関西 - 日本のもう一つの観光の心臓

Kansai - The Other Touristic Heart of Japan Kansai The Other Touristic Heart of Japan Kanpai's rating Add to my favorite places Already visited Kansai is a region of Japan, also called Kinki, located on the main island Honshu. Encompassing six prefectures, it is the second most populated area of the archipelago with more than 22 million inhabitants, and it is home to large cities of long history such as Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Himeji or Kobe. Establishing a turning point and real link between the East of Honshu ( Chubu ) and the West of Japan towards South ( Chugoku ), the Kansai area officially includes six prefectures ( Kyoto , Osaka , Hyogo, Nara , Shiga, and Wakayama ). Mie prefecture is considered part of the touristic Kansai but is an administrative subdivision of the Chubu area ( Nagoya ). The Kansai area belongs to the Japanese megalopolis (or Tokaido corridor) and is one of the most famous of the archipelago for having Japan’s most traditional places . Additionally, several Japanese arts originate from Kansai, such as Noh and Kabuki theaters, Bunraku puppet theater or the tea ceremony. There is even a local dialect, the Kansai-ben . How to travel in the area? Kansai is of an easy access from Tokyo , about 2h30 by Shinkansen 🚅 , and has its own international airport (KIX, Kansai International Airport) located 30 minutes from Osaka and Kyoto. Like Kanto , it is a densely populated area served by a public transport network connecting most of the sightseeing attractions. The network is easy to use thanks to the Japan Rail Pass and other local transportation passes. Kyoto is characterized by the predominance of bus transportation , even if cycling is also very convenient. Touring more remote places such as in Hyogo or Wakayama prefectures for example requires a car 🚙 . Kobe is also an important cruise port , interesting for those who would like to go by boat. In Osaka Bay, several ferries connect with Awaji Island and other destinations in Japan, such as Shikoku Island and the small islands of the Seto Inland Sea. Why explore the Kansai area? Kansai is the historical heart of the archipelago , and its discovery includes Kyoto and Nara , two former imperial capitals. The area does not have any active volcano 🌋 , but it is characterized by low and medium mountain ranges, with a lot of ancient and spiritual places: Ise , the cradle of the Shinto religion and many Buddhist pilgrim trails crossing the mountains and the forests. Many of Kansai’s cultural sites are listed in the UNESCO World Heritage . Japan’s modern face and the opening to the world is obvious around the very urbanized Osaka Bay, and with the international ports of Osaka and Kobe , both underrated cities that are worth a detour. Kyoto Prefecture It naturally includes the city of Kyoto, and it extends towards north to the Sea of Japan , where one can find Amanohashidate , one of the three most scenic places of Japan. The former imperial capital and the remains of its thousand-year-old history are nonetheless a must-see and attract a flow of tourists, with sometimes a negative impact on the visit. Kyoto gathers the largest number of active geisha and maiko and it is not unusual to encounter them in Gion district for example. Uji , the Japanese capital of tea, is home to the Byodo-in temple and is also the second most populated city of the prefecture. Osaka prefecture It mainly consists of Osaka City and spreads on the eastern side of the eponymous bay. Very eclectic, it is home to one of the most ancient Shinto shrines of Japan, Sumiyoshi Taisha , the modern castle 🏯 Osaka-jo , and also the theme park 🎡 Universal Studios Japan . Osaka is renowned for its spirit, its night life and gastronomy , and was by the way nicknamed the "kitchen of Japan". The city will host 2025 World Expo. Nara prefecture The former Yamato province, in the heart of the Kii peninsula, in the south of Kyoto, is known for its eponymous capital, that was once an imperial capital and concentrates lots of ancient temples and shrines , including a Great Buddha in Todai-ji temple. The deer roaming freely are another popular attraction. Mount Yoshino , in the Yoshino-Kumano National Park, reveals all its charms in spring , with the blooming of 30,000 sakura 🌸 planted at various altitudes to have a longer-lasting Ohanami season. Hyogo prefecture While delimiting the frontier with the Chugoku area, it spans on both coasts of the Seto Inland Sea and of the Sea of Japan. Its capital, Kobe , is an important port town from where the famous beef is exported. Many historic sites are scattered on its territory , such as Himeji Castle, or the ruins of Takeda Castle . It is also home to famous hot spring resorts , such as Kinosaki Onsen ♨️ and Arima Onsen. As for Awaji Island, it offers a variety of entertainments, with themed parks and traditional sites. Shiga prefecture In the heart of Honshu, the prefecture is surrounding Lake Biwa , Japan’s largest freshwater reservoir. Its capital Otsu, at the doorstep of Kyoto, is also the gateway to several Buddhist temple complexes , such as Enryaku-ji. Its mountainous and strategic location was leveraged to build castles , like in Hikone , and for trade in Omihachiman , an ancient feudal city on the water. Wakayama prefecture The prefecture is hugging Kii peninsula’s southern side and opens on Wakayama Bay. With a lot of mountains and forests, it is sheltering important sacred places , such as Mount Koya , the starting point of Shikoku’s pilgrimage, and the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trails to the Kumano Sanzan Shinto shrines. Mie prefecture Directly accessible by Kintetsu train from Osaka and Kyoto, it is included in Kansai’s sightseeing area while administratively under the Chubu area. It is one of the birthplaces of Shinto and of the imperial lineage, symbolized by Ise Jingu Grand Shrine in Ise City. Ise- Shima National Park is best traveled by car to easily reach its wonderful views on the Pacific Ocean. It is also a place for oyster pearls cultivation, that are harvested by the Ama traditional divers . ⬇️ Further down this page, discover our visit guide in Kansai and around. By Kanpai Updated on August 09, 2022 Kansai Review this place Have you ever visited Kansai ? Share your opinion Community's rating 3.79 /5 (14 votes) Our Pictures of Kansai Getting Ready How to go to Kansai? The region is easily accessible: By plane , through Kansai International Airport (KIX), close to Osaka By train , through the numerous JR Shinkansen stations, like Kyoto and Shin-Osaka, about 2h45 from Tokyo 🚄 Free travel with the JR Pass: Order Japan Rail Pass (from ~$335) Find a flight to Osaka Travel Insurance Get a travel insurance in case of cancellation or accident Where to stay in Kansai? Book your hotel on Hotels.com or Expedia Internet Access Stay connected with a Pocket Wifi in Japan Information Where is Kansai? You must consent to the processing of your data by MapTiler (Switzerland) or GoogleMaps (USA) to display the map Accept Use Google Maps See Japan's Map On site How to say Kansai in Japanese? 関西 Other name(s): 近畿 ( Kinki ) How much is it? Get your Japanese Yens free of charge Private guide Book an English-speaking guide in Japan What to visit in Kansai? Kyoto The Magical Ancient Capital of Japan Kyoto is a large city of the Kansai area, located in the south-west of Lake Biwa. Once also named Heian-kyo,… Kanpai's rating Osaka Kyoto’s Rebellious Neighbour After Tokyo and Yokohama, Osaka is the third largest city in Japan, with 2.66 million inhabitants. Located… Kanpai's rating Nara 🦌 Beautiful Temples and Cute Deers in the City Nara is a small city of the Kansai area on Honshu island, only 42 kilometers south of Kyoto and is also the… Kanpai's rating Yoshinoyama The Amazing 30,000 Sakura Mountain Mount Yoshino is a Japanese mountain on which was built the eponymous little town, located in Nara prefecture… Kanpai's rating Mount Yamato Katsuragi The Wonderful Azalea Mountain of Kansai Yamato Katsuragi-san is a mountain near Gose city, in Nara prefecture. Its 960 meters altitude summit is… Kanpai's rating Amanohashidate The Bridge in the Sky Amanohashidate is a three-kilometers long sandbank covered with pine trees that crosses Miyazu Bay near the… Kanpai's rating Kumano Kodo The Ancient Pilgrimage Routes in Kii Mountain Range Kumano Kodo is an ancient network of pilgrimage trails located in Kii Mountain Range, south to Osaka in… Kanpai's rating Iwashimizu Hachiman-gu The Wonderful Shrine in the South of Kyoto Iwashimizu Hachiman-gu is a shinto shrine built at the top of Mount Otokoyama in Yawata city, about fifteen… Kanpai's rating Hozan-ji The Great Temple on Mount Ikoma Hozan-ji is a Buddhist temple of the Shingon Risshu school located on the side of Mount Ikoma, in Nara… Kanpai's rating Chogosonshi-ji Shigisan’s Tiger Temple Chogosonshi-ji is a temple affiliated to Shingon Buddhism, located on Mount Shigi in Heguri city, in Nara… Kanpai's rating Uji Kyoto’s Little Sister Uji is the second biggest city of Kyoto prefecture, with almost 190,000 inhabitants for a total surface of… Kanpai's rating Ine The Fisherman's Village by the Water Ine-cho is a small, picturesque town in the north of Kyoto prefecture, in Wakasa Bay in the east of Tango… Kanpai's rating Mount Koya The buddhist pilgrimage of Wakayama Mount Koya is a sacred mountain located in the Kii peninsula, in the Wakayama prefecture, 100 kilometers… Kanpai's rating Shiga (Prefecture) The Inspirational Lake Biwa Area Shiga is a Japanese prefecture encompassing Lake Biwa in the east of Kyoto in the Kansai area, in the heart… Kanpai's rating Ise-Shima Peninsula Nature and Tourism in Mie’s Heart Ise-Shima Peninsula is located at the entrance of Ise Bay, in the east of Mie Prefecture and to the south of… Kanpai's rating Wakayama The authentic seaside city of the Kansai region Wakayama is the capital city of the eponymous prefecture, located at the west entrance of Kii Peninsula, in… Kanpai's rating Miyama The Tha