Best Visiting around Kansai Spot List

The head temple of the Shinshu Otani sect of Buddhism is located within walking distance from Kyoto Station. The local residents refer to it affectionately as ”Ohigashi-san.”

Be healed by the wabi-sabi of this Muromachi-period elegant garden that transcends space and time

A tea ceremony sanctuary that started as a gathering of artists

A famous winter event in Kyu-Kyoryuchi

Famous for ”The Scrolls of Frolicking Animals and Humans”

A three-tiered pagoda and world heritage site, 1200 years old

It has good access and takes only about 2 hours from Osaka. Slopes are compact but you never get tired with the course designs.

Every Tuesday is free ladies' day this season!

A shrine to the beautiful Mount Miwa, worshiped since ancient times

A magnificent shrine dedicated to Emperor Jinmu and his Empress

An ancient ritual practice in which several deer are chased down to have their antlers trimmed

A famous spot for cherry blossoms which line a path along the Okawa River

The orderly lineup of 1001 thousand-armed Kannon is superb

Japan's oldest convent was a gift from Prince Shotoku to his mother

During the Nara Period, the guardian deity of the hiike (pond where ice used in the Imperial court was made) and the himuro (storeroom for ice), which were built in the Kasugano field beside Yoshiki-gawa River, was enshrined in the shrine. It was later moved to the current location. On May 1 every year, a festival called Kenpyosai takes place in which workers at companies that make and sell ice pray for success in business. The current shrine pavilion is said to have been reconstructed in the Edo Period. Also, the weeping cherry trees in the shrine grounds are very beautiful.

Located just north of Hokke-do in the Todai-ji Temple complex, Nigatsu-do is known as a place where Shuni-e (Omizu-tori or Sacred Water-drawing Festival) takes place every March. Nigatsu-do was named so since Shuni-e was held in February (nigatsu in Japanese) in the old calendar. Fire destroyed it in 1667, but two years later the current building was reconstructed exactly as it was before the fire. The building's design features a cascading style of architecture, and provides a commanding view of the roof of the Great Buddha Hall and Nara city. The principal image is the Juichimen Kannon, which is never shown to the public.

This attraction introduces the culture and history of Austria, with a central emphasis on Mozart. You'll see valuable items on display, such as a replica of the piano that Mozart used for composing, and a music score written in his original handwriting. On the terrace you can enjoy the imperial torte set (1,350 JPY), which is imported directly from Vienna, as well as Austrian beer and wine.

This is the home theater of the Takarazuka Revue, which enthralls its audiences with fantastic stage performances. These spectacular theatrical plays and shows are conducted in turn by one of the five troupes: Flower, Moon, Snow, Star, and Cosmos; each troupe has a top star called otoko yaku (a male role). The plays performed range widely from original plays to overseas musicals to revues. This grand theater is exclusive to the Takarazuka Revue and comes with a history stretching back over 100 years. The live orchestra accompanying performances is one of the big attractions of these shows in the grand theater.

The Dotombori-gawa River slices right through the Minami district of Osaka, and it is from the river's Ebisubashi Bridge that you can view the famous Glico neon billboard up close. The riverside promenade called Tombori River Walk exudes a tasty atmosphere. Tombori River Cruise, in which you can enjoy the scenery of Dotombori from the river, is open for an only limited time.