5-8 DAYS
Discovering Kansai
Spend your first 3 days in Tajima at Manba Kogen Lodge, and your next 4 days in the 3 most famous cities in Kansai (Osaka, Nara and Kyoto). Mitsuo, your guide, will take you on a discovery of the historical spots and local specialties of western Japan!
Itinerary
Day 1 - Check in and have dinner at Manba Kogen Lodge
Picking up and getting to the lodge | I will pick you up at the meeting place. If your flight arrives soon and you want to try Japanese cuisine for lunch, I can take you to some recommended restaurants, or you can have a special lunch made by Mitsuo! |
Dinner at the lodge | You can enjoy the landscape and nature around this lodge, there are many areas for you to rest and relax after your long flight. |
Day 2 - Kannabe
Witness the breathtaking early morning sunrise in the Sobu Valley. From this vantage point, you can see the town of Hidaka awakening to greet the new day, as well as marvel at the sea of clouds drifting amidst the mountains. | |
The ruins of Izushi Castle and the historic district of Izushi are always an ideal destination for travelers seeking the nostalgic charm of Japan's Edo period. Additionally, the soba noodles and Sukyoji Shrine are also worthwhile places to visit and experience. | |
Hiking and trekking through Kannabe forest (with lunchbox prepared by Mitsuo) | Whether it's sunny or rainy, you can participate in the exploration of the Kannabe forest and volcano. The volcanic activities have created beautiful lava caves in this forest, and the Maruyama River leads to the Hattandaki waterfall. |
Standing at a height of 24 meters, the Hattan Waterfall hides amidst the valleys of the Kannabe Plateau. Renowned for its emerald green pond, the Hattan Waterfall is one of the must-visit attractions in the Kannabe Plateau. |
Day 3 - Kannabe/Tajima
Kinosaki Onsen has been voted one of the finest hot spring towns in Japan. With its seven public baths allowing tattoos, you can visit all seven places in one day and enjoy moments of relaxation in this charming town. | |
Takeno is a quiet fishing town with beautiful nature, friendly residents, and traditional houses. The town features great hiking spots with views of the ocean and the entire town, as well as canoeing and swimming in the summer. |
Other places in Tajima you may like
Ankokuji Temple is renowned for the stunning foliage of the dodan-tsutsuji shrub (Enkianthus perulatus), which turns into vibrant hues on the hill behind the main temple building during the autumn season. | |
Genbudo appears extraordinary with its distinctive hexagonal column joints, formed geologically as magma cools, contracts, and creates vertical cracks. The picturesque surroundings, embraced by the Maruyama River, make this place more inviting than ever, deserving of a visit. | |
The city of Toyooka is dedicated to the conservation and reintroduction of the Oriental White Stork. It is a popular destination for couples wanting to conceive. It is said that seeing the Oriental White Stork will bring you not only love but also children. | |
Ojiro Valley is located at the headwaters of the Yadagawa River, formed within a deep rock wall winding through pristine and deep mountain forests. The valley is one of the few preserved areas of high-altitude alpine vegetation. |
Day 4 - Osaka
Morning - leave the lodge and travel to Osaka | Breakfast prepared by Mistuo. You can opt for transportation using my car (if the group is large, I may need to rent a larger vehicle), or you can choose a high-speed bus, or even the Shinkansen train. |
This majestic castle stands as an icon of Osaka, surrounded by moats, gates, turrets, stone walls, and impressive waterways. The Nishinomaru Garden, a grassy area adorned with 600 cherry blossom trees that bloom beautifully in spring, attracts many visitors to this site. | |
Osaka is renowned for the bustling Umeda area, featuring six major shopping centers, each with its unique characteristics and atmosphere. Beneath Umeda Station, you can find a food district offering a variety of affordable dining options. | |
Stay a night in Osaka | Evenings here are the perfect time for leisurely exploration. In Osaka, there are numerous expansive shopping centers and duty-free stores, along with bustling food stalls, all bustling with people. Everything is eagerly awaiting your visit. |
Day 5 - Nara
3 meals are not prepared, but Mitsuo may recommend some restaurants.
Todaiji (Great Eastern Temple) is one of Japan's most famous and historically significant temples, constructed in 752. The main hall of Todaiji, Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall), holds the record as the world's largest wooden building, although the current structure rebuilt in 1692 is only two-thirds the size of the original main hall. | |
With paths starting behind Todaiji Temple, Mount Wakakusa is easily climbable, offering long-distance walkers the chance to enjoy panoramic views extending to the historic site of the Heijokyo Palace. | |
Naramachi is the historic merchant district of Nara, where several traditional residential buildings and warehouses are preserved and open to the public. Shops, cafes, restaurants, and some museums now line the narrow streets of the town. |
Stay a night in Nara.
Some other places in Nara that you may like
Yakushiji Temple is the first temple in Japan to be constructed with two main halls. The Yakushi Triad (housed in the Main Hall, Kondo) is a collection of main images that have survived since the temple's establishment and are renowned as some of the most beautiful Buddhist statues in the world. | |
Kasuga Taisha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of Japan's most important Shinto shrines. The shrine is known for its stone lanterns that line the pathways, bronze lanterns that hang on the buildings, and the distinct Kasuga style of architecture. |
Day 6 - Kyoto
3 meals are not prepared, but Mitsuo may recommend some restaurants.
Kiyomizudera (Pure Water Temple) is one of Japan's most famous temples. Established in 780 on the site of the Otowa Waterfall on the eastern hills of Kyoto, it takes its name from the pure water region of the waterfall. | |
Nanzenji Temple is one of the most important Zen temples in Japan. It serves as the main temple of one of the schools within the Rinzai sect of Japanese Zen Buddhism and includes several sub-temples, making the temple complex quite extensive. | |
Junsei is located next to Nanzenji Temple, specializing in tofu and offering an entire menu dedicated to soy-based dishes in the form of kaiseki - a traditional Japanese haute cuisine meal. | |
Fushimi Inari-jinja Shrine, along with Origami Inari-jinja Shrine, is considered one of the two oldest shrines dedicated to the deity Inari. The Inari Festival is held in June with outdoor stalls and entertainment activities, along with a portable shrine being paraded throughout the surrounding area. |
Stay one night in Kyoto.
Day 7 - Morning in Kyoto, Evening drive to Osaka
3 meals are not prepared, but Mitsuo may recommend some restaurants.
Originally, this place was named Rengeoin Temple. Later, the location took its name from the main hall - Sanjusangendo, where 1001 life-sized wooden statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, in her thousand-armed form, are enshrined along the entire length of the hall. | |
Kinkakuji is a Zen Buddhist temple with two upper floors entirely covered in gold leaf. Officially called Rokuonji, the temple served as the retirement villa of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, and according to his will, it became a Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple after his passing. |
Evening drive to Osaka.
Kuromon Ichiba Market is situated in the heart of Osaka, Minami. The most famous fish here is pike in the summer and Fugu in the winter. The Kuromon market area is vibrant, with a covered roof spanning about 580m, featuring around 150 shops and always bustling with people. |
Stay a night in Osaka.
Day 8 - Osaka
Meals are not prepared, but Mitsuo may recommend some restaurants.
The largest outlet shopping center in Western Japan, Rinku Premium Outlets, is located opposite Kansai International Airport. Here, visitors can enjoy a diverse shopping experience at a spacious location with reasonable prices. |
Flight back to your country.
