Kansai

Kansai (関西) is the heart of Japan, where much of modern-day Japanese culture originated. Its highlights read like a greatest-hits list. Looking for a vibrant dining and drinking scene and the vivid color that Japanese cities are famous for? Head to Osaka. Want to get out into remote mountains and hike for days? Follow the ancient trails of the Kumano Kodō. Famous works of art? See the Buddhist sculptures in Nara. Onsen? There's a whole town for that in Kinosaki. Castles? Check. There's enough to fill a whole itinerary here, and it's all easy to access by public transport. Kansai is a great place to explore if this is your first time in Japan, and it's also a good choice if you're a repeat visitor: there's much to discover beyond the highlights, including fascinating temples, shrines and archaeological sites that resonate through the ages.

Explore Kansai

Oku-no-in
Oku-no-in, whose name means 'inner sanctuary', is perhaps the most intensely spiritual place in Japan. At its farthest reaches is the Gobyō, the crypt…
Tōdai-ji
Nara's star attraction is its Daibutsu (Great Buddha), one of the largest bronze statues in the world. It was unveiled in 752, upon the completion of the…
Himeji-jō
Himeji-jō is Japan's most magnificent castle, built in 1580 by general Toyotomi Hideyoshi and one of only a few original castles from that era (most are…
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Naikū
Ise-jingū's inner shrine is dedicated to the sun goddess, Amaterasu-Ōmikami, considered the ancestral goddess of the imperial family and guardian deity of…
Hōryū-ji
Hōryū-ji was founded in 607 by Prince Shōtoku, considered by many to be the patron saint of Japanese Buddhism. It's renowned not only as one of the oldest…
Kurama-dera
Located high on a thickly wooded mountain, Kurama-dera is one of the few temples in modern Japan that manages to retain an air of real spirituality. This…
Osaka-jō
After unifying Japan in the late 16th century, General Toyotomi Hideyoshi built this castle (1583) as a display of power, using, it's said, the labour of…
Dōtombori
Highly photogenic Dōtombori is the city's liveliest night spot and the centre of the southern part of town. Its name comes from the 400-year-old canal,…
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Nara National Museum
This world-class museum of Buddhist art is divided into two sections. Built in 1894 and strikingly renovated in 2016, the Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall &…

Oku-no-in
Oku-no-in, whose name means 'inner sanctuary', is perhaps the most intensely spiritual place in Japan. At its farthest reaches is the Gobyō, the crypt…
Tōdai-ji
Nara's star attraction is its Daibutsu (Great Buddha), one of the largest bronze statues in the world. It was unveiled in 752, upon the completion of the…
Himeji-jō
Himeji-jō is Japan's most magnificent castle, built in 1580 by general Toyotomi Hideyoshi and one of only a few original castles from that era (most are…
N
Naikū
Ise-jingū's inner shrine is dedicated to the sun goddess, Amaterasu-Ōmikami, considered the ancestral goddess of the imperial family and guardian deity of…
Hōryū-ji
Hōryū-ji was founded in 607 by Prince Shōtoku, considered by many to be the patron saint of Japanese Buddhism. It's renowned not only as one of the oldest…
Kurama-dera
Located high on a thickly wooded mountain, Kurama-dera is one of the few temples in modern Japan that manages to retain an air of real spirituality. This…
Osaka-jō
After unifying Japan in the late 16th century, General Toyotomi Hideyoshi built this castle (1583) as a display of power, using, it's said, the labour of…
Dōtombori
Highly photogenic Dōtombori is the city's liveliest night spot and the centre of the southern part of town. Its name comes from the 400-year-old canal,…
N
Nara National Museum
This world-class museum of Buddhist art is divided into two sections. Built in 1894 and strikingly renovated in 2016, the Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall &…

Latest Stories from Kansai

Food Keeping ancient traditions alive in Nara and Wakayama Prefectures
Mar 9, 2021 • 9 min read
On a cultural pilgrimage through Nara and Wakayama prefectures, visitors have the chance to experience the rich tapestry of Japanese traditions first-hand
Food Riding Japan’s ‘New Golden Route’: Traditional Niigata, Shiga and Saitama
Feb 17, 2021 • 8 min read
Hop on the Shinkansen for often-overlooked destinations and check out these 24-hour itineraries for fascinating Niigata, Shiga and Saitama Prefectures.
History Intricate craftsmanship reflects the thoughtfulness of Japan’s Shiga prefecture
Dec 22, 2020 • 5 min read
The waters of Lake Biwa – and the sensation of calm and mental clarity they inspire – are reflected in the signature crafts of the Shiga region
Public Transport A new wider-access unlimited rail pass makes it easier than ever to visit Kansai’s top sites
Mar 1, 2020 • 2 min read
Japan's new Kansai Area Pass makes it easier than ever to tour the area’s most famous and celebrated tourist attractions.
Wildlife & Nature Walking with the Emperors along Japan's pilgrim trail
Feb 28, 2020 • 15 min read
Hiking along the Kumano Kodō's trails is a way to see a side to Japan far from city lights, where forested mountains hide ancient places of pilgrimage
Art Exploring Kōya-san: staying at Japan’s sacred mountaintop temple complex
May 22, 2019 • 5 min read
High in the undulating woodlands of the Kii Peninsula, on a raised tableland at the peak of a mountain, sits Kōya-san. This sacred place offers serenity,…
Art and Culture First time Wakayama: a guide to Japan's spiritual heartland
Apr 17, 2019 • 7 min read
From its winding mountain trails to its charming, pristine beaches, Wakayama Prefecture is an ancient gem waiting to be discovered. Steeped in history and…
Food Kyoto and more: the highlights of Japan’s Kansai region
Apr 3, 2019 • 5 min read
You could cover a lot of ground on a trip to Japan, or very little, and still get to experience the best of what the country has to offer. Centrally…
Food Five must-try dishes from Osaka
Feb 26, 2019 • 5 min read
There’s a reason the Japanese call Osaka tenka no daidokoro, or ‘the nation’s kitchen’. If your fantasies of a trip to Japan involve flashing neon lights,…
Art Mystical mountaintops and incredible coastlines: the lesser-known jewels of Wakayama
Apr 25, 2018 • 6 min read
At the heart of Japan lies Wakayama-ken, a prefecture rich in spirit, history and natural beauty. Here, lesser-tread paths lead to rugged hiking trails,…
Food A guide to romantic Japan: where to eat, stay, love
Jun 15, 2017 • 7 min read
Manga comics, blazing neon, speeding trains, supersized pedestrian crossings – Japan might not immediately inspire a vision of traditional romance, but…
Food Matsusaka detour: history, hikes and to-die-for beef
May 26, 2016 • 6 min read
With so much keeping travellers occupied in nearby Kyoto and Osaka, it’s not surprising Matsusaka is often overlooked. But while Japan’s star cities may…
Food Exploring Ise-Shima: getting off the beaten track in Kansai
May 26, 2016 • 6 min read
Ise-Shima is famous as the home of Ise-jingū, one of Japan's most revered Shintō shrines, and for many travellers the shrine might be all they see of the…

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Kansai.

See
Oku-no-in
Oku-no-in, whose name means 'inner sanctuary', is perhaps the most intensely spiritual place in Japan. At its farthest reaches is the Gobyō, the crypt…
See
Tōdai-ji
Nara's star attraction is its Daibutsu (Great Buddha), one of the largest bronze statues in the world. It was unveiled in 752, upon the completion of the…
See
Himeji-jō
Himeji-jō is Japan's most magnificent castle, built in 1580 by general Toyotomi Hideyoshi and one of only a few original castles from that era (most are…
See
Naikū
Ise-jingū's inner shrine is dedicated to the sun goddess, Amaterasu-Ōmikami, considered the ancestral goddess of the imperial family and guardian deity of…
See
Hōryū-ji
Hōryū-ji was founded in 607 by Prince Shōtoku, considered by many to be the patron saint of Japanese Buddhism. It's renowned not only as one of the oldest…
See
Kurama-dera
Located high on a thickly wooded mountain, Kurama-dera is one of the few temples in modern Japan that manages to retain an air of real spirituality. This…
See
Osaka-jō
After unifying Japan in the late 16th century, General Toyotomi Hideyoshi built this castle (1583) as a display of power, using, it's said, the labour of…
See
Dōtombori
Highly photogenic Dōtombori is the city's liveliest night spot and the centre of the southern part of town. Its name comes from the 400-year-old canal,…
See
Nara National Museum
This world-class museum of Buddhist art is divided into two sections. Built in 1894 and strikingly renovated in 2016, the Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall &…

Guidebooks

Purchase our award-winning guidebooks

Get to the heart of Kansai with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.