Things to Do in Kansai, Japan
Japan's cultural heart: Kyoto, Nara and Osaka, plus the pilgrim trails and islands of the Kii Peninsula.
372 destinations across 7 prefectures
Festivals in Kansai
Awaji Island Festival Fireworks
8 November 2026
Hyogo · Fireworks festival
Kasuga Wakamiya On-matsuri
15 to 18 December 2026
Nara · Float procession
Toka Ebisu at Imamiya Ebisu Shrine
9 to 11 January 2027
Osaka · Festival
Wakakusa Yamayaki
23 January 2027
Nara · Fire festival
Kobe Luminarie
29 January 2027 to 7 February 2027
Hyogo · Lantern 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
Kyoto Gozan Okuribi
16 August 2027
Kyoto · Fire festival
Photo: Idushin at Japanese Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri
18 to 19 September 2027
Osaka · Float procession
© sailko / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Nada Kenka Matsuri
14 to 15 October 2027
Hyogo · Float procession
Jidai Matsuri
22 October 2027
Kyoto · Float procession
Suggested Itineraries
Places to Visit in Kansai
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...
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...
La Collina Omihachiman
Architecture melts into nature at this confectionery village where grass-covered rooftops and org...
Adventure World
Shirahama's Premier Safari Park and Marine World
A sprawling safari park, zoo, and marine park in Shirahama combining wildlife encounters with amu...
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 ...
Ishibutai Kofun
A Bare Stone Burial Chamber in Asuka You Can Walk Into, Widely Thought to Be the Tomb of Soga no Umako
An early 7th-century burial chamber of about 30 huge stones whose earth mound has worn away, leav...
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...
Wakayama Castle
Hilltop Castle with Panoramic City Views
A reconstructed hilltop castle originally built in 1585, offering panoramic views over Wakayama c...
Hokki-ji
Japan's Oldest Three-Storey Pagoda, Out in the Fields North-East of Horyu-ji
A small temple among fields on the north-east edge of Ikaruga. Its three-storey pagoda, finished ...
Nishi Hongan-ji
A Free Head Temple 15 Minutes from Kyoto Station, Open from 5:30
Head temple of the Hongwanji branch of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, on this site since 1591. Entry is f...
Omiwa Shrine
Ancient Shrine that Worships Mount Miwa Itself
One of Japan's oldest shrines, which has no main sanctuary because Mount Miwa behind it is worshi...
Kimii-dera
Hillside Temple Known for Early Cherry Blossoms
A hillside temple founded in 770, the second stop on the Saigoku Kannon pilgrimage, reached by 23...
Koyasan Choishi-michi
The 22 km Pilgrim Path to Koyasan, Counted Down by 180 Stone Markers
The old main pilgrim road up Koyasan, about 22 km from Jison-in in Kudoyama to the Konpon Daito, ...
Mount Maya Kikuseidai
Mountaintop Viewpoint with One of Japan's Three Great Night Views
An observation plaza near the summit of Mount Maya, reached by cable car and ropeway, known for i...
Nara National Museum
Buddhist Art in Nara Park, and the Two Autumn Weeks of the Shosoin Exhibition
Japan's second-oldest national museum, on the edge of Nara Park between Kofuku-ji and Todai-ji. I...