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
Kobe Kaientai Monument (The Kobe Moai)
Five Moai-Like Statues Honouring Kobe's Naval Cadets
A row of five moai-like stone statues facing Kobe's harbor in Meriken Park, dedicated to the youn...
Kiyomizu-dera
Pure Water Temple
A hillside temple where a vast wooden stage, supported by 139 pillars without a single nail, offe...
Yasaka Shrine
Heart of Gion and Home of the Gion Matsuri
A Shinto shrine at the heart of Gion, center of the Gion Matsuri festival every July, one of Japa...
Ise Grand Shrine
Ise Grand Shrine (Ise Jingu)
Japan's most sacred Shinto shrine dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu, rebuilt every 20 years ...
Myokensan (Nose Myokensan)
Nose Myokensan Temple
Nose Myokensan is a Nichiren-sect temple at the 660-metre summit of Mount Myoken, on the border b...
Ippudo Umeda
World-Famous Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen
Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen chain with unlimited free spicy moyashi (bean sprouts) at every table.
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
World's Longest Suspension Bridge
Suspension bridge with world's longest main span (1,991m), total length 3,911m, connecting Kobe t...
Iga-Ueno Castle
Rising above the legendary birthplace of ninja culture, Iga-Ueno Castle has Japan's tallest stone...
Amanohashidate
One of Japan's three most scenic views, a pine-covered sandbar spanning Miyazu Bay on the Sea of ...
Expo '70 Commemorative Park
Expo '70 Park with Okamoto's Tower of the Sun
The legacy of Japan's first World's Fair lives on in this 260-hectare park, where Taro Okamoto's ...
Enryakuji Temple
Enryakuji Temple on Mount Hiei (Hieizan)
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and headquarters of Tendai Buddhism, Enryakuji Temple sprawls across...
Katsuoji Temple
Victory Temple Famous for Daruma Dolls and Minoo Mountain Views
Set in the forested mountains above Minoo, this 1,300-year-old Shingon temple has drawn seekers o...
Okochi Sanso Garden
A Hilltop Garden with Panoramic Views of Kyoto and Arashiyama
The former villa garden of silent film actor Okochi Denjiro, perched on a hillside above the bamb...
Kyoto Tower
The First and Last Landmark Greeting Visitors to Kyoto
Standing 131 meters tall in front of Kyoto Station, this candlestick-shaped tower has been a city...
Tenryu-ji
Arashiyama's World Heritage Zen Masterpiece
World Heritage Site, head temple of the Tenryu branch of Rinzai Zen. The Sogenchi garden uses the...