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
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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
Tennoji Zoo
Century-Old Zoo in Tennoji Park near Shinsekai
One of Japan's oldest zoos, opened in 1915, home to around 1,000 animals across roughly 170 speci...
Nakanoshima
River Island with a Park, Rose Garden, and Historic Public Hall
A narrow river island between the Dojima and Tosabori rivers, home to Nakanoshima Park, a rose ga...
Tofuku-ji
Kyoto's Supreme Autumn Foliage Temple
One of Kyoto's Five Great Zen Temples. Best autumn foliage in the city. The view from Tsutenkyo B...
Nagahama
This lakeside town on the shores of Lake Biwa blends Edo-period charm with contemporary artistry ...
Minoo Falls
33-Metre Waterfall in Meiji-no-Mori Minoo Quasi-National Park
A 33-metre waterfall reached by a forested riverside trail, known for autumn foliage and deep-fri...
Nabana no Sato
Lit up each winter, Nabana no Sato hosts Japan's largest illumination festival with millions of L...
Kitano Tenmangu
Shrine of Learning Famous for Plum Blossoms and Flea Markets
A major shrine dedicated to the deity of learning and scholarship, celebrated for its 2,000 plum ...
Ryujin Onsen
Hot Spring Town Among Japan's Three Beauty Waters
A mountain hot spring town in the former Ryujin village of Tanabe, counted among Japan's three be...
Yokoyama Observatory
Viewpoint Over the Ria Coastline of Ago Bay
A hillside viewpoint in Shima overlooking the ria coastline of Ago Bay, with viewing terraces and...
Heijo Palace Site
UNESCO Imperial Palace Ruins with Reconstructed Gate and Hall
The ruins of the imperial palace of the Nara-period capital, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a ...
Awaji Yumebutai
Tadao Ando Concrete Complex with a Terraced Garden
An architectural complex on Awaji Island designed by Tadao Ando, with the terraced Hyakudanen gar...
Iga-ryu Ninja Museum
Ninja Museum with a Trick House and Demonstrations
A museum in Iga devoted to the ninja tradition, featuring a trick residence, tool exhibits, and d...
Muroji
Women's Koya and Japan's Smallest Outdoor Pagoda
Known as Women's Koya for welcoming female worshippers when Mount Koya banned them, this mountain...
Yoshiki-en
Japanese Garden Next to Isuien near Nara Park
A quiet Japanese garden beside the Isuien garden near Nara Park, made up of a pond garden, a moss...
Awashima Shrine
Shrine Known for Thousands of Dedicated Dolls
A seaside shrine in Kada dedicated to Sukunahikona, associated with women's health and known for ...