7 Days in Kansai: Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Himeji, Kobe & Koyasan

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Kansai, the region around Osaka, has more UNESCO sites than anywhere else in Japan. This week flies in and out of Kansai Airport and ends with a night in a Buddhist temple on Mount Koya.

Okunoin cemetery, Koyasan
  • Length7 days, 6 nights
  • RouteOsaka → Nara → Kyoto → Himeji → Kobe → Koyasan
  • Best forTravellers flying into Osaka
  • When to goAll year; spring and autumn are best
  • Rail passThe Kansai Area Pass or ICOCA card; Koyasan is on the Nankai line.

Make it yours: open this route in the trip planner, add your dates and get travel times, seasonal alerts and links to flights and hotels.

Open in the trip planner →

The route at a glance

  1. Day 1 · Osaka: Osaka
  2. Day 2 · Nara: Day trip to Nara
  3. Day 3 · Kyoto: Kyoto
  4. Day 4 · Kyoto: Kyoto's west
  5. Day 5 · Himeji and Kobe: Himeji Castle and Kobe
  6. Day 6 · Koyasan: Koyasan temple stay
  7. Day 7 · Koyasan: Back to the airport

Day 1 · Osaka

Osaka

From Kansai Airport to Namba in about 40 minutes. Evening of street food in Dotonbori.

Dotonbori
  • Dotonbori
  • Hozenji Yokocho

Day 2 · Nara

Day trip to Nara

Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha and the deer park, 40 minutes from Osaka by Kintetsu.

Todai-ji
  • Todai-ji
  • Kasuga Taisha
  • Nara Park

Day 3 · Kyoto

Kyoto

Fushimi Inari on the way, then Kiyomizu-dera and Gion.

Fushimi Inari
  • Fushimi Inari
  • Kiyomizu-dera
  • Gion

Day 4 · Kyoto

Kyoto's west

Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji and Nishiki Market.

Kinkaku-ji
  • Arashiyama
  • Kinkaku-ji
  • Nishiki Market

Day 5 · Himeji and Kobe

Himeji Castle and Kobe

Shinkansen to Himeji, Japan's finest original castle, then Kobe for a Kobe beef dinner and the harbour lights.

Himeji Castle
  • Himeji Castle
  • Kobe Harborland
  • Kobe beef

Day 6 · Koyasan

Koyasan temple stay

Trains to Gokurakubashi and the cable car up Mount Koya (about 2 hours 30 minutes from Kobe). Walk Okunoin's cemetery at dusk and sleep in a shukubo temple lodging with vegetarian dinner.

Danjo Garan, Koyasan
  • Okunoin
  • Kongobu-ji
  • Danjo Garan

Tip: Join the morning prayers at your temple: they start early, around 6 am.

Day 7 · Koyasan

Back to the airport

Morning prayers, breakfast, and the Nankai line down to Kansai Airport (about 2 hours with a change).

Kongobu-ji

Getting around

JR, Kintetsu, Hankyu and Nankai trains; an ICOCA card covers almost everything.

When to go

All year; spring and autumn are best. Add your dates in the trip planner to see cherry blossom and autumn leaf timing, the rainy season, typhoons and holidays for this route.

Where to stay

  • Osaka (2 nights): Namba.
  • Kyoto (2 nights): near Kyoto Station.
  • Kobe (1 night): Sannomiya.
  • Koyasan (1 night): a temple lodging (shukubo).

Frequently asked questions

Is Koyasan worth an overnight stay?

Yes: the temple stay, evening at Okunoin and morning prayers are the highlight of many trips.

Is Osaka or Kyoto a better base?

Kyoto for temples, Osaka for food and nightlife; both are 15–30 minutes apart.

Is Kobe beef expensive?

Yes, but lunch sets are much cheaper than dinner.

Prefecture guides for this trip

Want a different pace or more stops? The planner rebuilds the itinerary around your dates and choices.

Customise this itinerary →

Last updated: 19 October 2026 · Japan47.org, by Francesco Consalvo. Travel times are approximate; check timetables and opening days before you go. Photos: Wikimedia Commons.

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