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
Saihoji (Kokedera)
The Moss Temple Requiring Advance Reservation
A World Heritage Zen temple blanketed in over 120 varieties of moss, creating an ethereal green l...
Awaji Island
Largest Island in the Seto Inland Sea
The largest island in the Seto Inland Sea, connected to Kobe by the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, known f...
Ninna-ji
Imperial Palace Temple with Late-Blooming Cherry Blossoms
A World Heritage Site and former imperial palace temple, famed for its late-blooming Omuro cherry...
Sagano Scenic Railway
A Scenic Open-Air Train Ride Through the Hozukyo Gorge
A 25-minute open-air sightseeing train running along the Hozu River gorge between Saga and Kameok...
Shinsaibashi-suji
Osaka's Premier Covered Shopping Arcade
A historic 600-meter covered shopping arcade stretching from Shinsaibashi to Namba with 380 years...
Keage Incline
Historic Railway Tracks Lined with Cherry Blossoms
An abandoned 582-meter railway incline from 1891, once used to transport boats between canal leve...
Nonomiya Shrine
A Small Shrine in the Bamboo Grove Linked to The Tale of Genji
Small shrine at the bamboo grove entrance. Featured in The Tale of Genji. The black torii (bark-c...
Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group
UNESCO World Heritage Ancient Burial Mounds Including Japan's Largest Tomb
Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, the Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group consists of 49 a...
Ikuta Shrine
One of Japan's Oldest Shinto Shrines
One of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines, said to have been founded in 201 AD, located in the heart o...
Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street
Japan's Longest Shopping Arcade
Japan's longest shopping arcade stretching 2.6 kilometers with approximately 800 shops, offering ...
Nunobiki Herb Gardens
Hilltop Herb Garden with Panoramic Ropeway Views
Hilltop herb and flower garden reached by a scenic ropeway ride from Shin-Kobe Station, offering ...
Gion
Kyoto's most famous geisha district with traditional wooden machiya townhouses and atmospheric te...
Naramachi
Charming Edo-Period Merchant Quarter with Machiya Townhouses
A charming old merchant district south of Sarusawa Pond with well-preserved Edo-period machiya to...
Ama Beach
Awaji's Southern White-Sand Beach with a South-Seas Feel
A roughly 600-meter white-sand beach at the southern tip of Awaji Island, known for AA-grade clea...
Kyoto Imperial Palace
The Former Imperial Residence in a Spacious National Garden
The former residence of Japan's Imperial family for over 500 years until 1869, set within the exp...