The Kansai Region (West Japan) was the political center of Japan in its early days (c. 300–1600), and now it has become a travel destination where you can see many well-preserved historical and cultural sites. We have combined this main element with many astonishing views of natural sights and tasty foods to enrich your journey.
Follow this itinerary and you won't feel bored in Kansai. Whether you enjoy natural scenery of the mountains and sea, the busy streets of Osaka, the storytelling history of Kyoto, or the different traditional Japanese building styles of Ine fishing village and Miyama's thatched village, there's something for everyone!
Journey Route
This is an ideal tour for first-time visitors and families. Sign up for your favorite part of the tour or simply treat the whole tour as inspiration, designing each element specially for you.
Highlights
Merge yourself into the vibrant streets of Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi.
Step up onto Rokko Mountain and reward yourself with fresh air and a panorama of Kobe.
Taste the best-known Japanese beef — Kobe Wagyu, and a challenging delicacy — pufferfish.
Wander between different traditional and local building styles.
Cruise across Ine Bay, watch the seagulls, and be careful of the eagles!
Take a cable car up to Kasamatsu Park for the astonishing view of Amanohashidate — a stunning sandbar across a bay.
Experience a Japanese Tea Ceremony and have a short hike in Gion, Kyoto's old entertainment district.
Enjoy the local cultural highlights of Kyoto.
Enter the Japanese Buddhism universe at Koyasan.
Discover the coastline of Shirahama — try a glass-bottom boat cruise and/or its hot springs.
What Our Customers Said
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Handcrafted tour of Japan by Asia Highlights
My initial inquiry to this company (based in China) was answered in under 10 hours by an amazing travel consultant, named Alisa. She is such a professional in the ways she conducts herself and serves her clients. Alisa is a great communicator and listener. She is very open to requests for additional experiences which require research on her part to arrange. Alisa also provides very detailed information about each experience, location, guides, private car transfers, trains, hotels. This approach is very appealing since detailed communication is so useful and important to me. Alisa also makes the process simple and easy to follow. Answered tons of questions and created the perfect tour for us. We are looking forward to this once in a lifetime visit to Japan and are so grateful we have had the chance to work with Alisa at Asia Highlights! MoreLaurie Lee, Feb 2023
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Handcrafted tour of Japan by Asia Highlights
I am planning a private, very “hands-on” experiential tour of Japan for my family and friends. I chose to work with the 11 day Classic Japan tour and add our own spin. This will be our first visit to the home of our ancestors. I reviewed 20+ travel companies before making the choice to use Asia Highlights because of their private “handcrafted” tours. MoreLaurie Lee, Feb 2023
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Great Overall Experience
Our guide in Tokyo, Fuki, was outstanding. We saw things we would never have otherwise seen, if Fuki had not been there. MoreTodd Hankinson, Dec 2022
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Great Overall Experience
Albee was always available, helpful and forthright with what was available and what was not.She was very helpful. MoreTodd Hankinson, Dec 2022
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Plenty of options and personalized tours as needed
Monica Mo was very helpful from the beginning after I enquired about my travel plans to Japan. She listened with understanding and took careful notes and clarified things to make sure she got everything. MoreGinybel Belgira, Sep 2022
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Asia Highlights especially Ms. Kanae Chida superb
Asia Highlights and particularly our Tokyo guide, Ms. Kanae Chida, were the best. When Kanae met us, she asked for details of what we wished to see and she constructed an outstanding combination of visits for the day. MoreGeoff Rayner-Canham, May 2019
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Asia Highlights especially Ms. Kanae Chida superb
When Kanae met us, she asked for details of what we wished to see and she constructed an outstanding combination of visits for the day. In addition to the temples and the old historic streets, she discovered that I loved azelia flowers. MoreGeoff Rayner-Canham, May 2019
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I have arranged a 27 day tour of China, Japan and Hong Kong China
Peggie's English is impeccable and she uses lots of nuances which usually only a native English speaker would know. I have found her very prompt in responding to emails and her knowledge is terrific. MoreAilsa West, Jul 2018
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Itinerary in Detail
We arrange plenty of cultural activities to help create memorable experiences along the way. We also take time to admire the nature, and enjoy great foods. Of course, all of them are adjustable according to your ideas!
Welcome to Osaka — a charming, relaxed city, best known for its food and culture!
Arrive in Kansai International Airport (KIX) and travel to your hotel by private transfer. Catch the night atmosphere of Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi Shopping Street and sample various local delicacies, if there is time available after arrival.
Witness the best of Kobe and taste its world-famous Wagyu beef and seafood:
- Step onto Akashi Strait Bridge, the suspension bridge across the Akashi Strait in west-central Japan. It was the world's longest suspension bridge when it opened on April 5, 1998.
- Have a walk on the Maiko Marine Promenade — suspended 47 meters above the sea, it has a total length of 317 meters overlooking the Akashi Strait.
- Visit the Awaji Yumebutai hillside complex that is designed for you to feel as many natural elements as possible, such as water, wind, light, shade, mountains, gardens, sky, and ocean, which you might need more of if your daily lives lack them.
- Finish the day with the incredible panorama of Kobe see from the Mt. Rokko Observatory — selected as one of the "Three Major Night Views of Japan".
- Have some famous Kobe Wagyu ('Japanese beef') for lunch and a seafood buffet for dinner.
On day 3, we would travel from Kobe to northern Kyoto:
- Visit various Western-style buildings that were built during the Meiji and Taisho eras (1868–1926) at Kobe Kitano Ijinkan Gai — the old foreign settlement quarter.
- Moving to northern Kyoto, explore Ine Fishing Village with a cruise for an overall view of the charming village — the distinctive boathouses that line the bay offer an interesting historical perspective.
- Back to Kyoto, take a cable car up to Kasamatsu Park Observatory for a superb hillside view of Amanohashidate — a pine-covered sandbar famous as one of "Japan's Three Scenic Views".
This is a special day for experiencing the local cultural and traditional elements of Kyoto:
- Walk around Miyama's Thatched Village and enjoy the atmosphere and charming views of its tall thatched roofs mirroring a mountain backdrop.
- Back in Kyoto, have a local tea ceremony and pastries for a restful interlude.
- Then, have a short walk in Gion — a district of Kyoto in front of Gion Shrine. Originating as an entertainment district in the Sengoku Period (1467–1573), it eventually evolved to become one of the most exclusive and well-known geisha districts in all of Japan.
On day 5, we would visit the top highlights of Kyoto:
- See the impressive shining Zen temple — the Golden Pavilion — a structure built overlooking a large pond, its top two floors completely covered in gold leaf.
- Then, enter the pleasant area of Arashiyama, a popular destination since the Heian Period (794–1185), when nobles would enjoy its natural setting.
- Get some great photos at Fushimi Inari Shrine — an important Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto, famous for its thousands of vermillion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings.
Looking for something different? On day 6, we would head to Koyasan and immerse ourselves in Shingon Buddhism:
- Drive to Koyasan in the morning from Kyoto, and spend the whole day and night getting a taste of a monk's lifestyle, eating vegetarian monk's cuisine, and attending the morning prayers there.
- Free at leisure and feel the Zen atmosphere.
The day is mainly for relaxing after 5 days of travel and discovery:
- Back at the seaside, check out Senjojiki — 'One Thousand Tatami Mats'. A relaxing walk on its smooth stone formations would be fun!
- Enjoy a sunbathe or swim at Shirarahama Beach — the best beach in Kansai.
- Take a glass-bottom boat to discover the wonders of the clear sea, or simply have a hot spring bath at Shirahama Onsen — Japan's oldest hot spring resort.
- Enjoy fugu ryori (a Japanese pufferfish delicacy) after the daytrip.
- We hope the journey home provides a happy ending to your west Japan experience!
- An Osaka Kansai Airport private transfer would be arranged.
Hand-Picked Hotels
We have selected hotels with different styles and for different budgets. Let us know your preferences and we will help you find the right one.
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Traditional Temple Lodging in Koyasan
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Hotel with convenient location in Kobe
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Great hotel for leisure in Miyazu, Kyoto
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Unique hotel with fine location in Kyoto
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Our Service Includes:
- Private transport and personal English-speaking tour guide
- All guided sightseeing as detailed in the itinerary
- Hotel accommodation mentioned in the itinerary
- Breakfasts at hotels
- Governmental taxes
Tour code: ah-jp-14
Start planning your tailor-made tour now. Your 1:1 travel consultant will reply within 1 working day.
Why Travel with Asia Highlights During the Pandemic
- Tailor-made experience: All of your ideas/needs will be carefully considered to create your ideal trip.
- Worry-free planning: Your 1:1 travel consultant in Asia will take all the uncertainty out of your planning, helping you navigate any travel restrictions.
- No-risk booking: 100% refund policy! (prior to 3 weeks before departure, more details)
Get Inspired with Our Sample Itineraries
At Asia Highlights, we create your kind of journey — your dates, your destinations, at your pace. You can have any trip tailor made for your travel.
