Kansai is the cultural and spiritual capital of Japan. From the historical temples of Kyoto to the iconic street foods of Osaka, this region is rich with experiences that will make you fall in love with the charming cities of Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto and Nara.
The best part is that all of these destinations are easily accessible by public transportation.
We spent one week in the Kansai region, staying in Osaka and taking day trips to Kobe, Kyoto and Nara. It was the perfect amount of time to get a glimpse of what this beautiful area has to offer. If you’re planning a week in Kansai,
here’s an itinerary to help you make the most of your visit.
1 Week in Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto and Nara
A Japan Travel Guide + Itinerary for Kansai
Day 1: Osaka
- Café Annon: For breakfast, stop by this cozy café for the fluffiest Japanese soufflé pancakes. They take around 20 minutes to make from scratch, but it’s worth the wait for these light, airy pancakes that melt in your mouth.
- Chibo Okonomiyaki: When in Japan, okonomiyaki, or savory pancakes, are a must. Try to get a seat in front of the kitchen at Chibo Okonomiyaki to watch them make the iconic dish right in front of you.
- Takoyaki Umaiya: Takoyaki, or octopus fried in batter, is another essential dish of Osaka. While you can find them at many places throughout the city, Takoyaki Umaiya was my favorite stall for this well-loved snack. They’re perfectly crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside.
- Taihei-no-yu Namba: Start your trip off with a relaxing evening at the bathhouse. This location has a variety of indoor and open-air baths for you to unwind in, before enjoying a comforting bowl of tempura udon soup.
Day 2: Osaka
- Izakaya Toyo: Chef Toyo is a legend in Osaka. His izakaya is known for its fresh seafood, including fatty tuna, ikura and uni. The biggest draw, however, is the energetic chef himself, who cooks with a blowtorch and makes his famous broiled tuna cheek by placing his bare hand directly into the flame. It’s best to queue around an hour before opening to avoid a long wait time.
- Kinji: Similar to Tokyo, Osaka has a wide range of vintage and thrift stores to visit. There were good finds at Kinji Used Clothing, but Nakazaki-cho is another charming district to check out, as it's known for its concentration of vintage boutique stores.
- Happy Buffalo: We stumbled upon this small teppanyaki restaurant, which was located near our Airbnb, and it was a gem. The skirt steak was tender, delicious and a great value at 1,000 yen ($6USD) for 140g.
Day 3: Osaka
- Super Nintendo World: If you’re a Nintendo fan, you can’t visit Osaka without spending a day at Nintendo World. From the immersive replica of Mushroom Kingdom to the immaculate details of the experiences and the food, this place is a childhood dream come true. It’s part of Universal Studios Japan and timed ticket entries are required, so be sure to purchase them online in advance.
- Hokkyokusei: After a fun and tiring day at Super Nintendo World, I was craving a comforting meal of omurice and Hokkyokusei hit the spot. The restaurant opened in 1922 and is rumored to have invented omurice, and it shows in the execution of the dish. The restaurant offers tatami seating and a garden view, creating an authentic, tranquil atmosphere that takes you back in time.
- Maccha House: Matcha tiramisu? Say less. This dish is the perfect dessert for matcha lovers, featuring alternate layers of smooth mascarpone cream, vanilla chiffon and matcha sponge cake - all topped with matcha powder.
Day 4: Kobe
- Nunobiki Falls: During my week in Kansai, Kobe was the place that surprised me the most. With beautiful waterfalls and natural scenery, the city is truly underrated. Nunobiki Falls is only a 20-minute hike from Shin-Kobe Station, but visitors are treated with stunning waterfall views.
- Nunobiki Herb Garden: Walk 20 minutes up the mountain from Nunobiki Falls and you’ll reach the lower entrance of Nunobiki Herb Garden. This is one of Japan’s largest herb gardens with around 75,000 herbs and 200 kinds of flowers blooming throughout the year. The gardens look like a scene straight out of a movie, with people relaxing in hammocks and enjoying lavender soft serve ice cream, while watching the gondolas pass by and taking in the natural scenery.
- Kobe Beef Steak Sakura: There was one thing on my list for Kobe: trying Kobe beef. Kobe Beef Steak Sakura exclusively uses grade A5 Kobe beef, the highest grade available. The experience is incomparable: the beef is rich, fatty and melts in your mouth. All Kobe beef restaurants are on the pricier side, but it’s absolutely worth the experience. It’s best to make reservations in advance.
Day 5: Kyoto
- Arashiyama Bamboo Forest: This is one of Kyoto’s top natural landmarks, and for good reason. Standing amid these soaring stalks of emerald green bamboo is like being in another, tranquil world. Be sure to come early in the morning to take it all in without the crowds.
- Saryo Suisen: This matcha café serves Uji matcha warabimochi. The set is made to order and served hot alongside a pot of tea, rice dumplings, red bean paste, roasted soybean powder and brown sugar syrup. It’s a satisfyingly chewy and subtly sweet dessert. We came right when the shop opened at 10:30 a.m. and found that it made a good breakfast too, since it’s not too sweet.
- Wajoryomen Sugari: No place does ramen like Japan, but have you tried tsukemen? Tsukemen is a ramen dish that consists of cold, chewy noodles that are eaten after being dipped in a separate bowl of hot, flavorful broth. It’s best to queue around half an hour before opening to avoid a long wait time.
Day 6: Kyoto
- Nishiki Market: Known as "Kyoto's Kitchen," this fresh food market has been around for 400 years and features 130 vendors, offering seasonal food and local specialties. Some of my favorite local foods included the grilled butter soy sauce scallops, taiyaki and strawberry sandwich, but you can’t go wrong with any of the choices here.
- Fushimi Inari-taisha: This is one of the most iconic landmarks in Kyoto, known for its thousands of red-orange torii gates. While the gates lead to mountain trails, people often come just to see the gates themselves, which is a memorable and spiritual experience.
- Gion Duck Noodles: Located in a narrow alleyway, this cozy restaurant specializes in duck ramen. Their menu is fun, made up of only emojis rather than text, and everything came together well in the bowl of duck noodles, from the tender duck meat to the balanced broth.
Day 7: Nara
- Nara Park: This park is famous for its population of 1,200 free roaming deer, which are considered sacred and protected by the government. The park offers a unique opportunity to interact with these animals, which have learned to bow to visitors in exchange for food. They are generally friendly but can get aggressive if you tease them with food, so be sure to find a quieter area with only a few deer to avoid a large group following you.
- Kanakana: After visiting Nara Park, we stumbled upon this charming restaurant nearby, set in a traditional machiya house with tatami seating. We had a simple and delicious home cooked meal of fried chicken with ginger sweet vinegar, seasonal side dishes, miso soup and rice.
- Nakatanidou: This shop serves some of the best mochi in Japan, made by their high-speed mochi pounding technique. The result is soft, chewy mochi, dusted with roasted soybean flour and filled with sweet red bean paste. There are no set times for the mochi pounding, so be sure to ask for an estimated time when you arrive.