When I landed at Kansai Airport in early May, I fell in love with the country right away because of the weather. Having just come from a few months in the humidity of Southeast Asia, that fresh, cool day felt amazing.
In this post, I'll summarize my experiences and offer recommendations for the main tourist attractions in Kansai area.
Osaka (the capital of Kansai) is a perfect base for exploring other spots during the day, but it also has some seriously cool hidden gems for a good evening.
My tip? Hit up the daytime adventures and unwind with some Osaka vibes after the sun sets.
Nara
Super easy to get to from Osaka, just a 40-minute train ride.
Big deal in Japanese history, the capital for like 80 years.
Hit up Nara Park, grab some crackers (200 yen!), get a bow from the deer (they're all about manners!), then peace out.
Probably wouldn't be this packed if it were located further away, but blame Instagram! One viral post and boom, chonky deer city thanks to all those tasty treats.
It also has many temples, but while some of them are particularly unique, I don't think you'll get the same WOW effect as with others in Japan.
Himeji
Himeji Castle, the largest castle in Japan, is accessible from Osaka by either a fast train (1.5 hours) or a bullet train (30 minutes) and definitely worth a visit.
From the train station, head directly to the castle and then enjoy the beautiful boulevard in Himeji.
You can purchase a combo ticket for the castle and Kokoen Garden (another great place to visit).
I personally enjoyed admiring the castle's architecture from outside before exploring the garden.
Unfortunately, I woke up late and didn't have time to enter both attractions, but I still had a great day.
After visiting the gardens, I went to Kushiyaki Kobe Beef, a small restaurant offering rice bowls, skewers, and hamburgers made with regular beef, Wagyu*(Japanese cattle), and Kobe beef *(exclusive Wagyu), all at affordable prices.
I ordered a rice bowl and a hamburger with Kobe beef, which were delicious, except for the mustard on the hamburger. It's a classic mistake — I hate mustard and always forget to mention it when I don't expect it. (Who's to blame? You decide!)
Kobe
This great city boasts a beautiful harbor.
I wandered through Kobe at night, enjoying the Kobe Tower casting a colorful glow and a curiously timed local Oktoberfest-like festival in Kobe Harborland (in mid-May, no wonder I was surprised!).
If you have some extra time and want to explore the city, why not?
Kyoto
Ancient temples, geisha in breathtaking kimonos that look like museum piece – beautiful but untouchable, matcha, and iconic spots...
There's a whole article about Kyoto that you must read (see the link below).
There you have it! Kansai in a nutshell (or maybe a delicious box of mochi?).
We wandered the neon streets of Osaka, the old temples of Kyoto, and bowed to the deer in Nara (who may or may not be camera-ready celebrities these days), and even stumbled upon a surprise festival (because, Japan!).
Kansai's a choose-your-own-adventure kind of place.
Osaka's got that present-day Japanese vibe, Kyoto's a history buff's dream, and Nara's, well, Nara's adorable (like a one-hit wonder you can't help but love).
Honestly, you can't go wrong.
So pack your sense of wonder, a comfy pair of shoes, and get ready to Kansai your way through this amazing region!
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