Our trip in Tokyo was over, and our next stop was Kyoto. Originally we had planned to go straight to Osaka, but we happened to find a hotel that costs about $1,000+ per night and could be booked with a Marriott 85,000-point room certificate. So we quickly changed plans, checked in there first to try it out, and then spent two days in Osaka.

Shinkansen

From Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka, the Shinkansen is definitely the most convenient option. It is similar to the high-speed rail at home, but buying tickets is a bit more complicated: in addition to the fare ticket, you also need a limited-express ticket. If you’re not sure how it works, it’s best to buy from the station’s ticket counter.
Tokyo has two Shinkansen stations: Tokyo and Shinagawa. If you arrive by subway at either station, you should be able to transfer directly to the Shinkansen without leaving the station, but you need to purchase your tickets in advance. If you’re unclear about platform transfers, the easiest method is to exit, settle the subway fare, and then enter through the Shinkansen gates (you may lose a bit on the subway fare, as transferring to the Shinkansen can often waive part of the inner-city fare).

Common ways to buy Shinkansen tickets include:

  • Vending machines
    1. Choose the English/Chinese interface → select “Tokyo → Kyoto.”
    2. Select train type (Nozomi/Hikari/Kodama), unreserved seat, or reserved seat.
    3. Pay (cash/credit card).
  • Midori-no-Madoguchi (green window)
  • Online booking JR Central website or a third-party platform (such as Klook) to buy in advance. You can pick up tickets with a QR code or your passport.

If your itinerary is not too tight, you can go to either Tokyo or Shinagawa station and buy at a vending machine or staffed counter there. Both accept credit cards. If you’re unsure, ask the staff nearby—most station helpers know some English and will help you sort it out. They’ll usually suggest the next nearest departure, and once you pass through the gates, you should reach the platform quickly, so don’t worry about missing it (especially at Shinagawa). Since Shinkansen trains run very frequently, seats are usually still fairly available; generally, unreserved seats are enough.

If the weather is clear, you can see Mount Fuji from a window seat on the Shinkansen.

Kyoto

You can still sense Kyoto’s rich traditional culture. As you walk through the streets and shopping areas, locals are clearly more visible than tourists. We arrived at dusk, and the evening light created a calm, timeless atmosphere.

Kyoto’s streets and shop facades are very appealing, with a neat, small-scale charm.

  • Each restaurant entrance has its own character
  • The streetscape had a dreamy, almost manga-like feel

Transportation in Kyoto

Compared with Tokyo, transportation in Kyoto is a bit less convenient; there are fewer subway lines, and many places can only be reached by bus. That said, if you have time and don’t mind walking, strolling through Kyoto is very pleasant, and beautiful spots often appear around every corner.

Kyoto buses accept IC cards like Suica, but if you’re traveling with children, kids 6 years and older need to buy a half-price ticket. Have change ready, as it can be too busy to sort it out when getting off. Also, buses stop only when you press the button yourself, so check the display to confirm both your current stop and the next one. If you have mobile data, a real-time map is the easiest way to check whether you’re approaching your stop.

A nice part of taking the bus is that you get to see the city along the way, though be prepared—it can be crowded.

Kyoto hotels

Kyoto has fewer high-rises, and most hotels are compact and well-designed. The nearby hotels around us were all relatively low and small in footprint. The Mitsui Hotel we stayed at was excellent in service, facilities, and dining. See the full write-up below for details.

Kyoto eel rice

Kyoto is known as a foodie city, but we only had one day there, so our tasting time was limited. We did try unagi rice bowl once, and it was tasty. Note: Japanese restaurants usually require at least one order per person; if you can’t finish it, you can add small dishes to make up the minimum.

  • The storefront looked quite plain
  • Even this tiny place had a little courtyard
  • The grill was blazing hot
  • Because we were foreign visitors with kids, we were seated in a private room
  • The menu is available in Chinese, English, and Japanese, which is very suitable for tourists, though the staff’s English was limited and we ended up communicating by hand gestures.
  • Three eel styles
  • I ordered the sashimi version. The sashimi was fresh, and the grilled eel was excellent, but one full eel portion felt a little greasy.

Kyoto Kiyomizu-dera

Kyoto has many temples, plus related buildings and attractions, so we went to the most famous one: Kiyomizu-dera. There were many Chinese tourists, and we heard Chinese quite often.

There are many cultural shops nearby.

Osaka and shopping

The transition from Kyoto to Osaka was dramatic. To put it simply, it was like moving from the Japanese countryside to an international metropolis, and our stay at the Hilton Conrad Osaka was also quite dreamy.

Since we were on our way home, most of our time in Osaka was spent shopping. Shopping and window-walking made time pass quickly.

  • There were definitely a lot of capsule toy vending machines!

Takeaway

Kyoto is best if you want to explore at a gentle pace. If you like relaxing walks, good food, and traditional Japanese culture, Kyoto is an excellent choice. Osaka is more open and often better suited to entertainment and shopping.