The Kansai Region is the perfect destination if it’s your first time in Japan. It is rich in cultural heritage, evident in the number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites that dot its map, yet its biggest city, Osaka, also feels undoubtedly modern and futuristic. It also prepares you for the craziness and fast pace of Tokyo, if you also plan on paying the capital a visit.
The itineraries below will take you to four of Kansai’s biggest tourist destinations: Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and Nara. All these involve spending your nights in Osaka and visiting the other destinations only on a day trip.
Note that the indicated costs and times are just rough estimates that are meant to give you a ballpark figure. The actual prices and schedules may be different in reality so always double check with official sources. The estimates also have big margins. Better overestimate than under. Please make the necessary adjustments to match your conditions.
If you need more help planning your trip, you may check out these guides:
✅ Osaka Travel Guide
✅ Kyoto Travel Guide
If you’re only interested in Osaka and Kyoto and not Kobe or Nara, we have a dedicated post for that too:
Tip! Rent a pocket wi-fi for hassle-free travels!
The language barrier in Osaka is real, so you can save a lot of time and avoid stress if you’re connected to the Internet, which you can use to translate and navigate. You can reserve one in advance online. The best part, if you’re a group, you can connect multiple devices hassle-free. You can then split the cost with your friends. You can pick up the device at the airport. No deposit is required.
Osaka-Nara-Kyoto: 4 Days, 3 nights
Duration: 4 days, 3 nights
Hotel stop: 3 nights in Osaka
PASSES YOU NEED:
- 1-day Osaka Amazing Pass, ¥2500, to be used on Day 2, Reserve Here!
- 1-day JR West Kansai Pass, ¥2200, to be used on Day 4, Reserve Here!
Day 1: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN
12:30pm – Arrival at Kansai Airport
01:00pm – Collect Passes at Arrival Hall
01:30pm – Train to Universal City, ¥1190
02:30pm – Universal Studios Japan, ¥7900, Reserve Here!
08:00pm – Train to Namba, ¥410
08:40pm – Hotel check in
09:00pm – Late dinner, ¥1000
10:30pm – Back to hotel, lights out
Day 2: OSAKA CITY TOUR
05:00am – Wake up
06:00am – Subway to Tamagawa Station (Endo Sushi), FREE (OA Pass)
07:00am – Breakfast at Endo Sushi, ¥1242
08:30am – Subway to Tanimachiyonchome Station (Osaka Castle), FREE (OA Pass)
09:00am – Osaka Castle, FREE (OA Pass)
12:00nn – Subway to Nakatsu Station (Ramen Yashichi), FREE (OA Pass)
12:30nn – Lunch at Ramen Yashichi, ¥730
02:30pm – Subway to from Nakatsu to Umeda, FREE (OA Pass)
03:00pm – Umeda Sky Building Observatory, FREE (OA Pass)
04:30pm – Subway from Umeda to Namba, FREE (OA Pass)
05:00pm – Tombori River Cruise, FREE, (OA Pass)
06:00pm – Dotonbori Night Tour, FREE (OA Pass)
07:30pm – Early dinner at Tokisushi, ¥1134
10:30pm – Back to hotel, lights out
Day 3: NARA DAY TOUR
06:30am – Wake up call
08:00am – Walk to Osaka-Namba Station
08:06am – Osaka-Namba Station to KintetsuNara, ¥560
09:00am – Sarusawa-ike Pond
10:00am – Kofuku-ji Temple, museum, eastern hall, ¥800
12:00nn – Lunch, ¥1000
01:30pm – Gango-ji Temple, ¥500
03:00pm – Kasuga Taisha Shrine, ¥500
04:30pm – Nara Park, FREE
06:00pm – Dinner, ¥1500
07:08pm – Train to Osaka-Namba, ¥560
Day 4: KYOTO DAY TOUR
07:00am – Wake up, hotel check out
08:00am – JR Trains to Kyoto Station, FREE (JR West Pass)
09:00am – Leave bags in locker, ¥700
09:50am – Train to Saga-Arashiyama, FREE (JR West Pass)
10:10am – Explore Arashiyama, Tenryuji Fee: ¥500
12:00pm – Train to Kyoto Station, FREE
12:30pm – Lunch, ¥1000
01:40pm – Train to Inari Station, FREE (JR West Pass)
02:00pm – Fushimi Inari Shrine, FREE
04:00pm – Train to Kyoto Station, FREE
04:30pm – JR Ltd. Exp. Haruka train, FREE (JR West Pass)
06:00pm – Dinner, ¥1500
07:00pm – Flight check in
09:15pm – Flight out
Cost Estimate: JPY 29,000 (USD259, SGD355, PHP14000, EUR222), excluding airfare and hotel.
Osaka-Kyoto-Nara: 4 Days, 4 nights
Duration: 4 days, 4 nights
Hotel stop: 4 nights in Osaka
This one assumes you’re landing at Kansai Airport at night, so we added a Day 0 (Night 1). Another difference between this and the previous 4D itinerary is that you will also have a full day and night in Kyoto, but you will be visiting Kiyomizu-dera instead of Fushimi Inari Shrine. You will be visiting Nara on your last day.
PASSES YOU NEED:
- 1-day Osaka Amazing Pass, ¥2500, to be used on Day 3, Reserve Here!
- 2-day Kansai Thru Pass,, ¥3900, to be used on Days 3 and 4, Reserve here!
Day 0
08:10pm – Arrival at Kansai Airport
09:10pm – Collect passes at Arrival Hall
09:54pm – Board Nankai Airport Express to Namba, ¥920
10:30pm – Check-in at the hotel
Day 1: OSAKA
07:00am – Wake up call
08:30am – Subway to Tanimachiyonchome Station (Osaka Castle), FREE (OA Pass)
09:00am – Osaka Castle, FREE (OA Pass)
12:00nn – Subway to Nakatsu Station (Ramen Yashichi), FREE (OA Pass)
12:30nn – Lunch at Ramen Yashichi, ¥730
02:30pm – Subway to from Nakatsu to Umeda, FREE (OA Pass)
03:00pm – Umeda Sky Building Observatory, FREE (OA Pass)
04:30pm – Subway from Umeda to Namba, FREE (OA Pass)
05:00pm – Walk around Dotonbori
06:00pm – Japan Night Walk Tour, FREE (OA Pass)
08:00pm – Dinner at Tokisushi or Menya Jorouku Ramen, ¥1200
09:00pm – Back to hotel, sleep
Day 2: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
05:00am – Wake up call
06:00am – Subway to Tamagawa Station, ¥230
07:00am – Breakfast at Endo Sushi, ¥1242
09:00am – Train from Noda Station to Universal City, ¥160
09:15am – Universal Studios Japan, ¥7900 + ¥1500 lunch
08:00pm – Train to Osaka-Namba Station, ¥360
09:00pm – Dinner, ¥1000
Day 3: KYOTO
07:00am – Wake up call
08:00am – Subway to Umeda Station, FREE (KT Pass)
08:30am – Hankyu train to Arashiyama, FREE (KT Pass)
09:30am – Explore Arashiyama, Tenryuji Fee: ¥500
12:00pm – Train to Kawaramachi Station, FREE (KT Pass)
12:30pm – Lunch at Butaya ton Ichi Teramachi, ¥1200
01:30pm – Walk to Gion District
02:00pm – Yasaka Shrine, FREE
03:00pm – Walk to Higashiyama District
04:00pm – Kiyomizu-dera Temple, ¥400
06:00pm – Walk to Kiyomizu-michi Bus Stop
06:30pm – Bus 207 to Shijo Kawaramachi Bus Stop, ¥230
07:30pm – Hankyu Train to Umeda Station, FREE (KT Pass)
08:30pm – Subway to Namba Station, FREE (KT Pass)
09:00pm – Dinner, ¥1000
Day 4: NARA, DEPARTURE
06:30am – Check out, walk to Osaka-Namba Station
07:30am – Store luggage in locker, ¥700
08:06am – Train to Kintetsu-Nara Station, FREE (KT Pass)
09:00am – Explore 2 temples, entrance fee budget: ¥1300
12:00nn – Lunch, ¥1000
01:30pm – Nara Park
02:30pm – Kintetsu Train to Osaka-Namba, FREE (KT Pass)
04:00pm – Nankai Train to Airport, FREE (KT Pass)
05:30pm – Check in
08:30pm – Flight out
Cost Estimate: JPY 30,000 (USD279, SGD378, PHP14300, EUR247), excluding plane tickets and accommodations.
Osaka-Nara-Kyoto: 5 Days, 4 nights
Duration: 5 days, 4 nights
Hotel stop: 4 nights in Osaka
PASSES YOU NEED:
- 1-day Osaka Amazing Pass, ¥2500, to be used on Day 3, Reserve Here!
- 1-day JR West Kansai Pass, ¥2200, to be used on Day 5, Reserve Here!
Day 1: DOTONBORI
12:30pm – Arrival at Kansai Airport
01:00pm – Collect Passes at Arrival Hall
01:39pm – Nankai Airport Express to Namba, ¥920
02:15pm – Walk to hotel
02:40pm – Hotel check in, freshen up
04:30pm – Kuromon Market, Budget: ¥1500
06:00pm – Dotonbori
08:00pm – Dinner at Tokisushi, ¥1134
10:00pm – Back to hotel, lights out
Day 2: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN
07:00am – Wake up call
08:20am – Walk to JR-Namba Station
09:00am – Train to UniversalCity Station, ¥180
09:30am – Universal Studios Japan, ¥7900, Reserve Here!
Food expenses: ¥2500
08:00pm – Train to Namba, ¥410
09:00pm – Late dinner, ¥1000
10:30pm – Back to hotel, lights out
Day 3: OSAKA CITY TOUR
05:00am – Wake up
06:00am – Subway to Tamagawa Station (Endo Sushi), FREE (OA Pass)
07:00am – Breakfast at Endo Sushi, ¥1242
08:30am – Subway to Tanimachiyonchome Station (Osaka Castle), FREE (OA Pass)
09:00am – Osaka Castle, FREE (OA Pass)
12:00nn – Subway to Nakatsu Station (Ramen Yashichi), FREE (OA Pass)
12:30nn – Lunch at Ramen Yashichi, ¥730
02:30pm – Subway to from Nakatsu to Umeda, FREE (OA Pass)
03:00pm – Umeda Sky Building Observatory, FREE (OA Pass)
04:30pm – Subway from Umeda to Namba, FREE (OA Pass)
05:00pm – Tombori River Cruise, FREE, (OA Pass)
06:00pm – Dotonbori Night Tour, FREE (OA Pass)
07:30pm – Early dinner at Tokisushi, ¥1134
10:30pm – Back to hotel, lights out
Day 4: NARA DAY TOUR
06:30am – Wake up call
08:00am – Walk to Osaka-Namba Station
08:06am – Osaka-Namba Station to KintetsuNara, ¥560
09:00am – Sarusawa-ike Pond
10:00am – Kofuku-ji Temple, museum, eastern hall, ¥800
12:00nn – Lunch, ¥1000
01:30pm – Gango-ji Temple, ¥500
03:00pm – Kasuga Taisha Shrine, ¥500
04:30pm – Nara Park, FREE
06:00pm – Dinner, ¥1500
07:08pm – Train to Osaka-Namba, ¥560
Day 5: KYOTO DAY TOUR
07:00am – Wake up, hotel check out
08:00am – JR Trains to Kyoto Station, FREE (JR West Pass)
09:00am – Leave bags in locker, ¥700
09:50am – Train to Saga-Arashiyama, FREE (JR West Pass)
10:10am – Explore Arashiyama, Tenryuji Fee: ¥500
12:00pm – Train to Kyoto Station, FREE
12:30pm – Lunch, ¥1000
01:40pm – Train to Inari Station, FREE (JR West Pass)
02:00pm – Fushimi Inari Shrine, FREE
04:00pm – Train to Kyoto Station, FREE
04:30pm – JR Ltd. Exp. Haruka train, FREE (JR West Pass)
06:00pm – Dinner, ¥1500
07:00pm – Flight check in
09:15pm – Flight out
Cost Estimate: JPY 35,000 (USD313, SGD429, PHP17000, EUR268), excluding plane tickets and accommodations.
Osaka-Kyoto-Kobe-Nara: 5 Days, 5 nights
Duration: 5 days, 5 nights
Hotel stop: 5 nights in Osaka
This one assumes you’re landing at Kansai Airport at night, so we added a Day 0 (Night 1). Another difference between this and the previous 4D itinerary is that you will also have a full day and night in Kyoto, but you will be visiting Kiyomizu-dera instead of Fushimi Inari Shrine. You will be visiting Nara on your last day.
PASSES YOU NEED:
- 1-day Hanshin Tourist Pass, ¥700, to be used on Day 1, Reserve here!
- 1-day Rokkosan Tourist Pass, ¥1000, to be used on Day 1, Reserve here!
- 1-day Osaka Amazing Pass, ¥2500, to be used on Day 2, Reserve Here!
- 2-day Kansai Thru Pass,, ¥3900, to be used on Days 4 and 5, Reserve here!
Day 0
08:10pm – Arrival at Kansai Airport
09:10pm – Collect passes at Arrival Hall
09:54pm – Board Nankai Airport Express to Namba, ¥920
10:30pm – Check-in at the hotel
Day 1: KOBE DAY TOUR
07:00am – Wake up call
08:00am – Subway to Umeda Station, ¥230
08:20am – Hanshin train to Mikage Station, FREE (Hanshin Pass)
09:20am – Kobe City Bus 16 to Rokko Cable Shita, FREE (Hanshin Pass)
10:00am – Cable Car to Rokko Cable Sanjo Station, FREE (Rokkosan Pass)
10:30am – Rokko Sanjo Bus to Rokko Snow Park, FREE (Rokkosan Pass)
10:45am – Rokko Snow Park, ¥2100
11:00am – Lunch, Restaurant Alpen Rose, ¥1200
12:00pm – Snow Activities
03:00pm – Sanjo Bus to Rokko Cable Sanjo Station, FREE (Rokkosan Pass)
03:15pm – Cable Car to Rokko Cable Shita Station, FREE (Rokkosan Pass)
03:45pm – Kobe City Bus 16 to Mikage Station, FREE (Hanshin Pass)
04:15pm – Hanshin train to Motomachi Station, FREE (Hanshin Pass)
04:45pm – Kobe Harborland. FREE.
07:30pm – Hanshin Train to Umeda Station, FREE (Hanshin Pass)
08:10pm – Dinner: Hanshin Department Store Snack Park, ¥1500
09:00pm – HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel, ¥600.
10:30pm – Subway to Namba Station, ¥230
Day 2: OSAKA TOUR
07:00am – Wake up call
08:30am – Subway to Tanimachiyonchome Station (Osaka Castle), FREE (OA Pass)
09:00am – Osaka Castle, FREE (OA Pass)
12:00nn – Subway to Nakatsu Station (Ramen Yashichi), FREE (OA Pass)
12:30nn – Lunch at Ramen Yashichi, ¥730
02:30pm – Subway to from Nakatsu to Umeda, FREE (OA Pass)
03:00pm – Umeda Sky Building Observatory, FREE (OA Pass)
04:30pm – Subway from Umeda to Namba, FREE (OA Pass)
05:00pm – Walk around Dotonbori
06:00pm – Japan Night Walk Tour, FREE (OA Pass)
08:00pm – Dinner at Tokisushi or Menya Jorouku Ramen, ¥1200
09:00pm – Back to hotel, sleep
Day 3: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
05:00am – Wake up call
06:00am – Subway to Tamagawa Station, ¥230
07:00am – Breakfast at Endo Sushi, ¥1242
09:00am – Train from Noda Station to Universal City, ¥160
09:15am – Universal Studios Japan, ¥7900 + ¥1500 lunch
08:00pm – Train to Osaka-Namba Station, ¥360
09:00pm – Dinner, ¥1000
Day 4: KYOTO DAY TOUR
07:00am – Wake up call
08:00am – Subway to Umeda Station, FREE (KT Pass)
08:30am – Hankyu train to Arashiyama, FREE (KT Pass)
09:30am – Explore Arashiyama, Tenryuji Fee: ¥500
12:00pm – Train to Kawaramachi Station, FREE (KT Pass)
12:30pm – Lunch at Butaya ton Ichi Teramachi, ¥1200
01:30pm – Walk to Gion District
02:00pm – Yasaka Shrine, FREE
03:00pm – Walk to Higashiyama District
04:00pm – Kiyomizu-dera Temple, ¥400
06:00pm – Walk to Kiyomizu-michi Bus Stop
06:30pm – Bus 207 to Shijo Kawaramachi Bus Stop, ¥230
07:30pm – Hankyu Train to Umeda Station, FREE (KT Pass)
08:30pm – Subway to Namba Station, FREE (KT Pass)
09:00pm – Dinner, ¥1000
Day 5: NARA DAY TOUR
06:30am – Check out, walk to Osaka-Namba Station
07:30am – Store luggage in locker, ¥700
08:06am – Train to Kintetsu-Nara Station, FREE (KT Pass)
09:00am – Explore 2 temples, entrance fee budget: ¥1300
12:00nn – Lunch, ¥1000
01:30pm – Nara Park
02:30pm – Kintetsu Train to Osaka-Namba, FREE (KT Pass)
04:00pm – Nankai Train to Airport, FREE (KT Pass)
05:30pm – Check in
08:30pm – Flight out
Cost Estimate: JPY 39,000 (USD362, SGD490, PHP18500, EUR320), excluding plane tickets, accommodations, and snow activities at Rokko Snow Park.
Osaka-Nara-Kobe-Kyoto: 6 Days, 5 nights
Duration: 6 days, 5 nights
Hotel stop: 5 nights in Osaka
PASSES YOU NEED:
- 1-day Hanshin Tourist Pass, ¥700, to be used on Day 2, Reserve here!
- 1-day Rokkosan Tourist Pass, ¥1000, to be used on Day 2, Reserve here!
- 1-day Osaka Amazing Pass, ¥2500, to be used on Day 4, Reserve Here!
- 1-day JR West Kansai Pass, ¥2200, to be used on Day 6, Reserve Here!
Day 1: DOTONBORI
12:30pm – Arrival at Kansai Airport
01:00pm – Collect Passes at Arrival Hall
01:39pm – Nankai Airport Express to Namba, ¥920
02:15pm – Walk to hotel
02:40pm – Hotel check in, freshen up
04:30pm – Kuromon Market, Budget: ¥1500
06:00pm – Dotonbori
08:00pm – Dinner at Tokisushi, ¥1134
10:00pm – Back to hotel, lights out
Day 2: KOBE DAY TOUR
07:00am – Wake up call
08:00am – Subway to Umeda Station, ¥230
08:20am – Hanshin train to Mikage Station, FREE (Hanshin Pass)
09:20am – Kobe City Bus 16 to Rokko Cable Shita, FREE (Hanshin Pass)
10:00am – Cable Car to Rokko Cable Sanjo Station, FREE (Rokkosan Pass)
10:30am – Rokko Sanjo Bus to Rokko Snow Park, FREE (Rokkosan Pass)
10:45am – Rokko Snow Park, ¥2100
11:00am – Lunch, Restaurant Alpen Rose, ¥1200
12:00pm – Snow Activities
03:00pm – Sanjo Bus to Rokko Cable Sanjo Station, FREE (Rokkosan Pass)
03:15pm – Cable Car to Rokko Cable Shita Station, FREE (Rokkosan Pass)
03:45pm – Kobe City Bus 16 to Mikage Station, FREE (Hanshin Pass)
04:15pm – Hanshin train to Motomachi Station, FREE (Hanshin Pass)
04:45pm – Kobe Harborland. FREE.
07:30pm – Hanshin Train to Umeda Station, FREE (Hanshin Pass)
08:10pm – Dinner: Hanshin Department Store Snack Park, ¥1500
09:00pm – HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel, ¥600.
10:30pm – Subway to Namba Station, ¥230
Day 3: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN
07:00am – Wake up call
08:20am – Walk to JR-Namba Station
09:00am – Train to UniversalCity Station, ¥180
09:30am – Universal Studios Japan, ¥7900, Reserve Here!
Food expenses: ¥2500
08:00pm – Train to Namba, ¥410
09:00pm – Late dinner, ¥1000
10:30pm – Back to hotel, lights out
Day 4: OSAKA CITY TOUR
05:00am – Wake up
06:00am – Subway to Tamagawa Station (Endo Sushi), FREE (OA Pass)
07:00am – Breakfast at Endo Sushi, ¥1242
08:30am – Subway to Tanimachiyonchome Station (Osaka Castle), FREE (OA Pass)
09:00am – Osaka Castle, FREE (OA Pass)
12:00nn – Subway to Nakatsu Station (Ramen Yashichi), FREE (OA Pass)
12:30nn – Lunch at Ramen Yashichi, ¥730
02:30pm – Subway to from Nakatsu to Umeda, FREE (OA Pass)
03:00pm – Umeda Sky Building Observatory, FREE (OA Pass)
04:30pm – Subway from Umeda to Namba, FREE (OA Pass)
05:00pm – Tombori River Cruise, FREE, (OA Pass)
06:00pm – Dotonbori Night Tour, FREE (OA Pass)
07:30pm – Early dinner at Tokisushi, ¥1134
10:30pm – Back to hotel, lights out
Day 5: NARA DAY TOUR
06:30am – Wake up call
08:00am – Walk to Osaka-Namba Station
08:06am – Osaka-Namba Station to KintetsuNara, ¥560
09:00am – Sarusawa-ike Pond
10:00am – Kofuku-ji Temple, museum, eastern hall, ¥800
12:00nn – Lunch, ¥1000
01:30pm – Gango-ji Temple, ¥500
03:00pm – Kasuga Taisha Shrine, ¥500
04:30pm – Nara Park, FREE
06:00pm – Dinner, ¥1500
07:08pm – Train to Osaka-Namba, ¥560
Day 6: KYOTO DAY TOUR
07:00am – Wake up, hotel check out
08:00am – JR Trains to Kyoto Station, FREE (JR West Pass)
09:00am – Leave bags in locker, ¥700
09:50am – Train to Saga-Arashiyama, FREE (JR West Pass)
10:10am – Explore Arashiyama, Tenryuji Fee: ¥500
12:00pm – Train to Kyoto Station, FREE
12:30pm – Lunch, ¥1000
01:40pm – Train to Inari Station, FREE (JR West Pass)
02:00pm – Fushimi Inari Shrine, FREE
04:00pm – Train to Kyoto Station, FREE
04:30pm – JR Ltd. Exp. Haruka train, FREE (JR West Pass)
06:00pm – Dinner, ¥1500
07:00pm – Flight check in
09:15pm – Flight out
Cost Estimate: JPY 43,000 (USD384, SGD527, PHP20800, EUR329), not counting hotels and plane tickets.
Budget Tips
If you’re on a tight budget, here are some ways to bring down the cost.
- Avoid eating out. All the itineraries above assume you’re eating out for every meal. Staying in a place with a kitchen or go to the grocery/supermarket for food instead of restaurants.
- If you must eat out, do so for lunch. I know, I know. You’re in Japan. It would be a shame to not experience its dining scene. If you really have to eat out, do so for lunch when you’re already out. For dinner, you can just buy something from the supermarket. This way, you have a perfect balance of supermarket and restaurant food.
- Skip Universal Studios Japan. You’ll be able to save 7900 yen if you replace it with something much cheaper.
- Drop the other destinations. The biggest fraction of the cost is spent on transportation. Visiting multiple destinations push the total expenses much higher. If budget is a concern, drop the other cities and focus on just one or two. To be honest, Osaka and Kyoto alone can fill a full week’s itinerary. You don’t have to see everything. You can have more fun if you don’t feel like you’re not on the season finale of the Amazing Race. Choose one or two destinations and stick to them.
Where to Book Tours
The budget estimate above is based on DIY. But if you want to join day tours instead, you can too. This way you have a travel guide so you could appreciate the significance and history of the sites better and some transfers/transportation too.
Kyoto Day Tour from Osaka
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Nara Afternoon Tour from OsakaBook This Tour
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