Kansai International Airport (KIX) is the main international gateway for Osaka, Kyoto and the wider Kansai region. The best way into the city depends largely on where you are staying. JR West’s HARUKA is especially convenient for Kyoto, Shin-Osaka and Tennoji, while Nankai’s Rapi:t and Airport Express are particularly useful for Namba and southern Osaka. … Read more
Traveling from Osaka to Hiroshima by train is fast and straightforward thanks to the Sanyo Shinkansen. Direct Shinkansen trains run from Shin-Osaka Station to Hiroshima Station, with the fastest services completing the journey in around 1 hour 20 minutes. For most travelers, the main choice is between Nozomi, Mizuho and Sakura. All three can take … Read more
The Kansai WIDE Area Pass is one of the most useful regional rail passes for travelers who want to go beyond the usual Osaka–Kyoto–Nara circuit. It covers a much larger area than the standard Kansai Area Pass, including destinations such as Himeji, Okayama, Kurashiki, Kinosaki Onsen, Amanohashidate, Tottori, Shirahama and Takamatsu. The pass is valid … Read more
Staying in an Osaka hotel with an in-room kitchen can make a family trip much easier, especially if you are traveling with children or staying for several nights. A kitchen or kitchenette gives you the flexibility to prepare breakfast, store groceries and drinks, make simple meals, and avoid eating every meal at a restaurant. For … Read more
Having a washer and dryer inside your hotel room can make a family trip to Japan much easier. You can pack fewer clothes, deal with spills immediately, and run a load of laundry in the evening without waiting for a shared hotel machine. Osaka is particularly good for this type of accommodation. Several hotels and … Read more
This Nara travel guide covers one of Japan’s most historically important cities and one of the easiest cultural day trips from Kyoto or Osaka. In 710, Japan’s capital was established at Heijokyo in present-day Nara. During the Nara period, Buddhism flourished and some of the country’s most important temples, sculptures, and religious traditions developed here. … Read more
Dotonbori is one of the places that immediately comes to mind when people picture Osaka: giant illuminated signs, crowded streets, takoyaki, restaurants, the canal, and the famous Glico running man overlooking Ebisubashi Bridge. Located in Osaka’s lively Minami district, Dotonbori is both a major sightseeing destination and one of the city’s best areas for eating, … Read more
Hikone Castle by train is an easy and rewarding day trip from Kyoto or Maibara, combining one of Japan’s best-preserved original castles with scenic Lake Biwa surroundings. Located in Shiga Prefecture on the eastern side of Lake Biwa, Hikone is easy to reach from Kyoto and makes a particularly convenient stop if you are traveling … Read more
Himeji Castle by train is one of the easiest and most rewarding castle trips in Japan, with direct Shinkansen access and a simple walk from JR Himeji Station. Located in Hyogo Prefecture between Osaka and Hiroshima, the castle is served by JR Himeji Station on the Sanyo Shinkansen. From the station, you can walk straight … Read more