Here’s a Kansai travel guide to help you make the most of your time in your stay there.
KANSAI TRAVEL GUIDE – This is the home of some of the major cities like Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe and here’s a guide that you might need.
Ready to conquer Kansai?
This region has seven different prefectures: Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Nara, Mie, Shiga, and Wakayama. Being the region where some of the major cities are found, Kansai is a bit populated as these major cities are the destinations many tourists from around the world frequent to.
There’s so much to see in this region but if you want something fast-paced to do much in a week, we got you covered!
Here’s an itinerary guide from Klook:
Day 1: Sightseeing in Osaka city
You may see these destinations:
- Osaka Castle
- Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium
- Tempozan Ferris Wheel
- Dotonbori (You must try the street foods such as takoyaki, melon pan, gyoza, and okonomiyaki). Make sure to also dine in one of these top-rated restaurants:
- Kani Doraku (crab dishes)
- Ichiran Ramen
- Mizuno (Osaka-style Okonomiyaki)
- Kani Doraku (grilled crab legs)
- Takoyaki Juhachiban
- Matsusakagyu Yakiniku M
- Kinryu Ramen
- Kushikatsu Daruma
- Umeda Sky Building
Day 2: Universal Studios Japan
You will surely love this theme park – the happiest place in Osaka. Be transported to the magical Wizarding World of Harry Potter or enjoy the newly-opened Super Nintendo World.
Day 3: Kyoto
This is close to Osaka and at least a night in Kyoto is highly suggested. This place is formerly Japan’s capital and historical temples and old shrines are scattered in this area. Some of them that you can visit are:
- Fushimi Inari Shrine
- Kinkaku-ji Temple
- Kiyomizu-dera
- Gion district
- Yasaka Shrine
- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
- Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama
- Sagano Romantic Train
- Kifune Shrine
- Nijo Castle
- Nishiki Market
- Maruyama Park
- Kyoto International Manga Museum
- Kyoto Botanical Gardens
Day 4: Nara
Have you seen the area in Japan filled with a lot of deers? This is that place. Apart from the Nara Deer Park, you must also allot time to visit some of the oldest and largest temples in Japan found here such as:
- Todaiji Temple
- Horyuji Temple
- Isuien Garden
- Yoshikien Garden
Day 5: Experience Kinosaki Onsen town at night
This romantic town is less than three hours away Osaka and Kyoto. This is in the Hyogo prefecture where you can find gems like natural hot spring bath houses. For the best experience, make sure to spend a night a ryokan or the traditional Japanese inn.
Day 6: Kobe
Make sure to make a stopover in Kobe before going back to Osaka. Apart from the world-renowned Kobe beef, there’s more in this place that you will surely love like the Japanese sake, hiking spots, and unique attractions such as Fruit Flower Park where 10,000 tulips bloom every spring and a zoo that gives shelter to over 800 animals.
Day 7: Osaka
This is going to be your last day in Osaka. Visit Kuromon Market where you can buy a lot of things such as seafood, fresh fruit and vegetables, souvenirs, traditional sweets, street food, and many more. Grilled crab legs, yakitori, sea urchin, sushi, fresh oysters, takoyaki,, onigiri rice balls, and skewered meat are some of the most popular items.
What can you say about this? Let us know in the comments!