関 西 (K A N S A I)
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Kansai is the focus for every trip to Japan. Here are the most castles, shrines and temples. If you are short in time you might skip Tokyo (with Kamakura and Nikko) and fly directly to Kansai aiport instead.
In simple terms the region of Kansai is the area around Kyoto and Osaka and consists of 7 prefectures with many places I consider to be a must visit: Kyoto-ken (Kyoto, Uji), Osaka-ken, Hyogo-ken in the west (Himeji und Kobe), Shiga-ken in the northeast, Mie-ken in the southeast (Ise), and Nara-ken (Ikaruga, Nara) and Wakayama-ken (Koyasan) in the south.
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The most important places that are be a „must vist“ are:
- Kyoto — you need at least 2 days
- Nara — filled with a couple of important temples (daytrip)
- Koyasan — the temple Mountain (daytrip from Osaka)
- Himeji — a brief stop between two hotels is enough to visit the castle
- Osaka — a few very good attraction coverable within a daytrip
京都 : Kyoto — MUST VISIT, 3 days+
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The sightseeing spot are spread all over the cit area. You need at least 2 days to cover the most important places. In difference to Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya there is a no useful subway. You have to rely a lot on busses and walking. But there are no landlines in Kyoto, that will ruin your pictures. To visit the emperor palace you have to register before (maybe weeks before to get a free spot) and there are only guided tours. More informations I will write on the Kyoto page (I still have to write.
Day trips: Kyoto provides good access to Uji (must visit) and Nara (should vist). Ikaruga (must vist) is also possible but here Osaka is a better place to start.
大阪 : Osaka — MUST VISIT, 2 days
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Osaka has many places to visit, but in total I would rate them not at the top of the list, but the are a „must visit“ for sure. Osaka is only one hour away from Kyoto by train. Therefore you should consider to do one or two daytrips instead of staying in Osaka. The important attractions are: Tennoji, Osaka castle, Sumiyoshi Taisha, Tsutenkaku und Harakas 300 (and Dotomburi at night). In the south is Mozu with its keyhole shape burrial grounds (check it out at google maps). During autumn moon there is a matsuri at Mozu Shrine you really should visit.
奈良 : Nara — MUST VISIT, 1 day+
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Like Kamakura it is a place filled the temples and shrines. If I remember correct it has the biggest buddha statue (Kamakura is only on place 2) and the highest wooden building in the world (I have to check up both facts). Nara is a must visit. if you have to decide between Uji an Nara, you really should go for Nara. Nara is a perfect daytrip from Osaka. Because doing so you can take a brief stop in Ikaruga. You should focus on the highlights. Otherwise the 4:30pm deadline is killing you.
斑鳩 : Ikaruga, Naraken — MUST VISIT, 1/2 day
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This place is a must visit and shouldn’t be a lucky accident like on my first trip to Japan. Holy Moly. The Horyuji is a world heritage and the Hokkiji next door is a national treasure. Warning: If you plan to visit Nara and Ikaruga on the same day, you only can cover the highlights of Nara and it is a tight schedule. You need 2 hours minimum for Ikaruga and these two hour you will miss in Nara. Getting to Ikaruga is possible from Osaka and Kyoto with Osaka beeing the better starting point.
宇治 : Uji, Kyotoken — MUST VISIT, 1/2 day
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Uji is famous for its green tea and the phoenix hall (displayed on the 10yen coin). The tales of Genji (a famous and important peace of japanese literature) is set in Uji. Therefore there is Genji museum. Beside that there are some shrines and temples. My rating is: Nara, Ikaruga, Uji. Uji is accessable from Kyoto; and also from Osaka but with long (time consuming) arrival.
伊勢 : Ise, Mieken — MUST VISIT, 1 day (day trip)
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Ise is the Vatikan of Shinto. The most important shrine is here. In fact, there are two shrines. Both are located in a forest area. The so called outer shrine is 5min away by walk from the train station. There is a bus connection to the inner shrine. There is also a pilgrimage. On the entrance to the inner shrine also begin a very nice shopping street with old wooden houses. Don’t miss it.
You should plan th whole day. Do not make the mistake I did and visit Toba. Ise is also an idea for a base camp to explore the Mie peninsula. Nagoya can be done by 80% as a day trip. Then Toba is an option and the married rocks (don’t know the correct english term) as well, but both places don’t have a high priority. Time consuming travel and not much to see.
夫婦岩 : Meoto Iwa, Mieken — skip it, 1/2 day
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This place is nothing more than two tiny rocks in the water with a rope between them. In Shinto this is a special place. But for a non-japanese tourist … Only visit if you have some spare time. A combination with a visit to Ise is possible, but visit the rocks first. Train connections are not good, specially in the evening. Here Ise also provides some restaurants for dinner.
鳥羽 : Toba, Mieken — skip it, 1 day
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In Toba is the island of pearls. The realm of Mikomoto. The entrance is pricy. Famous attraction are the female pearl divers. But it is not spectacular. You see the boat and the women diving. Next thing you is, that they are back at the surface with a seashell. Beside that there is nothing intesting that is worth the travel time. If you have your base camp in Nagoya and really have to go to Toba (because of your girl friend), get up early, visit Toba first and after that Ise. Waiting for a train back to Nagoya is a mood killer. Better spend the evening in the shopping street in Ise.
天橋立 : Amanohashidate, Kyotoken — can, 1 day
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Amanohashidate is one of the free famous sceneries of Japan. Sure, the sanbank with all these pine trees is a unique view, but that’s it: a sandbank with pine trees. At the southern side is the train station and a small temple. On the northern side is a shrine and an old temple in the mountains (bus). On both sides is a sightseeing platform. Getting there is difficult. It takes at least 2 hours from Kyoto. It is doable as a daytrip.
姫路 : Himeji, Hyogoken — MUST VISIT, 1/2 day
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Himeji castle is a defintion of a „must vist“. It is the most beautfil and well known castle of Japan. And it is in walking distance of the train station. Therefore this hightlight of Japan can be visited as a stop over if you change location. A little bit away (you need to take the bus) is a temple area in the mountain. The temple is worth a visit but transforms Himeji from a stop over to a full daytrip. Therefore fpor me the temple is only optional.
神戸 : Kobe, Hyogoken — can, 1 day
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Most people associate the big Hanshin earthquake of 1995 and Kobe beef with this city. In the north is Kitano, a ward with a lot of western styled (victorian) houses and a few shrines and temples. Kobe has a small China Town for the evening. In the harbour area are waiting the Merikan Park und Mosaic (Kobe Harbourland). As fas as I remember my time in Kobe, it is only a should visit and therefore is something for a longer stop over or a daytrip from Osaka. There is a ferry boat from Kobe airport to Kansai airport.
和歌山 : Wakayama, Wakayamaken — can, 1/2 day
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Wakayama has a castle. It is not a small one and also not an ugly one. But, that is all that Wakayama has to offer. I only stayed in Wakayama because of the ferry boat to Tokushima (Shikoku). Oh yes. I Wakayama is the beginning of the Tama train line. The other terminal is in a very small town; not important. But the station master of that train station is a cat called Nitama.
高野山 : Koyasan, Wakayamaken — MUST VISIT, 1 day+
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Koyasan is the temple mountain of Japan an the centre of Shingon Buddism. Highlight of Koyasan is the temple Okuno-in an the 1,3 miles long path thru the forest, that in fact is a cemetry with over 200.000 tomb stones. The other attractions are Kongobu-ji, Daishi Kyokai, Garan and the Tokugawa Mausoleum. I’ve visited Koyasan on a foggy day. From my point of view the best weather to walk thru the forest. Travelling to Koyasan is easy with Nankai line, that starts on south Osaka.
桜井 : nahe Sakurai, Naraken — can, 1/2 day
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Sakurai is a city in the middle of of Nara. Close the city is the Hasedera, a beautiful temple. Close the Sakurai is also the Tanzan shrine with it’s 14-story-pagoda. The shrine looks old and rundown, but this adds to its mystical aura. Both places are really worth a visit. But. Hasedera is barely in walking distance from the train station. Tanzan is worst. The shrine is in the mountains and busses going very infrequently. Therefore both places are only a „can visit“.
吉野 : Yoshino, Naraken — can, 1/2 day
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Yoshino is a little bit offside and only features a long street with 4 temples und 2 shrines. Without cherry blossom there isn’t much to see. The temple and shrines without cherry blossom are noth worth a visit (except you have visited all the other places south of Osaka already). But during cherry blossom there are over 30.000 trees waiting for spectators. For travelling to Yoshino I recommend Kintetsu railway, starting in Abenobashi (south Osaka, next to JR Tennoji station). But you have to change trains.
彦根 : Hikone, Mieken — can, 1/2 day
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Hikone is a small town, that can be visited if there is some time to kill. Hikone hat a castle, a japanese garden Genkyu-en and the shopping street called „castle road“ with some old style houses. The castle is small but cute. Hikone is located at the Tokaido-trainline between Kyoto an Nagoya at the shore of lake Biwa. Normal trains stop here. The next Shinkansen stop is one station away in Maibara.
| am Shinkansen | JR-Linien | JR-Linien | non-JR-Strecken | abseits (Bus) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyoto *** | Nara *** | Shirahama | Mt. Koya *** | Iga Ueno * |
| Himeji ** | Ise ** | Kutsuura | Amanohashidate * | Miyama |
| Osaka ** | Kinosaki ** | Shingu | Yoshino * | Kumano region |
| Kobe * | Uji * | Toba | Asakusa | |
| Maibara | Takeda * | Owase | Suzuka | |
| Kumano * | Koka | |||
| Hikone | Tsu | |||
| Wakayama |
Listed in the map but no sightseeing spots. There are places to change train or bus lines)
- Maizuru, Toyooka (connecting station for Amanohashidate)
- Fukuchiyama (connecting station)
- Tsu (connecting station between JR, Ise Railway and Kintetsu)
- Kansai Airport, Itami Airport (Osaka, International)
- Kobe Airport, Tajima Airport, Nanki-Shirakama Airport