Kansai travel guide for first-time travellers
Filled with historical sites, stunning nature spots and exciting attractions, Kansai is one of the best regions to dip your toes into Japan's beauty. ✨ Most travellers choose to base themselves in Osaka and enjoy easy access to nearby cities like Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe - truth be told, travelling around the Kansai region cannot be easier, and there are plenty of travel passes that are perfect for helping you do that. In case you're not sure how to start planning, we've come up with a week-long Kansai-themed itinerary that's perfect for first timers in the region! Keep reading to be inspired.
Want a more comprehensive guide? Download your very own Osaka-Kyoto-Nara 7D6N itinerary with tips on making the best of your visit to these exciting cities.
Complete 1 week Kansai itinerary guide
Starting your trip from Kansai International Airport (KIX) and don't know how to reach Osaka? Don't worry — we've got you covered: check out our guide on how to travel between KIX and Osaka below:
Day 1: Sightseeing in Osaka city
Klook Tip: Enjoy unlimited rides on trains and buses as well as free entry to over 40 top attractions in Osaka with an Osaka Amazing Pass! Plenty of locations listed in this article can be visited for free with this all-in-one pass.
Begin your Osaka adventure by heading straight to the city's most iconic landmarks and national treasure - the elegant, historical Osaka Castle. This 5-tiered, 8-storey castle surrounded by impressive stone walls, a beautiful garden, moats, and gates is definitely a sight to behold. The castle grounds (Osaka Castle Park) are especially beautiful in spring when the cherry blossom trees are in full bloom!
If you're a fan of aquariums, be sure to not miss out on the magnificent Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium. The Kaiyukan is one of Japan's most spectacular aquariums and is world-renowned for being a vibrant and innovative recreation of the Pacific Ocean. Besides its large, themed tanks, the centerpiece of the aquarium is a huge dome shaped ceiling tank that serves as the home of whale sharks, the largest fish species in the world. You'll get to encounter 30,000 sea creatures here including otters, sea lions, penguins, dolphins, sharks, rays, and jellyfish.
Just steps away from the Kaiyukan is the giant Tempozan Ferris Wheel. 🎡 With a diameter of 100 metres, a height of 112.5 metres, and a capacity of 60 cabins, the Tempozan Ferris Wheel is one of the largest ferris wheels in the world. For those with a brave heart, opt for a see-through gondola with a transparent floor! If you're in the mood for some sky-high views, head over for a 15-minute ride - your ride on the Tempozan Ferris Wheel is free (regular price: 800 yen) if you get the Osaka Amazing Pass. 🎫
Your trip to Osaka wouldn't count without a stroll through the city's iconic Dotonbori. Dotonbori is the lively heart of Osaka, and is famous for its vibrant neon lights and streets lined with shops and restaurants to fulfil all your wildest shopping and eating dreams.
Be sure to take a selfie with the iconic Glico man and leave enough space in your tummy for Japanese street snacks such as takoyaki, melon pan, gyoza, and okonomiyaki! If you're considering having dinner at Dotonbori, here are some top-rated restaurants to add to your consideration list:
- Kani Doraku (crab dishes)
- Ichiran Ramen
- Mizuno (Osaka-style Okonomiyaki)
- Kani Doraku (grilled crab legs)
- Takoyaki Juhachiban
- Matsusakagyu Yakiniku M
- Kinryu Ramen
- Kushikatsu Daruma
Psst, you can enjoy a free ride on the Tombori River Cruise with an Osaka Amazing Pass! 🎫
There's no better place to end off your first night in Osaka than taking in the nightscape. 🌃✨ After dinner, make your way to the Umeda Sky Building, one of Osaka's tallest and most iconic skyscrapers. The building offers unobstructed views of the city skyline from its Sky Garden observatory - the best time to head over is to catch a sunset, or after the city lights come on at night.
Day 2: Fun day out at Universal Studios Japan
Transport yourself to the happiest place in Osaka on day two! From the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to the newly opened Super Nintendo World, Universal Studios Japan is a must-visit in Osaka if you love theme parks. Besides areas dedicated to studio classics like Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and Minions, the world-class theme park is also home to themed specials (many which pay tribute to famous animes!) that can only be found in Japan.
After a full day at Universal Studios Japan, catch a half an hour subway ride to Shinsekai, a retro downtown neighbourhood located in southern Osaka. Shinsekai is loved for its old-town charm and iconic sights including the Tsutenkaku Tower (once known as the Eiffel Tower of Osaka). Most people come here for its old dining establishments and cheap Japanese-style pubs. Oh, the area is popular for restaurants serving kushikatsu, one of Osaka's local specialties! Have a hearty dinner or supper feast of yummy kushikatsu (skewered, deep-fried meat and vegetables) in a quaint restaurant filled with hungry locals. 🍢
Day 3: Day trip to Kyoto
Kyoto is one of Japan's most popular travel destinations, and is frequently travelled to alongside Osaka thanks to the close proximity of both cities. While we'd highly recommend spending at least a night in Kyoto, it's also doable as a day trip from Osaka and can be reached within just 15 minutes via the Shinkansen bullet train.
Klook Tip: Click here to explore transport passes that you can purchase to travel from Osaka to Kyoto in minutes. We personally recommend the Kintetsu Rail Pass, Kansai Thru Pass, or a JR Pass if you're planning to cover more area in Kansai. ✨
Kyoto is Japan's former capital city and is dotted with an abundance of beautiful temples and old shrines with years of remarkable history behind them. There's a lot to see and do here, but if you only have a day to spare (of course, if you have time, we'd highly recommend spending at least a night here), pick and choose from this list of popular spots in the charming historical city:
- Fushimi Inari Shrine
- Kinkaku-ji Temple
- Kiyomizu-dera
- Gion district
- Yasaka Shrine
- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
- Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama
- Kifune Shrine
- Nijo Castle
- Nishiki Market
- Maruyama Park
- Kyoto International Manga Museum
- Kyoto Botanical Gardens
Klook Tip: Not confident about planning your own day trip to Kyoto? Book a Kyoto + Nara Day Tour from Osaka on Klook that comes inclusive of a friendly local guide and round-trip transfers!
Klook Tip: Need to cut the trip short and end the Kansai itinerary here? You can also travel from Kyoto directly to KIX with the JR Haruka Express! For more information, check out our guide on transportation options between Kyoto and KIX:
Day 4: Day trip to Nara
If you've seen clips of polite deer that bow in exchange for biscuits from tourists, you have to plan a day trip to Nara. Located less than an hour from Osaka and Kyoto, Nara is a perfect day trip destination if you like deer and quaint temples. The city may be small, but it's compact with cultural treasures, including some of the oldest and largest temples in Japan. Here are some must-visits when in Nara:
- Nara Deer Park
- Todaiji Temple
- Horyuji Temple
- Isuien Garden
- Yoshikien Garden
Back in Osaka by the evening? Make your way to teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka, a dreamy outdoor exhibition you shouldn't miss out on if interactive art sounds like your kinda thing. ✨ teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka is essentially a botanical garden by day, and an art space by night. The space transforms interactively, influenced by wind, rain, as well as the behavior of the people and its surroundings. Get your tickets on Klook for easy admission to the exhibition grounds.
Day 5: spend a night at Kinosaki Onsen town
Travelling to Kansai in autumn or winter? You can't miss out on the opportunity to take an onsen dip. ✨ Not many people know that there's a romantic onsen town located under 3 hours from Osaka and Kyoto. Kinosaki Onsen is a picturesque lil town nestled in a lush mountain valley of Hyogo prefecture, where wooden buildings house natural hot spring bath houses along a willow-lined river.
The best ways to enjoy Kinosaki are to book a night's stay in a charming ryokan (traditional Japanese inn), stroll around the town in a yukata, and enjoy relaxing dips at one of the many public onsens available around the town. Single onsen tickets cost an affordable price of 700 yen, and you can also enjoy unlimited access (onsen-hopping is a thing here!) to all seven public baths in town with a yumepa ticket.
Day 6: stopover at Kobe before heading back to Osaka
Kobe Port
On the way back to Osaka, make a stopover at Kobe! Located on a scenic harbour, Kobe has more to eat, see, and do than some world-renowned Kobe beef. Some other things that Kobe has to offer besides Kobe beef: Japanese sake (there are plenty of breweries and sake museums that you can visit and go on guided tours around), hiking spots (hop on a scenic cable car ride or hike to catch a beautiful sunset), and unique attractions (there's a memorial park dedicated to one of the strongest earthquakes in Japan that hit Kobe in 1995, a Fruit Flower Park where 10,000 tulips bloom every spring, and a zoo with over 800 animals including koalas and pandas!).
End your Kobe adventure with some famous Kobe beef for lunch or dinner - while Kobe beef is known to be expensive, there are smaller, less commercialized restaurants in Kobe where you can taste it at an affordable price tag. One commonly recommend establishment is Steakland Kobekan, where you can enjoy melt-in-your-mouth Kobe beef as a set, cooked fresh on teppanyaki grills. Meal sets at most restaurants are typically cheaper during lunchtime!
Klook Tip: Need a private transfer from Kobe back to Osaka? Book yours on Klook here!
Day 7: Final day in Osaka
Enjoy your last day in Osaka ticking off all the other things on your list. We'd recommend starting your day at Kuromon Market (also known as Kuromon Ichiba), a lively public market lined with over 100 stalls where you can purchase seafood, fresh fruit and vegetables, souvenirs, traditional sweets, street food, and more. Pop by to get your souvenirs and have some street food for breakfast! Some popular items here include grilled crab legs, yakitori, sea urchin, sushi, fresh oysters, takoyaki, onigiri rice balls, and skewered meat.
Where to next? If you're a fan of Pokemon, you have to pay the Osaka Pokemon Center a visit. Located on the 9th floor of Daimaru Shinsaibashi, Pokemon Center Osaka DX offers a large selection of Pokemon merchandise that fans will go crazy after. Next to it is an official Pokemon Cafe, where you can enjoy kawaii Pokemon-inspired food and desserts that are look too cute to be eaten! From Pikachu hamburgers to chocolate cakes shaped in Poke balls and coffee topped with Pokemon latte art, it's an experience that you can't get elsewhere. Be sure to place advance reservations for seats as the cafe is very popular and frequently fully-booked.
Need more suggestions on fun spots you can check out in Osaka? Here's a list of other attractions you can head to if you have some extra time on your schedule:
- Maidreamin Osaka (maid cafe experience!)
Ready to conquer Kansai?
Book your transport passes, hotel stay, and admission tickets on Klook for a hassle-free, fun time in Kansai! We've got all you need right at your finger tips. 📱✨
