23°C · 12 | 23°C · 15 |
| Jun | 27°C · 12 | 27°C · 16 |
| Jul | 31°C · 15 | 31°C · 16 |
| Aug | 32°C · 17 | 32°C · 16 |
| Sep | 29°C · 15 | 28°C · 14 |
| Oct | 22°C · 8 | 22°C · 11 |
| Nov | 17°C · 7 | 18°C · 8 |
| Dec | 11°C · 8 | 12°C · 8 |
Average daily high and number of rainy days. Copernicus ERA5, 2021–2023.
What you will eat
Kyoto
Home-style Kyoto dishes · Simmered tofu · Soy milk skin · Kyoto multi-course meal · Herring soba · Mackerel pressed sushi
Where: Nishiki Market, Pontocho, Gion and Hanamikoji, Ichijoji ramen street
Tokyo
Ramen · Sushi · Grilled chicken skewers · Breaded pork cutlet · Buckwheat noodles · Savory pancake
Where: Tsukiji Outer Market, Omoide Yokocho (Shinjuku), Ameyoko (Ueno), Yurakucho railway arches
Doing both in one trip
10 days: 6 in Tokyo + 4 in Kyoto
Fly into Tokyo, then take the shinkansen west to Kyoto and, if possible, fly home from Kansai Airport near Osaka to avoid backtracking.
Getting between them: The shinkansen between Tokyo and Kyoto takes about 2 h 15 on the fastest trains, with very frequent departures. Flying is not faster once you add airport transfers. Distance about 365 km as the crow flies. Check current timetables.
- Day 1–3: Tokyo — Asakusa, Ueno, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Meiji Shrine
- Day 4–5: Tsukiji Outer Market, teamLab or museums, a day trip to Kamakura or Nikko
- Day 6: Shinkansen to Kyoto, Higashiyama and Gion in the evening
- Day 7–10: Fushimi Inari at dawn, Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji, Nara half day, fly home from Kansai
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Common questions
Is Kyoto or Tokyo cheaper?
Kyoto is cheaper on our numbers: about ¥21,700 (€122) per person per day at mid-range against about ¥24,200 (€136) in Tokyo. Tokyo hotels in central areas such as Shinjuku and Ginza are expensive, while Kyoto's prices rise sharply only in cherry-blossom and autumn-leaf seasons. Both have excellent cheap meals in convenience stores, ramen shops and set-lunch restaurants.
How do I get from Tokyo to Kyoto?
Take the shinkansen. The fastest trains take about 2 h 15 from Tokyo or Shinagawa to Kyoto, with departures every few minutes for much of the day. Reserved seats are easy to book, and on a clear day sit on the right-hand side heading west for a view of Mount Fuji. Flying is slower door to door.
How many days do I need in Kyoto and Tokyo?
Tokyo needs at least four days for its main neighbourhoods, and six if you add day trips. Kyoto needs three to four days, including a half day in Nara. For a first ten-day trip to Japan, six days in Tokyo and four in Kyoto is a good balance that avoids constant hotel changes.
When is the best time to visit Kyoto and Tokyo?
October and November are excellent for both, with mild weather and autumn colours; Kyoto peaks in late November, Tokyo's ginkgo trees around the same time. Spring cherry blossom is beautiful but crowded and costly. July and August are hot and humid, with highs around 32°C in both cities, and early summer brings the rainy season.