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Kansai
The Other Touristic Heart of Japan. Here are some tours to consider for Japan. Kansai is a region of Japan, also called Kinki, located on the main island Honshu. Encompassing six prefectures, it is the second most populated area of the archipelago with more than 22 million inhabitants, and it is home to large cities of long history such as Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Himeji or Kobe.
Please click on a category below to read our tips about each location.
01
Kyoto Prefecture
kyoto Prefecture naturally encompasses the historic city of Kyoto and stretches northward to the Sea of Japan, where you’ll find Amanohashidate, renowned as one of Japan’s three most scenic spots. As Japan’s former imperial capital, Kyoto is steeped in a thousand years of history, making it an essential destination for travelers—though its popularity can sometimes affect the quality of the experience due to large crowds. The city is also home to the largest population of active geisha and maiko, and it’s not uncommon to spot them in traditional areas like the Gion district. Meanwhile, Uji, known as Japan’s tea capital, is famous for its Byodo-in Temple and is the second most populous city in the prefecture.
Osaka prefecture
It mainly consists of Osaka City and spreads on the eastern side of the eponymous bay. Very eclectic, it is home to one of the most ancient Shinto shrines of Japan, Sumiyoshi Taisha, the modern castle 🏯 Osaka-jo, and also the theme park 🎡 Universal Studios Japan. Osaka is renowned for its spirit, its night life and gastronomy, and was by the way nicknamed the “kitchen of Japan”. The city will host 2025 World Expo.
Nara prefecture
The former Yamato province, in the heart of the Kii peninsula, in the south of Kyoto, is known for its eponymous capital, that was once an imperial capital and concentrates lots of ancient temples and shrines, including a Great Buddha in Todai-ji temple. The deer roaming freely are another popular attraction.
Mount Yoshino, in the Yoshino-Kumano National Park, reveals all its charms in spring, with the blooming of 30,000 sakura 🌸 planted at various altitudes to have a longer-lasting Ohanami season.
04Kobe
is known for two main things: Kobe beef and the city of Kobe in Japan. Kobe beef is a highly prized Wagyu beef.
Himeji
Himeji (姫路) is most famous for its magnificent castle, Himeji Castle, widely considered to be Japan’s best and most beautiful surviving feudal castle. The castle is designated both a national treasure and a UNESCO world heritage site.
With half a million inhabitants, Himeji is the second largest city of Hyogo Prefecture after Kobe. It can be reached in less than one hour from Osaka or Kyoto and is also a popular stopover on journeys along the Sanyo Shinkansen, for example, on a trip from Tokyo or Kyoto to Hiroshima.
Koyasan
Koyasan is also one of the best places to experience an overnight stay at a temple lodging (shukubo) where you can get a taste of a monk’s lifestyle, eating vegetarian monk’s cuisine (shojin ryori) and attending the morning prayers.
