The capital of Japan for over 1,000 years, Kyoto is among the most popular stops in Japan for those going beyond Tokyo itself. It’s a much smaller city, and it largely escaped the WWII bombing so there is more original architecture in place.
Only a bit over 2 hours by high-speed train from Tokyo, Kyoto is known for its temples and more traditional nature. Hotels here are noticeably cheaper than those in Tokyo, so adding days here will bring down the average per-day cost of a Japan visit.
Food and drinks are also a bit cheaper here than in the current capital. As long as the Yen doesn’t get unreasonably strong again, Kyoto will feel like a pretty solid travel bargain compared to what you might expect.
