DESTINATION Kansai
There are many things to do in the Kansai region. Experience fantastic nightlife, peaceful temples and shrines, and soul-searching pilgrimages
Kansai is Japan's spiritual and cultural capital, shaped by towering Osaka and Himeji castles, Zen gardens and arduous journeys to enlightenment. The nation's ancient capitals of Kyoto and Nara are filled with cultural and historical sites, while Koyasan in Wakayama has been a religious destination for centuries. Nearby, you can revel in the raucous nightlife of Osaka's entertainment districts and take in panoramic views of the Kobe cityscape.
Don’t Miss
- The beauty and tranquility of Koyasan and the Kumano Kodo trails in Wakayama
- Nara's UNESCO World Heritage sites
- Osaka's piping-hot takoyaki—fried balls of batter stuffed with octopus
- The peaceful waters of Japan's largest lake, Lake Biwa, in Shiga