Kansai is the old capital region: Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Kobe, and the temples, gardens and sake districts between them. Rail is dense and fast, so most of these places work as day trips from a single base, though each guide says where staying a night is worth it.
This page lists every Kansai guide published on this site, so you can see the whole region in one place instead of walking through paginated archives.
All Kansai travel guides
Amanohashidate Travel Guide: The Pine Sandbar in Northern Kyoto — Amanohashidate: the pine sandbar across Miyazu Bay, the view from the hills above it, and the 2026 lift and boat notices.
Arashiyama and Sagano Travel Guide: Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji, and Quieter Temple Paths — Arashiyama and Sagano: the bamboo grove, Tenryu-ji, Togetsukyo Bridge, and the quieter hillside temples further north.
Enryaku-ji Travel Guide: The Tendai Monastery on Mount Hiei — Enryaku-ji on Mount Hiei: the three temple areas, the 2026 Konpon Chudo renovation, ticket prices, and the four ways up the mountain.
Fushimi Inari Travel Guide: The Torii Path, the Hike and the Best Hours — Fushimi Inari guide: the Senbon Torii, how far to hike, the Yotsutsuji view, shrine etiquette, crowds, access and what to eat near the gates.
Fushimi Sake District Travel Guide: Breweries, Canals, and a Kyoto Day Trip — Fushimi’s sake district in southern Kyoto: canal-side breweries, museum tastings, and a Keihan line day trip from the city.
Hikone Castle Travel Guide: A National Treasure Keep by Lake Biwa — Hikone Castle keeps a National Treasure keep, with the Ii family town and Lake Biwa a short walk from the station.
Himeji Castle Travel Guide: The White National Treasure Keep — Himeji Castle: the white National Treasure keep, its layered plaster walls, and how to see it without the worst of the crowds.
Ise Jingu Travel Guide: Naiku, Geku and the Pilgrim Streets of Ise — Ise Jingu guide: Naiku and Geku, the sacred forest, shrine etiquette, Okage Yokocho food, access from Nagoya and Kyoto, and the best hours.
Kinkaku-ji Travel Guide: The Golden Pavilion, the Pond and the Best Time to Visit — Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto: the Golden Pavilion’s history, the mirror pond, opening hours, 500 yen admission, city bus access from Kyoto Station and when to go.
Kinosaki Onsen Guide: Yukata, Seven Baths, and the Willow Canal — Kinosaki Onsen: seven public baths, the willow canal walked in yukata, the ropeway to Onsenji, crab season, and train access from Kyoto and Osaka.
Kiyomizu-dera Travel Guide: The Wooden Stage, the Waterfall and the 6 a.m. Start — Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto: the Main Hall stage, the Otowa Waterfall, 2026 opening hours and night viewing, 500 yen admission, buses from Kyoto Station and when to go.
Kobe Travel Guide: Beef, the Port and the Hills Above the Bay — Kobe in one or two days: Kobe beef and how it is certified, Kitano’s foreign houses, the waterfront, the Nunobiki ropeway, Arima Onsen and Nada’s sake breweries,….
Koyasan Travel Guide: Temples, Cedars, and a Night on the Mountain — Koyasan: Kongobuji, the Garan, and the Okunoin cedar path — plus the cable car up and a night in a temple lodging.
Kumano Hongu Taisha Travel Guide: The Grand Shrine in the Mountains — Kumano Hongu Taisha in Wakayama: the 158 steps, the 1889 flood that moved the shrine, Oyunohara’s great torii, the Kumano Kodo and Yunomine’s baths.
Kurama and Kibune Day Trip from Kyoto: Temples, Forest Trails, and Mountain Air — Kurama and Kibune from Kyoto: mountain temples, the forest trail between the two valleys, and riverside dining in summer.
Kyoto Higashiyama Travel Guide: Kiyomizu-dera, Gion Streets, and Walking Routes — Kyoto’s Higashiyama on foot: Kiyomizu-dera, the Sannenzaka slopes, Yasaka Shrine, and the Gion etiquette worth knowing.
Kyoto Travel Guide: Areas, Temples and a Three-Day Plan — Kyoto travel guide: where to stay, how to use buses and subways, a three-day plan, the temples that matter, food, seasons and day trips.
Nachi Falls and Kumano Nachi Taisha Travel Guide — Nachi Falls and Kumano Nachi Taisha: 2026 fees, bus access from Kii-Katsuura, Daimon-zaka, the fire festival and where to stay.
Nara Park and Naramachi Travel Guide: Temples, Deer, and Old Town Streets — Nara Park and Naramachi: the deer, Todai-ji and Kasuga Taisha, and the old merchant lanes south of Kintetsu-Nara Station.
Nijo Castle Travel Guide: A Palace in Kyoto, Not a Keep — Nijo Castle: the Ninomaru Palace’s nightingale floors, its gardens, and why this is a palace rather than a castle keep.
Ohara and Sanzen-in Day Trip from Kyoto: Mountain Temples and Village Paths — Ohara from Kyoto: Sanzen-in’s gardens, the village lanes around them, and the Kyoto Bus that reaches the temple gate.
Osaka Castle Travel Guide: The Keep, the Park and the Siege That Ended an Era — Osaka Castle guide: 2026 keep ticket and hours, the Toyotomi stone wall hall, free walks, cherry blossom, the moat boat and station access.
Osaka Neighborhoods Food Guide: Street Food Areas and Practical Walking Tips — Dotonbori, Kuromon Market and Shinsekai: three Osaka food districts, what to eat in each, and how to walk between them.
Osaka Travel Guide: Food, Neighborhoods and a Three-Day Plan — Osaka travel guide: Dotonbori and Namba, Umeda, what to eat, where to stay, how the subway works, a three-day plan and easy day trips.
Uji Travel Guide: Matcha, Byodo-in Temple, and a Day Trip from Kyoto — Uji: Byodo-in’s Phoenix Hall on the 10-yen coin, the matcha shops along the river, and a 20-minute train from Kyoto.
Umeda Sky Building Travel Guide: Kuchu Teien Observatory in Osaka — The Umeda Sky Building’s Kuchu Teien observatory in Osaka: the rooftop ring, the route in, and how to time a ticket.
Other regions
- Hokkaido travel guides
- Tohoku travel guides
- Kanto travel guides
- Chubu travel guides
- Chugoku travel guides
- Shikoku travel guides
- Kyushu travel guides
- Okinawa travel guides
Themed collections
- Japanese gardens — which garden suits which trip, grouped by garden type.
- Japan’s old towns — samurai streets, post towns and canal quarters.
Opening hours, fares and seasonal access change. Each guide lists the official sources used for that destination, with the date they were checked.
Photographs are credited inside each guide.
