Hotels in Osaka tend to offer better value for dollar than those in Kyoto, in my experience. That's why I haven't stayed in Kyoto in a long while now, and instead make trips there from Osaka or Kobe.
Originally Posted by
EXPLAT
We spent a couple of our days comuting to Kyoto from Osaka (via a Local Rapid Train from Osaka Station 1-hr or 20 min by Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station which required a short subway ride first).
Osaka to Kyoto by local train is more like 30min. If you stay at Umeda area (which is where Westin is), then you have two options to get to Kyoto... ~30min by JR from Osaka to Kyoto station (faster if you take a limited express train), or ~40min by Hankyu from Umeda to Kawaramachi station which is very convenient to some of Kyoto's more popular districts including Gion and Higashiyama area.
Originally Posted by
op487062
Does Osaka offer something Kyoto/Tokyo doesn't? I've been to Tokyo numerous times and Kyoto a few, but never Osaka. I guess I looked at Osaka as...Tokyo Jr (sorry I don't mean to offend).
Please educate me too, I am going to Japan again in October and may consider swinging by Osaka
Osaka definitely has a distinct feel and culture than Tokyo. But for someone visiting Jpn for the first or second time, Osaka may seem like Tokyo Jr. Actually, even though Tokyo is the bigger metropolis, I find Osaka to be more hectic in many ways. If you've been to Tokyo a bunch of times, then I'd suggest you give Osaka a look.