When I first moved to Japan, I thought I’d stay for a year. Thirteen years later, I was still there, eating ramen after a hard day at work, staying up all night singing karaoke, and traveling the country on my free time find the places that fit me best. I’m called Tokyo Becky for a reason. It’s where I lived during my whole time in Japan. But every time friends ask, “Where is the best place to stay in Japan?” and I know they’ve never been, I have the same answer: Stay in Osaka. Visit Tokyo.
Tokyo is incredible. Of course, it’s my favorite city in the world. It’s vast, modern, and endlessly fascinating. For first-time travelers, though, it can feel like diving headfirst into a hurricane of neon lights. Its sheer size can completely overwhelm you. Osaka, on the other hand, gives you many of the same experiences but on a much smaller scale. It gives you space to breathe, to taste, and to feel modern-day Japan rather than just race through it.
Why Osaka Is the Best Place to Stay in Japan for Your First Trip
When people describe Osaka, they often use words like “friendly,” “fun,” and “down-to-earth.” Those are all true. Osaka has an unpretentious confidence that makes it instantly likable. The first thing I noticed when I moved there was how easy it was to feel at home. People smiled at me on the street. The restaurant owners chatted with me even when my Japanese was clumsy. The energy was warmer, more human, and more relaxed than Tokyo’s fast-paced rush for the next train energy.
Big Enough Without Being Overwhelming
Osaka is Japan’s third-largest city (Yokohama is the second), but it doesn’t feel like a concrete maze. Everything is more compact, the subway lines are logical, and neighborhoods connect naturally. You can cross the city in half an hour rather than spending half your day navigating transfer stations. That simplicity gives you freedom to explore and relax instead of feeling like you’re constantly running to catch up. You also run less of a risk of spending half of your savings on taxi cabs home after you miss the las train. Because everything is closer in Osaka, you are naturally going to pay less.
Your Money Goes Further in Osaka
If you want your yen to stretch, Osaka rewards you. Hotel prices are often far lower than in Tokyo, and even meals are more affordable. You can feast on fresh sushi, grilled yakitori, or Osaka’s legendary okonomiyaki without getting stung by the bill. There’s a reason the city’s nickname is “Japan’s Kitchen.” The food culture here is proud and passionate, and street food is borders on religion.
I still remember the first time I bought takoyaki from a tiny street stand near Dōtonbori. The vendor handed me the steaming tray with a grin, and I ended up burning my tongue from biting into the center just a bit too quickly. That moment standing by the river, the smell of soy and bonito flakes swirling in the night air felt like the real Japan. No reservations, no fancy restaurants, just a lot a flavor and a whole lot of laughter. Osaka, by the way, is also the sacred home of Japanese comedy – so you might say that people from Osaka are used to laughing much more than those from Tokyo. And you are going to feel that energy everywhere you go! That alone might make you believe that Osaka is the best place to stay in Japan.
Location, Location, Location
Osaka sits right in the heart of Kansai, the epicenter of Japanese culture. Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe are all short train rides away. You can spend the morning at Kinkaku-ji’s golden temple, be back in Osaka for okonomiyaki by dinner, and still have time to wander along the canals of Dōtonbori before bed. Staying in Osaka gives you easy access to some of the most historic and scenic spots in Japan without the hassle of changing hotels.
Check out my perfect 3-day Kyoto itinerary
Locals Who Make You Feel at Home
One of the biggest surprises for me after living in Tokyo was how quickly people in Osaka would start conversations. Taxi drivers, market vendors, and even strangers at the station – everyone chats. You can walk into a small izakaya and end up toasting with locals by the end of the night. Osaka is still the only place in the world I’ve been where I met three men in Dōtonbori shortly after I arrived who invited me to karaoke and I felt safe enough to say yes! Trust me, it was an absolute blast and the three Osaka guys were hilarious! That kind of connection makes travel unforgettable.
Why Tokyo Is Still Worth Visiting for a Few Days
Even though I believe Osaka is the best place to stay in Japan, Tokyo absolutely deserves your attention for at least three days. If you’ve never seen Tokyo, it will blow your mind. The lights of Shibuya, the precision of its trains, the elegance of its people, how you safe you feel when you go anywhere, it’s absolutely intoxicating. I remember standing in Shinjuku Station during my first week and realizing it was larger than my entire hometown. Every direction I turned, I saw something new: Michelin-starred sushi counters, amazing jazz bars crammed into basements, and gaming arcades that stretched six floors high.
Although it’s the biggest experience you will have, Tokyo requires energy – a lot of it. The crowds are constant, and the prices can quickly drain your budget. It’s a city that rewards curiosity and endurance. For a first-time traveler, Tokyo is best as a shorter visit. I recommend three or four days of excitement and discovery before returning to Osaka to rest and recharge. If you do plan to stay there, here’s the area that I would recommend staying.
You can spend a morning exploring Meiji Shrine’s peaceful gardens, then dive into the chaos of Harajuku, gaze at the skyline from Tokyo Skytree, or spend a quiet afternoon strolling through Ueno Park and even stopping by a museum. A few days is enough to see Tokyo’s highlights without feeling overwhelmed.
How to Plan Your Trip: Osaka as Your Base, Tokyo as Your “Weekend”
If I were planning your first trip to Japan, I’d recommend flying into Kansai International Airport and settling in Osaka for about a week. Explore the city’s neighborhoods, street food, and riverside walks. Take easy day trips to Kyoto for temples, Nara for ancient shrines and friendly deer, and Kobe for melt-in-your-mouth beef.
Once you’ve found your rhythm, take the Shinkansen to Tokyo for three or four days of high-energy sightseeing. You’ll experience the best of both worlds: the heart and warmth of Osaka, and the futuristic pulse of Tokyo.
Why I Choose Osaka Today
If someone asked me why I choose Osaka today, it’s the difference in accommodation price compared to Tokyo. You can get much bigger spaces for lower prices – and more of them. The other main factor is the proximity of Osaka to so many incredible, can’t-miss-on-your-first-time things to see in Japan compared to Tokyo. The first and most obvious place is Kyoto, a mere 30 minutes away from Osaka by train. Thirty minutes will barely get you across central Tokyo on an express train let alone get you to an iconic global cultural destination. Kyoto is a must visit on your first trip to Japan, and Osaka can easily get you there.
The second destination is Nara and the Great Buddha statue inside Tōdai-ji temple. Nara, like Kyoto, is a former capital of Japan, and visiting it is another can’t miss experience in Japan, especially if you’ve always wanted Bambi as a bestie. Bambi & co. will surround you as they follow each and every tourist who walks through the streets or surrounding park in Nara. Nara is also only about 30 minutes from Osaka.
Need more reasons to base in Osaka? You can reach Mt. Koya in 1.5 to 2 hours by train and stay in a Buddhist temple overnight and explore one of Japan’s biggest cemeteries (with some of the most beautiful fall leaves). You can also go on a pilgrimage on the Kumano Kodo. I took the train from Osaka to Kii Tanabe, and it took two hours. For all these reasons, I consider it the best place to stay in Japan.
Final Thoughts – The Best Place to Stay in Japan Is Osaka
If you only have time for one base, make it Osaka. You’ll save money, meet friendly locals, and see the cultural heart of Japan without the chaos of Tokyo’s crowds.
Of course, you must also visit Tokyo and enjoy it for the sheer urban behemoth that it is. Go to Golden Gai, visit Sensoji, Akihabara Electric Town, and just enjoy the different neighborhoods.
But Osaka is the best place to base yourself as a first-time tourist, and now you know why.
0 Comments