Kansai attractions

In the early 14th century, Japanese Emperor Hanazono abdicated to become a monk, turning his palace into what is now the Myoshin-ji Temple. This large complex houses a main temple and 50 sub-temples. Nearly all of the buildings were destroyed in a war in the 15th century and rebuilt over the next 150 years. The reconstructions stand today.

Designed by renowned architect Hiroshi Hara, Kyoto Station is the second-largest station in Japan. In addition to being the main transportation hub of Kyoto, the futuristic steel and glass structure houses a hotel, museum, theater, several shopping malls, and plenty of food options, making it a popular attraction in its own right.

If you’ve had a taste of Japanese sake and want to know more about how this rice liquor is produced, make sure to visit Kyoto’s Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum. Run by one of Japan’s most famous sake-producing companies, the Gekkeikan Sake Company, the museum is housed in an old sake brewery from the early 20th century.

Established in the late 19th century, the Nara National Museum is a well-respected exhibitor of Japanese Buddhist art. In addition to the original French Renaissance–style building, a newer wing also displays temporary exhibits. In both wings, visitors can admire predominantly Japanese Buddhist statues, paintings, scrolls, and ceremonial objects.

A 492-foot (150 meter long covered arcade, Sennichimae Doguyasuji Shopping Street is lined with specialty stores stocked with every cooking utensil and kitchen item imaginable. Specializing in wholesale products at discounted prices, Sennichimae Doguyasuji is a great place to wander or do some souvenir shopping.

Linking the Akashi Strait from Kobe to Awaji Island, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge opened in 1998 and is one of the world’s longest suspension bridges. The bridge's central span is 1,991 meters (6,532 feet) long, and while crossing the bridge, travelers come here to see the Bridge Exhibition Center and the Maiko Marine Promenade.

The Danjo Garan is the central temple complex of Japan's sacred Mt. Koya temple town. The UNESCO World Heritage site is comprised of about 20 buildings, including several temples, the ceremonial Kondo Hall, and the Great Stupa (Konpon Daito)—a 160-foot (49-meter) vermilion pagoda housing a mandala and five statues of the seated Buddha.

In the heart of Osaka’s business district, Nakanoshima is home to some of the city’s most historic buildings, including City Hall, Nakanoshima Festival Tower, and the first branch of the Bank of Japan. This 1.8-mile- (2.9-kilometer- long island between the Dojima and Tosabori rivers is also home to the urban oasis of Nakanoshima Park.

The Nakasendo Way is an ancient 331-mile (534-kilometer trail connecting Kyoto and Tokyo that was once frequented by samurai and traders. These days, a shorter 5-mile (8-kilometer walking trail connecting the villages of Tsumago and Magome, through the Kiso Valley in Nagano Prefecture, is a popular day hike. This shorter section offers visitors an opportunity to experience history, culture, and beautiful nature on an easy hike.

Nanzen-ji Temple is a large 13th-century Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district. There are many components to the grounds, including a dry stone formal Japanese garden, a European-style 19th-century aqueduct, a traditional tea house, and more. Visitors can climb the steep stone steps to the Sanmon Gate for views across Kyoto.

Learn all about the history and development of instant ramen noodles at the Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum (Cup Noodles Museum Osaka Ikeda. Located in the birthplace of instant ramen, the popular museum features colorful displays, interactive exhibits, and allows visitors to make their own unique flavor of cup noodles.

Mount Koya, also called Koyasan, is a sacred site in Japan that’s seen as the heart of Shingon Buddhism—a sect of Buddhism introduced to Japan in 805 by Kobo Daishi. Visitors to this beautiful mountain landscape can discover temples, monasteries, pine forests, meditation sites, and Kobo Daishi's mausoleum.

Built in 1884 to mark the 1,100th anniversary of Kyoto’s birth, the Heian Shrine is hailed as one of the city’s most attractive landmarks. The multi-tiered Shinto shrine is characterized by its distinctive red color, and being featured in the film Lost in Translation cemented its status as a must-see Kyoto landmark.

One of Japan's designated “three most scenic views,” Amanohashidate is a pine-covered sandbar that connects the two sides of Miyazu Bay. Amanohashidate, which translates to "bridge in heaven," got its name for its beauty: it is said to look like a pathway between heaven and earth.

If you think this classic furled-roof temple looks familiar, take a look at a 10-yen coin and you’ll see why. One of Japan's most famous temples—and an UNESCO World Heritage Site—the temple’s 11th-century Phoenix Hall graces both the 10-yen coin and 10,000-yen note. It’s also one of the best examples of Heian-era architecture.

The classically curved eaves, ceremonial steps, and oversized two-story gateway mark Chion-in as something special, even in temple-filled Kyoto. As the main temple of the Jodo school of Buddhism—the largest school of Buddhism in Japan—Chion-in is a very grand affair. Highlights include its huge main hall and its image of the sect’s founder, Honen.

The art of bunraku puppetry dates back more than 300 years, and it reached its peak in Osaka in the 1740s. If you’re interested in seeing a bunraku puppet show while in Japan, Osaka’s National Bunraku Theater is arguably the best place to do so. These playful performances often bring to life stories from traditional samurai dramas.

Osaka’s Tempozan Ferris Wheel soars 369 feet (112 meters into the air—and with a diameter of 330 feet (100 meters—it’s one of the world's largest Ferris wheels. The wheel takes riders on a 15-minute-long journey through the sky, offering views of the city, bay, and mountains in the distance.

The 16th-century Nishi Hongan-ji Temple offers insight into ancient Japanese Buddhist history. This temple, along with its sibling-temple, Higashi Hongan-ji, represent two factions of the Jodo Shinshu sect.

Take a walk through centuries of Japanese history at the Osaka Museum of History. Exhibits tell the story of Osaka from its ancient origins as Japan’s first capital to the early Showa Period of the twentieth century. The life-sized displays and interactive exhibits are complemented by scale models, photographs, and historical relics.

Occupying one of Osaka’s few western-style buildings, the Japan Mint (Osaka Mint Bureau is the head office of the governmental agency responsible for the supply of coins and medals and metal analysis, testing, and certification. The onsite museum tells the history of Japanese money-printing, or minting, through interactive exhibits and 4,000 artifacts.

A shopaholic’s paradise, Teramachi Street is a covered shopping arcade in the heart of downtown Kyoto. The name translates to “Temple Town” in English due to the street’s 16th-century origins when the area was abundant with temples and shrines. Today, shoppers can find clothing stores, tea shops, art galleries, bookstores, and plenty of great souvenirs.

On the banks of the Takano and Tamo Rivers, the bright orange buildings of the Shimogamo-jinja Shrine stand in stark contrast to its natural backdrop. More than 2,000 years old, Shimogamo-jinja is Kyoto’s oldest shrine and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

One of the largest public aquariums in the world, the Osaka Aquarium is home to various species from the Pacific Ring of Fire and aquatic environments around the globe. Learn about local species such as Asian otters and giant spider crabs, and see other creatures, including sea turtles, sharks, penguins, and a host of tropical fish. It’s a must-visit attraction for families and nature enthusiasts.

Kodai-ji, founded in the early 1600s, is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district famous for its lacquerware style. It contains the mausolea of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a critical Japanese historical figure, and his wife, Nene. Visitors come to admire the elegant traditional architecture and the formal gardens, particularly the raked rock garden that represents the ocean.

A manga lover’s dream, the Kyoto International Manga Museum is home to over 300,000 manga-related items, including Edo-period caricature woodblock prints, historical magazines, and manga books from around the world. A highlight is the Wall of Manga—an open-access library with 50,000 publications that visitors can browse and read on-site.

Osaka's Tennoji Zoo is home to over 1,500 creatures spanning 300 different species from across the globe, from elephants and big cats to pandas and koalas. The 27-acre (11-hectare) zoo features naturalistic habitats designed to replicate the world’s diverse ecosystems.

Modern architecture goes space age and skywards at the cutting-edge Umeda Sky Building. The edifice is made up of two glass towers that rise 567 feet (173 meters) and are connected by a futuristic observation platform with an amazing 360-degree view from the 40th floor. An escalator in a glass tube takes visitors up the last five storeys.

A welcome escape from the bustle of Kyoto and located off the main tourist trail, Shoren-in Temple is a 12th-century temple complex at the foot of the Higashiyama mountains. Part of the Tendai sect of Buddhism, Shoren-in is also a monzeki temple, the special name given to temples that historically had priests from imperial or high-ranking families in Japan.

The tallest structure in a city known for its traditional architecture and ancient temples, Kyoto Tower rises 430 feet (131 meters). Take in the panoramic city views from the observation deck, located 328 feet (100 meters) off the ground and then browse the shopping and dining options at Kyoto Tower Building.