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One of the crucial widespread questions I get is what number of days in Osaka and Kyoto to spend—so I made a decision to jot down a Kansai itinerary about it!
This query isn’t a black-and-white one nevertheless, and my response to it’s cut-and-dry. As you determine find out how to lengthy to spend in Japan’s Kansai area (the culture- and scenery-rich space between and round Kyoto and Osaka), you want to bear in mind not solely the issues to do in Kyoto or Osaka that curiosity you probably the most, however excursions from each cities and the size of your general journey to Japan as properly.
As soon as I’ve drilled down probably the most important Kansai locations and experiences, in addition to day journeys from Kyoto and Osaka you received’t wish to miss, I’ll lay out just a few easy-to-follow itineraries, and even contact on when you must go to this unbelievable area and the place to remain when you arrive. Your journey to Kansai begins right here.
The place Does Kansai Match into the Remainder of Japan?
As you ponder what number of days in Kyoto, you’ll want to suppose not solely of wandering round Higashiyama in a kimono, or driving a rickshaw below the verdant billows of Sagano Bamboo Grove. You have to think about how lengthy you’re going to spend in Japan general—and the way a lot of it you wish to spend in Kansai. (Spoiler alert: Anyplace between 25-50% is a good thought, particularly if it’s your first journey to Japan).
Kansai, to make certain, is the bigger manifestation of the age-old Tokyo vs. Osaka and Tokyo vs. Kyoto chilly wars, and to many Japanese is consultant of “western Japan” as a complete, with Tokyo’s Kanto area representing the east. Clearly, in case you’re taking an extended journey (say, one month in Japan), you’ll discover deeper into western Japan, whether or not which means the San’in area or Kyushu and Shikoku islands, however for vacationers with a shorter period of time, the enchanting mixture of tradition, historical past, modernity and custom Kansai provides could be a microcosm of the entire of Japan—not simply the western a part of it.
High Locations within the Kansai Area
Kyoto
The query of how lengthy to spend in Kyoto relies upon, at the start, with how deeply you propose to discover town. For those who merely wish to go to just a few of the greatest Kyoto temples in Higashiyama, see some bamboo in Arashiyama or strive (and doubtless fail) to identify a Geisha in Gion, you’ll be able to simply get by with simply a few days within the metropolis.
Nonetheless, issues to do in Kyoto lengthen far past the mainstream ones you discover in a Kansai journey information. For instance, simply to the south of the favored Fushimi Inari Shrine is the Fushimi district, which is dwelling amongst different sights to considered one of Japan’s most well-known sake breweries. You too can discover far to the north of Kyoto’s metropolis middle, resembling to off-the-beaten-path Kurama-dera temple.
Osaka
Osaka is an afterthought for much too many Japan vacationers. For a staggering variety of folks I communicate with, the query will not be what number of days Osaka requires (TIP: two is a good begin!), however on which day of the week to go to on a day journey from Kyoto. Whether or not you propose to ascend the maintain of Osaka Fortress, discover Shitenno-ji and the opposite temples of Shitaderamachi or eat road foot in Dotonbori or Kuromon Market, giving a low reply to the query of “What number of nights in Osaka?” is an outrage! There’s actually no Kyoto vs Osaka comparability; you must see them each!
OK, so I’m being a bit dramatic. However the variety of issues to do in Osaka is just staggering, way over you’ll be able to realistically get pleasure from a day journey. And that is with out even considering Kaiyukan Aquarium, Common Studios Osaka or sights that sit outdoors the mildew of what you typically count on to expertise in Japan.
Nara and Uji
Taking a Nara day journey from Kyoto (or, much less generally Osaka) is an especially in style selection for vacationers, even these on their first journeys to Japan. Whether or not you’re capable of see its well-known deer below canopies of autumn colour or cherry blossoms, or journey any time of the 12 months to get pleasure from large wood constructions like Kofuku-ji and Todai-ji any time of 12 months, Japan’s historic capital (extra historic, in reality, than Kyoto) is unquestionably value a go to.
Nonetheless, whether or not you go to Nara in autumn or another time of 12 months, I extremely suggest a cease in Uji as properly. Positioned on the JR Nara Line about midway between Nara and Kyoto, Uji is globally well-known for rising a few of the greatest matcha in Japan, however can also be dwelling to plenty of historic constructions, most notably Byodo-in temple, pictured beneath in my Kansai journey information.
Lake Biwa
Among the many most underrated day journeys from Kyoto is a pair of cities—and castles—alongside the shores of Lake Biwa, situated to the northeast of Kyoto’s metropolis middle in Shiga prefecture: Hikone and Nagahama, although I normally like to go to them within the reverse order. Get up within the early morning and catch a prepare to Nagahama, whose citadel is definitely a Twentieth-century duplicate.
Hikone Fortress, in the meantime, is each bigger and extra spectacular, which is why I like to recommend you see it second. Whether or not you get pleasure from panoramic views of the lake from the towering maintain of the citadel, or traipse by way of the spacious Genkyu-en backyard that sits at its base, that is positively an tour that’s properly value taking.
TIP: Lake Biwa’s castles aren’t the one factor to see there! Make sure that additionally to go to the previous Samurai district of Omi-hachiman on the south shore, and the “floating” Shirahige Shrine within the west. And take all of it in from Enryaku-ji temple, which you’ll entry from central Kyoto!
Mt. Koya and the Kumano Kodo
Interested in what number of days to spend in Osaka? Reply this for me: Do you wish to take a dusk-til-dawn day journey to Mt. Koya, the holiest mountain in Japan, or do you wish to keep in a temple in a single day on the prime? For those who answered the latter, you’ll be able to spend fewer days in Osaka-proper—or moderately, sleep fewer nights there. Whereas Kansai typically instructions a excessive quantity for a solution to what number of days, Osaka received’t essentially be the identical.
To make sure, Wakayama prefecture (the place you discover Mt. Koya) isn’t merely concerning the Koyasan temple keep, the Danjo Garan temple complicated and even Okuno-in, the cemetery the place Kukai (the eighth-century monk who based Koyasan city) is buried. Most notably, many vacationers spend 2-3 days trekking the Kumano Kodo, which is deservedly considered one of Japan’s hottest pilgrimage routes.
TIP: Another choice after ending the Kumano Kodo is to move northward, within the path of Nagoya, to underrated Mie prefecture.
Himeji and Kobe
On one hand, Himeji Fortress might be probably the most well-known of Japan’s 12 “authentic” castles, and is someplace a majority of vacationers go to, no matter what number of days to spend in Kyoto they determine. Then again, taking a day journey to Himeji (which provides little greater than the citadel, for my part) can appear redundant, particularly in case you’ve visited Osaka’s citadel and may’t actually inform the distinction between them.
One resolution is to take one other of the favored day journeys from Osaka, which is to town of Kobe, the prefectural capital of Hyogo. Well-known for beef (which is served however not truly farmed right here) and, traditionally, for being one of many locations in Japan most welcoming to foreigners), Kobe is unquestionably an underrated metropolis. In reality, I’d suggest spending an evening or two right here in case you can!
TIP: Wish to go off the overwhelmed path from Kobe? Think about a highway journey to close by Awaji Island!
Different Kansai Locations
Let’s be trustworthy: I’ve already put sufficient on this Kyoto Osaka itinerary to make the vast majority of vacationers glad. Nonetheless, there are another locations and experiences value having, particularly in case you’ve obtained plenty of time otherwise you’ve been right here earlier than. One very scenic place to go to, which is simply an hour or so north of Kyoto, is Kyotango, aka “Kyoto by the Sea,” dwelling to the Amanohashidate viewpoint. (I say “simply an hour,” however remember: It will improve the quantity with which you reply the query “what number of days in Osaka and Kyoto?”.)
Alternatively, you’ll be able to head deeper into Wakayama prefecture past Mt. Koya, particularly in case you’re touring throughout greatest time to go to Kyoto (i.e. cherry blossom season). Mt. Yoshino is the namesake mountain of Japan’s most ubiquitous sakura species, and it’s top-of-the-line locations in the complete nation to see the flowers.
Kansai Itinerary Concepts
5 Days in Kyoto and Osaka
For almost all of vacationers, who’ve round two weeks in Japan or so, the reply to what number of days in Kyoto, Osaka and the Kansai area to spend is easy: 5. Particularly:
Clearly, since Kyoto and Osaka are so shut to 1 one other, you’ll be able to modify this as you see match. Some vacationers, for instance, will base themselves fully in a single metropolis, and easily commute to the opposite—it’s what number of days to spend in Kyoto or Osaka, not what number of days to spend in Kyoto and Osaka.
One Week in Kyoto and Osaka
If, moderately than searching for a contemporary break from conventional Kyoto, you’ve got a severe curiosity in Osaka, what number of days to spend within the Kansai area can quickly develop. With every week, you’re taking a look at a visit with the next form:
- 2 full days in Kyoto
- 2 full days in Osaka
- 2 day journeys from whichever base is sensible
- An in a single day journey, both to Mt. Koya or the Kumano Kodo
Even on this occasion, some vacationers will base themselves completely in a single metropolis, however I personally advise towards this. I really like waking up in a spot, and with the ability to take to the streets earlier than anybody else—even locals—is on them with me.
2 Weeks in Kyoto and Osaka
For almost all of vacationers studying my Kansai itinerary, the query of what number of days in Osaka is not going to even come near this risk. Nonetheless, you probably have round two weeks in Kansai (it might be that you just’ve been to Japan earlier than and also you wish to discover Kansai’s nooks and crannies), you’ll be able to actually dig in with this period of time:
- 3 days in Osaka, with a day journey to Himeji Fortress and/or Kobe
- A protracted weekend trekking Mt. Koya and the Kumano Koya
- 2 nights in Nara, with a day journey to Uji
- 3 days in Kyoto, with a day journey to Lake Biwa
- 1-2 day journeys to various Kansai locations like Amanohashidate or Mt. Yoshino
Longer journeys to Kansai are particularly pleasant throughout sure occasions of the 12 months—I’ll shed extra gentle on this in only a second, although.
When to Go to Kansai
Whether or not you hunt down Kyoto cherry blossoms, plan to go to Mt. Yoshino or just wish to expertise hanami normally, sakura season might be probably the most lovely time to go to Kansai. Nonetheless, it’s undoubtedly probably the most crowded, so until you may make peace with this (or don’t thoughts waking up each day earlier than the first light to get pleasure from different in style websites I’ve described on this Kansai area itinerary with out crowds), this may not be the very best time to go to Kyoto and Osaka for you.
Certainly, whereas each Kyoto and Osaka in autumn are additionally spectacular, lots of the identical pitfalls accompany journeys to Japan in autumn as spring ones do. Once more, this doesn’t imply both of those in style seasons are “unhealthy”—they’re actually probably the most lovely occasions of 12 months!
With this being stated, in case you aren’t set on cherry blossoms or autumn colours, the very best time to go to Osaka or Kyoto is perhaps in “off” seasons such because the chilly (however hardly ever snowy) Japanese winter, and the summer time, which sees festivals like Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri and Osaka’s Tenjin Matsuri happen.
The place to Keep within the Kansai Area
When planning a visit to Osaka and/or Kyoto, what number of days you spend is simply the start of the dialog. Lodging can also be important! For those who plan to hunker down in a single or each of those cities for quite a lot of days, I like to recommend deciding on a barely less complicated lodging, because you’ll essentially be out of your room extra. For this function, I like Kyoto’s Kyoraku and Uemura ryokans in addition to Osaka’s Waqoo Shitaderamachi, a temple keep in a lesser-known (however nonetheless centrally-located) district of town.
On the opposite finish of the spectrum, a extra luxurious resort or ryokan can assist you determine whether or not to spend extra time in Osaka or Kyoto. In Kyoto, each the boutique-style Kyoto Granbell Resort and the luxurious Gion Hatanaka are nice for high-end vacationers, whereas the Conrad Osaka is my favourite five-star resort in that metropolis. I haven’t forgotten price range vacationers, both: Kyoto’s Santiago Guesthouse and Picnic Hostel in Osaka help you base your self within the hubs of Kansai with out breaking the financial institution.
So far as whether or not to remain in Kansai outdoors of Kyoto and Osaka, the actual fact is that almost all of vacationers will merely see different locations on this area as day journeys, as I’ve urged you do inside this Kansai itinerary. The commonest exceptions to this rule is a Koyasan temple keep, in addition to wherever you may keep alongside the Kumano Kodo in case you determine to do this mystical trek.
Different FAQ About Kansai Journey
What number of days do you want in Osaka and Kyoto?
I like to recommend splitting seven days between Osaka, Kyoto and peripheral locations resembling Nara, Kobe and Himeji, though you may keep the complete time in a single metropolis or one other. Fairly than specifying what number of days in Osaka or Kyoto, I like to consider Kansai as one vacation spot.
How far is Osaka from Kyoto?
Osaka and Kyoto are simply half-hour from each other by prepare. That is a part of why you’ll be able to simply go to Osaka regardless of what number of days in Kyoto you spend, even when it’s simply two or three.
Is it higher to go to Kyoto or Osaka?
Kyoto is extra interesting than Osaka to most vacationers, the vast majority of whom prioritize a go to to the temples of Higashiyama over a stroll down Dotonbori pedestrian road. Nonetheless, I’ve ready this Kyoto Osaka itinerary with the belief (and hope) that you just’ll go to each.
So, How Many Days in Kyoto and Osaka Are Very best?
Thanks for studying my Kansai itinerary! There’s no magic reply to what number of days in Osaka to spend, or whether or not 2, 3 or 5 days is the perfect period of time to remain in Kyoto. As I’ve tried to clarify all through this submit, the very best technique is to tell your self sufficiently concerning the prime Kansai locations and experiences, be clear concerning the priorities of your journey and determine what proportion of your time you wish to spend on this area—25-50% is normally an excellent rule of thumb. After all, in case you discover the prospect of planning your personal Kansai journey too daunting, you’ll be able to at all times fee a customized Japan itinerary.
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