Best around Kansai Spot List

Midosuji takes its name from the Kita Mido Hall and the Minami Mido Hall, which are branch temples of Higashi Hongan-ji Temple and Nishi Hongan-ji Temple located by the roadside. As the face of Osaka, this grand boulevard runs through the city's heart and entertainment area and is lined with banks, trading company buildings, and hotels. Stretching 44 meters wide, the road extends four kilometers southwards from the front of Hankyu Department Store beside Osaka Station to Namba Station. The road is lined with four rows of gingko trees, whose leaves turn a beautiful yellow in autumn.

With its superb bayside location, this large complex attracts many people coming to enjoy dining and shopping. Within the building, you can enjoy various facilities such as ATC Asobi Mare, which is an indoor playground where parents and children can play all day long, and Mentai Park Osaka ATC, which is a mentaiko (seasoned cod roe) theme park where you can join a factory tour and sample some mentaiko. Moreover, live music performances and special exhibitions take place all year round. The outdoor Umie-ru Ground includes a picnic square with play equipment made by BorneLund and a miniature garden where you can gaze upon seasonal flowers. It's also a great place to watch the sun set.

Offering tranquil outdoor hot-spring baths with nature views, a Nakai-san personal attendant, karaoke, massages and sumptuous Kaiseki dinners, Yunominesou is a 10-minute walk from Tsuboyu hot spring, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The traditional rooms at Yunominesou Ryokan have sliding paper screens, floor cushions and Japanese futon bedding on a tatami (woven-straw) floor. Guests can relax in the Yukata robe or watch the LCD TV. All rooms include a toilet, an electric kettle and a fridge. The ryokan is a 10-minute walk from the beautiful Kumano Kodo forest path, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is 37 km from JR Shingu Train Station and 53 km from JR Kiitanabe Train Station. On-site parking is free. Guests can enjoy a game of ping-pong or billiards, or browse the gift shop. Two private hot-spring bathes can be used when it's available. A set-menu Japanese breakfast and dinner are served at the property restaurant. Guests with dinner included in the rate must check in by 18:30 to eat dinner at the property. Guests checking in after this time may not be served dinner, and no refund will be given. There are no restaurants in the area, so dining at the hotel is recommended.

A bathhouse exuding old-fashioned charm

Located in the Nanki Katsuura hot-spring area, guests at Hotel Urashima can enjoy natural Bokido cave hot-spring baths. The hotel offers 4 other public hot-spring baths. The property offers free shuttle service by car or ferry for limited hours per day, both a 10-minute ride from JR Kii Katsuura Station. Free WiFi is available in the public areas. The air-conditioned rooms feature tatami (woven-straw) floors and Japanese futon bedding. A TV, fridge and an electric kettle with green tea bags are included in each. Rooms come with a private toilet but bathrooms are shared. An outdoor swimming pool is open during the summer and a coin launderette is provided for guests to use. Local gifts can be purchased at the souvenir shop and a karaoke room is available as well. A breakfast and dinner buffet are served at the hotel’s dining room. Urashima Hotel is a 15-minute walk from Katsuura Fishing Port and a 20-minute drive from Taiji Whale Museum.

Meet the two famous cats that manage the station

This studio has started offering a new experience called the Maiko Location Photo Plan, where you can take a photo in front of a Kyo-machiya (townhouse in Kyoto) or in the Higashiyama area. To experience being a maiko, you can choose from a variety of gorgeous attire and wear traditional Japanese makeup using face powder and a water-soluble lipstick. Other popular plans include Couple Plan where you can take a photo with your partner wearing a kimono, and the Kids Maiko Plan for children aged five and over (height: 100 centimeters or more).

A wide range of medicines, cosmetics, daily necessities, food, etc., with favorable prices and considerate services

Enjoy the world of konamon foods by eating and learning about them

Offering public baths, OYO旅館 奈良白鹿荘 Nara is just a 2-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Train Station. The air-conditioned rooms feature free Wi-Fi and a full private bathroom. The Japanese rooms at OYO旅館 奈良白鹿荘 Nara Ryokan have tatami (woven-straw) floors, shoji paper screens and traditional futon beds. Each comes with a fridge and satellite TV. Kofuku-ji Temple and Nara National Museum are both a 10-minute walk. Todaiji Temple is 1.2 km away and OYO旅館 奈良白鹿荘 Nara is a 10-minute walk from Isuien. Bicycle rental is offered, allowing for fun and easy exploration. Kansai Airport is a 100-minute bus ride away. A Japanese breakfast is served in the banquet hall. Dinner is served in guests’ rooms.

As the Otani Bypass has been completed, it is more easily accessible from Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe. Very close, clean and good snow.

Shimahana offers spacious rooms with harbor views and a balcony. It features hot spring baths with sea views, a spa and an outdoor pool. Bicycle rentals are available. Featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, rooms at sea-side hotel Shimahana come with a seating area, an LCD TV and a DVD player. A fridge, a tea/coffee maker and a safe are provided. Guests at Shimahana can unwind in a public or private hot spring bath, the bubble bath or the sauna. Shimahana offers games and a children’s room. Seafood and organic food are served at restaurant Usami and grill restaurant Shimahou. Natural Café Haibana features harbor views. Shimahana provides a free shuttle from Sumoto Express Bus Centre. The hotel is a 6-minute drive from Sumoto-jo Castle and a 10-minute drive from Narigashima Beach.

Featuring a Japanese garden, hot-spring baths and a vase gallery, Mikuniya is 250 metres from JR Kinosaki-Onsen Train Station. The Japanese rooms have a DVD player and traditional futon beds. Air-conditioned rooms with tatami (woven-straw) floors and shoji paper screens await guests at Mikuniya Ryokan. Each room has an electric kettle and en suite toilet. Bathrooms are shared. Located in the Shirosaki Onsen area, Mikuniya is a 2-minute walk from Sato-no-yu Outdoor Public Hot Spring. The ryokan is 1 km from Kinosaki Ropeway. Kinosaki Marine World is 4.5 km away. Three private baths are available for use free of charge (No reservation required). Free Wi-Fi are offered. Japanese-style breakfasts and dinners are served.

The large scale ski area! High quality snow and the rich variation of trails are amongst the many attractions.

Built in the Gongen-zukuri style, this shrine was founded by the lord of the Kishu domain, Yorinobu Tokugawa, in 1621 to enshrine his father Ieyasu. Similar to Nikko Tosho-gu Shrine, the magnificent shrine pavilion is surrounded by sculptures by Jingoro Hidari and wall paintings by Tanyu Kano. Seven shrine structures including the Haiden, the Honden, and the vermillion Romon Gate, are designated as national Important Cultural Properties. At the shrine, Mikoshitogyo, which is one of the great festivals called Wakamatsuri, takes place where men carry mikoshi (portable shrine carried in festivals) and courageously descend 108 steps, followed by a parade of 1,000 people.

This is a park that was built by reconstructing and maintaining a scenic spot called Maiko Beach. Stretching about 800 meters along the coast, the beach is the best location to view the illumination of the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge. It's a great spot for spending a romantic moment with the gentle sound of the surf as the backdrop. Pets are not allowed in the beach area.

Legend has it that the temple buildings were built by Emperor Shomu. In addition to the exquisite Kamakura-Period-style Romon Gate (National Treasure) facing the old road, there is a Kamakura-Period-style thirteen-story pagoda (Important Cultural Property) towering at the center of the temple grounds. The temple is also famous for its cosmos flowers.

The mecca of alpine board and ski competitions located 21Km (30minutes) from Youkahyonosen IC on the KitaKinki-Toyooka Expressway

Founded by Kobo-Daishi Kukai, this is a sacred place of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism, boasting a history of 1,200 years. Scattered across the mountain at approximately 900 meters above sea level are 117 temples, including Kongobu-ji Temple, forming a large religious town. With Danjogaran and Okuno-in at its core, this sacred territory has been visited by large number of Kukai's followers. Since the town is surrounded by forests, Mt. Koya is a great place to enjoy some hiking while visiting the temples.

Originally an antique book district before the war, stores selling electrical appliances started to appear, and Den Den town developed into an electrical appliance district around 1950s. Nowadays there are some 200 stores that deal with household appliances, personal computers, audio devices, mobile phones, and lighting equipment. Recent years have seen stores related to pop culture such as anime and games springing up, and in response to the increased number of foreign tourists, there are now plenty of tax-free shops, too.