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
Kennin-ji
Kyoto's Oldest Zen Temple in the Heart of Gion
Kyoto's oldest Zen temple. Founded 1202 by Eisai, who brought Zen and tea to Japan. Twin Dragons ...
Hozenji Yokocho
Atmospheric Stone-Paved Alley of Traditional Osaka Dining
A charming stone-paved alley behind Dotonbori lined with over 60 traditional Osaka restaurants an...
Kitano Ijinkan
Kobe's Historic Western Foreign Residences
Hillside district of beautifully preserved Western-style foreign residences from the Meiji era, b...
Kuromon Market
Known as Osaka's Kitchen since around 1822, this 600-meter covered market arcade embodies eat-as-...
Kyoto
Japan's Ancient Capital
Japan's cultural heart and ancient capital for over a millennium, home to 17 UNESCO World Heritag...
Nishiki Market
Kyoto's Kitchen
A narrow five-block shopping street with over 100 shops and restaurants, known as 'Kyoto's Kitche...
Kumano Nachi Taisha
Sacred Grand Shrine Beside Japan's Tallest Waterfall
One of the three Kumano Grand Shrines, perched on a mountainside next to Nachi Falls and Seiganto...
Shinsekai
A retro entertainment district where Tsutenkaku Tower presides over neon-lit alleys packed with k...
Kushikatsu Daruma
Osaka Kushikatsu Since 1929
A legendary kushikatsu restaurant operating since 1929 in Shinsekai, famous for its deep-fried sk...
Kinosaki Onsen
Kinosaki Onsen is a traditional hot spring town where visitors stroll between seven public bathho...
Hozugawa River Boat Ride
A Thrilling River Boat Ride Through a Scenic Mountain Gorge
A two-hour wooden boat ride down the Hozu River from Kameoka to Arashiyama, navigating gentle rap...
Kumano Kodo
Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trails
UNESCO-listed ancient pilgrimage trails through sacred mountains, linking grand shrines of the Ki...
Osaka
Osaka - Japan's Kitchen and Soul
Japan's second city, famed as the nation's kitchen for its street food obsession, warm and outgoi...
Himeji Monorail Memorial
Preserved Cars from Japan's Abandoned Monorail
Preserved cars from the Himeji Monorail (1966-1974), a futuristic transit system that operated fo...
Philosopher's Path
A serene canal-side walking path in Kyoto lined with cherry trees, connecting Ginkaku-ji and Nanz...