Golden Week Plans: Kyoto vs. Tokyo

So Golden Week is coming up. Golden week is the week in spring when there are three national holidays all in the same week. Because of this, most people (including me) get the whole week off. Prime sightseeing time!

So here's the dilemma - should we go to Kyoto (which is only an hour or two away and has many of the most important historical sites and shrines in Japan - definitely not to be missed) or Tokyo (which is more like four hours away, but has the added benefit of a visit with my host family of yore and some old students)?

If we go to Kyoto we can easily come home, so we don't have to worry about finding a hotel, and we can be more flexible in our plans. Maybe get in a hike or two - or detour one day to Nara or Osaka. The trip to Tokyo would require finding a hotel (difficult and expensive in Golden Week) but we won't have many other chances to make a big trip like this until summer break in August.

Hmmm...