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
Kyoto International Manga Museum
A Former School Housing 300,000 Manga Volumes
Housed in a former elementary school, this museum holds approximately 300,000 manga items. Visito...
Shimogamo Shrine
Ancient World Heritage Shrine in a Primeval Forest
One of Kyoto's oldest shrines (UNESCO World Heritage), located within the Tadasu no Mori primeval...
Asuka
Japan's Ancient Capital with Megalithic Tombs and Stone Carvings
Japan's ancient capital before Nara, where mysterious megalithic stone tombs, ancient temple ruin...
Izanagi Shrine
Japan's Oldest Shrine, Birthplace of the Creation Myth
Considered Japan's oldest shrine, dedicated to the creator deities Izanagi and Izanami who, accor...
Kumano Hongu Taisha
Head Shrine of 3,000 Kumano Shrines and Pilgrimage Endpoint
The head shrine of over 3,000 Kumano shrines across Japan, serving as the spiritual endpoint of t...
Kobe
A cosmopolitan port city celebrated for Kobe beef, mountain-harbor scenery, and multicultural her...
Lake Biwa
Lake Biwa is Japan's largest and oldest freshwater lake, offering water sports, scenic cycling ro...
Nanzen-ji
Nanzen-ji Temple
Highest-ranked Rinzai Zen temple in Kyoto. The 22-meter sanmon gate has city views from the top. ...
Wakayama Marina City
Mediterranean-Themed Resort Island with Markets and Onsen
An artificial island resort featuring the Mediterranean-themed Porto Europa park, Kuroshio Market...
Kimono Forest
An Art Installation of 600 Illuminated Kimono Pillars
600 pillars wrapped in Kyo-Yuzen fabric at Randen Arashiyama Station. Glows at night. Free, open ...
Osaka Castle
Symbol of Osaka
One of Japan's most famous landmarks, a reconstructed castle housing a museum about the unificati...
Fushimi Sake District
Historic Sake Brewing Quarter with Canal Walks and Tasting Rooms
A historic sake brewing quarter in southern Kyoto where famous brands like Gekkeikan and Kizakura...
Takeda Castle Ruins
The legendary 'Castle in the Sky', famous for floating above a sea of clouds on autumn mornings.
Kurama-dera
A Mountain Temple of Mystical Energy and Ancient Forests
A powerful mountain temple said to be where Yoshitsune trained as a child. The forested trail con...
Isuien Garden
Exquisite Borrowed Scenery Garden beside Todai-ji
An exquisite Meiji-era strolling garden next to Todai-ji, celebrated for its masterful borrowed s...