Things to Do in Kansai, Japan
Japan's cultural heart: Kyoto, Nara and Osaka, plus the pilgrim trails and islands of the Kii Peninsula.
239 destinations across 7 prefectures
Festivals in Kansai
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Nada Kenka Matsuri
14 to 15 October 2026
Hyogo · Float procession
Jidai Matsuri
22 October 2026
Kyoto · Float procession
Awaji Island Festival Fireworks
8 November 2026
Hyogo · Fireworks festival
Wakakusa Yamayaki
23 January 2027
Nara · Fire festival
© ignis / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Omizutori
1 to 14 March 2027
Nara · Fire festival
© J o / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Aoi Matsuri
15 May 2027
Kyoto · Float procession
© 江戸村のとくぞう / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Gion Matsuri
1 to 31 July 2027
Kyoto · Float procession
© 663highland / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.5)
Tenjin Matsuri
24 to 25 July 2027
Osaka · Boat festival
Photo: Idushin at Japanese Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri
18 to 19 September 2027
Osaka · Float procession
Suggested Itineraries
Places to Visit in Kansai
Kumano Kodo Iseji Route
Walking the ancient Iseji pilgrimage route connects you to over a thousand years of spiritual jou...
Mikimoto Pearl Island
Island Where Cultured Pearls Were First Produced
A small island in Toba Bay where Kokichi Mikimoto first produced a cultured pearl in 1893, now a ...
Tomogashima
The 'Castle in the Sky' Island of Jungle-Swallowed WWII Fort Ruins
A cluster of uninhabited islands in the Kitan Strait off Wakayama, where overgrown Meiji-era gun ...
Daigo-ji
Hideyoshi's Cherry Blossom Temple on the Mountainside
A sprawling World Heritage Site famous for Toyotomi Hideyoshi's legendary 1598 cherry blossom vie...
Ine
Ine - The Venice of Japan
The 'Venice of Japan', a fishing village with 230 traditional funaya boat houses lining a tranqui...
Kobe Port Tower
Red Lattice Tower with a Rooftop Deck at Kobe Port
A red steel observation tower on a Kobe Port pier, first opened in 1963 and reopened in 2024 with...
Engyo-ji Temple
Ancient Mountain Temple from The Last Samurai
A sprawling 1000-year-old temple complex atop Mount Shosha, famous as a filming location for 'The...
Kasuga Taisha
Kasuga Grand Shrine
Ancient Shinto shrine set in a primeval forest, famous for thousands of stone and bronze lanterns.
Himeji Central Park
Safari Park and Amusement Park
A large entertainment complex combining a drive-through safari park with African wildlife and an ...
Tsubosakadera
Temple of Large Stone Buddhas Linked to Eye Ailments
A Shingon temple in Takatori, the sixth stop of the Saigoku Kannon pilgrimage, known for a Kannon...
Kobe Harborland
Waterfront Shopping and Entertainment District on Kobe Port
A redeveloped waterfront district on Kobe Port with the Umie shopping mall, the Mosaic complex, a...
Mitarai Valley
River Gorge with Waterfalls and Emerald Pools
A gorge in Tenkawa village with waterfalls, clear green pools and giant boulders, followed by a r...
Seiryo-ji
The Living Buddha of Saga and Its Hidden Treasures
Houses the 'Living Buddha' statue brought from China in 987, a wooden Shaka Nyorai said to replic...
Taga Taisha
Major Shinto Shrine Honouring Izanagi and Izanami
One of Shiga's principal shrines, dedicated to Izanagi and Izanami and popularly called Ota-ga-san.
Omi Jingu
Otsu Shrine Tied to Emperor Tenji and Competitive Karuta
A Shinto shrine in Otsu dedicated to Emperor Tenji, widely known as a centre of competitive karuta.