Japan Kansai Travel Guide, Tailor-made Japan Tour Packages
Kansai
The Kansai region or the Kinki region lies in the southern-central region of Japan's main island Honshu. The region includes Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, and Shiga. Depending on who makes the distinction, Fukui, Tokushima and even Tottori Prefecture are also included.
This region is the cultural and historical heart of Japan with 11% of its land area. In the north the region is bordered by the Sea of Japan, to the south by the Kii Peninsula and Pacific Ocean, and to the east by the Ibuki Mountains and Ise Bay.
Four of Japan's national parks lie within its borders, in whole or in part. The area also contains six of the seven top prefectures in terms of national treasures.
Destinations | Major cities
Kyoto
Kyoto is a city located in the central part of the island of Honshu. It attracts millions of local and international visitors each year looking for traditional Japanese culture, because of formerly the imperial capital of Japan for more than one thousand years, it is now the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture located in the Kansai region, as well as a major part of the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe metropolitan area, and It is quite rare that one city abounds so many UNESCO sites.
Osaka
Osaka is a charming and relaxed city, the second largest metropolitan area in Japan and among the largest in the world with nearly 19 million inhabitants. Historically a merchant city, Osaka has also been known as the "nation's kitchen" and served as a center for the rice trade during the Edo period, and fun, and nightlife-with some history and culture peeking through.
Nara
Nara is the capital city of Nara Prefecture located in the Kansai region of Japan. Located less than one hour from Kyoto and Osaka. Due to its past as the first permanent capital, the city remains full of historic treasures, including some of Japan's oldest and largest temples. Together with Kasugayama Primeval Forest, collectively form "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara", a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Kobe
Kobe is the capital of Hyogo Prefecture and one of Japan's ten largest cities, renowned for Kobe Beef that a prized Japanese delicacy and probably the most widely-known regional specialty food in Japan. While the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake diminished much of Kobe's prominence as a port city, it remains Japan's fourth busiest container port. Companies headquartered in Kobe include ASICS, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and Kobe Steel, as well as over 100 international corporations with Asian or Japanese headquarters in the city."
Himeji
Himeji is most famous for its magnificent castle which is designated both a national treasure and a UNESCO world heritage site, widely considered to be Japan's most beautiful surviving feudal castle. For over 400 years, Himeji Castle has remained intact, even throughout the extensive bombing in World War II and natural disasters such as the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake and various typhoons.
Uji
Uji is a small city situated between Kyoto and Nara, two of Japan's most famous historical and cultural centers. The city sits on the Uji River that the romantic riverside district the picturesque town of Uji is a prime setting in the 11th-century literary masterpiece The Tale of Genji. Go without saying, this town famous for tea, tea ceremony, the tea fields, tea shops and sacred sites make this town a popular day-trip destination from Kyoto.