Should I Visit Osaka/Kyoto?

A lot of readers who write to us for advice about visiting Japan for concerts are stymied about which cities they should visit in order to see the shows they want to see. A lot of y'all seem to think that Tokyo is your only option.

It's not, folks. Tokyo is very big, very loud and crowded and urban. It has a lot on offer in terms of pop and contemporary culture. It's a great place to eat, shop, and visit museums, and yes, a lot of bands play in Tokyo. However, Tokyo doesn't have much in the way of traditional culture, because the entire city was basically destroyed by firebombing during World War II, so if you want to see temples and old buildings, Tokyo is not the place to visit.

The Osaka metro area, on the other hand, offers a far wider variety of options. Osaka is just about as modern and gritty as Tokyo. However, Osaka is surrounded by a group of other cities which each offer very distinct traditional cultural experiences. Kyoto, in particular, was the capital of Japan for nearly a millennium, and contains some of Japan's most famous temples and historical sites.

What's in the Greater Osaka-Kyoto Metropolitan Area?

The Greater Osaka-Kyoto Metropolitan Area encompasses a number of cities in addition to Osaka, all of which host many, many excellent concerts and events, but which also contain many famous temples and historical sites. So if you've decided that you're not wedded to Tokyo and you may not have time to travel around the entire country, you can actually have access to a whole lot of great concerts if you're willing to go to Osaka instead of Tokyo, then travel a little further around the Greater Osaka Metropolitan Area than just the Osaka Loop Line inner circle.

Osaka
Osaka is like Tokyo in that it's a big, bad, dirty modern city, but it has a distinctly different cultural vibe. People in Osaka tend to be louder, bolder, and friendlier. They're more likely to strike up a conversation with a random foreigner. Osaka women are more confident and independent, more likely to enjoy drinking and dirty jokes. If you come from a country where people tend to be loud and brash, Osaka is likely to feel more like home to you than Tokyo. There aren't a whole lot of good sightseeing spots in Osaka, but the Namba/Shinsaibashi district has a lot going on.

Kyoto
Kyoto is the old capital of Japan and one of the few major cities that wasn't burned to the ground during World War II, meaning that many of the old buildings there still stand. Kyoto contains an almost endless list of famous temples and other historical sites, so as such, it's the de-facto cultural capital of Japan. Kyoto-ites would hate to be lumped in with Osaka, but Kyoto and Osaka are only a half hour apart by express train (the JR Kyoto Line, among others), so if you visit one, it's easy to visit the other.

Some cautions about Kyoto for potential visitors: Kyoto is always jam-packed with tourists, and it doesn't have enough hotels to go around. For cherry blossom season (first week of April) and peak fall color season (mid November), hotels must be booked up to a year in advance. Probably, you'll be better off staying in Osaka and traveling into Kyoto for the day. Kyoto also has a shitty public transit network, because the fact that it wasn't destroyed means that it was difficult to build trains in a lot of places. The rail network is lacking. Buses make up the deficit, but there's so much traffic in the city center that traffic jams are the norm. Be prepared to be stuck in traffic for ages, or walk miles from the nearest train station. Also, summer in Kyoto is hot, humid, melty murder! If you hate the heat, do NOT visit Kyoto in summer. You will die.

Nara
Before Kyoto was the capital of Japan, Nara was the capital. It's the oldest major city in the country, and home to some fabulous historical sites, most notably the Todaiji Temple, which houses the Great Buddha of Nara, the largest wooden Buddha in the world. Nara has a lot of small-town charm, and as an added bonus, it's home to a herd of semi-tame deer who amble down its streets at their leisure. Since they are considered sacred animals, locals defer to them. Just make sure you keep your bags zipped up, since the deer can be very aggressive about soliciting food. Nara is no more than an hour train ride from Osaka or Kyoto, so it's an easy destination for a day trip.

Kobe
Kobe is located south of Osaka, less than an hour away. The picturesque hillside city is famous for sake brewing and its Chinatown district. There's also a lot of good music and comedy in Kobe - many musicians and comedians hail from here.

Takarazuka
Located near Kobe, an easy day trip from Osaka, Takarazuka is home to the all-female Takarazuka Theater, who enjoy massive popularity in Japan and overseas. Takarazuka is one of the few municipalities in Japan that currently recognize same-sex marriage... which definitely has nothing to do with Sapphic undertones in Takarazuka theater. Who would dare to suggest such a thing?

Himeji
Himeji is another easy day trip from Osaka, just past Kobe. The main reason to visit Himeji is to visit the utterly stunning and amazing Himeji Castle, which is, without a doubt, the most badass castle in Japan (though Matsumoto Castle is a close second). If you love castles and samurai, definitely visit the Himeji Castle, for sure.

Lake Biwa
Lake Biwa is Japan's largest lake, and it's a great place for boating, swimming, etc. in summer. There's also a beautiful lotus pond and arboretum at Kusatsu, if you're into plants and flowers. Lake Biwa is only about an hour train ride from Osaka, on the JR Kyoto Line express.

Hikone
Hikone is further up into Shiga Prefecture on the JR Kyoto Line, and if you get up early in the morning, you could visit from Osaka as a day trip. Hikone, like Himeji, is also famous for a castle. The Hikone Castle is a lot smaller than the Himeji Castle, but it's just as beautiful, and it's also represented by Hiko-nyan, the most adorable cat mascot in Japan.

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