Things to Do in Kansai, Japan
Japan's cultural heart: Kyoto, Nara and Osaka, plus the pilgrim trails and islands of the Kii Peninsula.
233 destinations across 7 prefectures
Suggested Itineraries
Places to Visit in Kansai
Lake Biwa Museum
Lake Museum and Freshwater Aquarium on the Karasuma Peninsula
A museum on the Karasuma Peninsula devoted to Lake Biwa, one of the world's oldest lakes, combini...
Shionomisaki
The Southernmost Cape of Honshu at Kushimoto
The southern tip of Honshu, a windswept headland of grassland and Pacific horizon at Kushimoto, w...
Biwako Valley
Ropeway to the Biwako Terrace and Sweeping Lake Views Above Otsu
A mountaintop resort above the western shore reached by a fast ropeway, whose Biwako Terrace deck...
Danjo Garan
Koyasan's Central Temple Complex and the Great Konpon Daito Pagoda
One of the two sacred centres of Koyasan, a sanctuary of halls and gates around the vermilion Kon...
Nijigen no Mori
Anime Theme Park in Awaji Island Park
An anime and manga theme park set in the forests of Awaji Island Park, with life-size attractions...
Seiganto-ji
First Temple of the Saikoku Pilgrimage and the Pagoda Above Nachi Falls
The Tendai temple beside Kumano Nachi Taisha and the first stop of the Saikoku 33 Kannon pilgrima...
Shima Spain Village
Parque Espana, a Spanish-Themed Resort in Shima
A Spanish-themed resort in Shima whose Parque Espana park recreates the streets, plazas and flame...
Kongobu-ji
Head Temple of Koyasan and Shingon Buddhism
The administrative head temple of the Koyasan Shingon school, known for its sweeping tiled roof, ...
Porto Europa
European-Themed Park at Wakayama Marina City
A theme park on the man-made island of Wakayama Marina City built to look like a Mediterranean po...
Sagawa Art Museum
Water-Surrounded Museum on the Moriyama Lakeshore
A serene museum near the Moriyama lakeshore whose low pavilions appear to float on a broad reflec...
Ishiyama-dera
Temple Where Murasaki Shikibu Is Said to Have Begun The Tale of Genji
A Shingon temple above the Seta River in Otsu, famous for the wollastonite crag it is named for a...
Michi-no-Eki Kaki-no-Sato Kudoyama
Persimmon-village roadside station at the foot of Mt. Koya
A roadside station at the foot of Mt. Koya in Kudoyama, a gateway to the Koya pilgrimage routes, ...
Toei Kyoto Studio Park
Working Film Set and Samurai-Drama Theme Park in Uzumasa
A theme park and active film studio in Uzumasa where you walk an Edo-period townscape used for re...
Senjojiki
Wave-Cut Sandstone Terrace on the Shirahama Coast
A vast sloping shelf of soft sandstone on the Shirahama coast, carved into broad steps by the wav...
Ukimido Floating Hall
Lakeside Temple Hall Standing Over the Water at Katata
A small temple hall of Mangetsu-ji that stands out over Lake Biwa on piles at Katata, long celebr...