The best city in Japan for students
Kyoto is calm, beautiful and full of universities, so students are everywhere and the city is built for us. I cycle to class along the Kamo River every morning. Rent is lower than Tokyo: my student apartment is 38,000 yen a month. Temples and gardens are free or cheap on weekdays, and Osaka is only 30 minutes by train when I want a bigger city or job fairs. The downsides are the tourist crowds in central areas, humid summers and cold, damp winters in old buildings. Part-time jobs are easy to find if you speak some Japanese. For a student, I cannot imagine a better place.
Pros
- Affordable for students
- Very bike friendly
- Beautiful and safe
- Close to Osaka
Cons
- Tourist crowds
- Hot, humid summers
- Cold old buildings in winter