{"id":21010,"date":"2025-04-11T10:49:53","date_gmt":"2025-04-11T08:49:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog?p=21010"},"modified":"2025-04-11T10:49:53","modified_gmt":"2025-04-11T08:49:53","slug":"kansai-area-pass-itinerary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/kansai-area-pass-itinerary","title":{"rendered":"Kansai Area Pass itinerary: 7 days in Kyoto, Osaka, and more"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/regional-passes\/kansai-area-pass\">Kansai Area Pass<\/a> is ideal if you&#8217;re planning to explore Japan\u2019s historical heartland. Covering top destinations like <strong>Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Himeji, and Kobe<\/strong>, this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/regional-passes\">regional pass<\/a> lets you travel quickly and affordably across the region.<\/p>\n<p>The pass is<strong> available for up to 4 consecutive days<\/strong>. In this 7-day itinerary, we\u2019ll show you how to plan your trip and some ideas for using local transport on city days.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>This way, you <strong>get the most value out of your regional pass<\/strong> without needing to buy the national <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/\">JR Pass<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Keep reading to get a <strong>day by day plan for your trip<\/strong> in the beautiful Kansai region.<\/p>\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"toc_white no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Table of Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#Day_1_Airport_to_Kyoto\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">1<\/span> Day 1: Airport to Kyoto<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Afternoon_in_Kyoto\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">1.1<\/span> Afternoon in Kyoto<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Day_2_Kyoto_to_Nara\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">2<\/span> Day 2: Kyoto to Nara<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Morning_in_Nara\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">2.1<\/span> Morning in Nara<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Afternoon_in_Nara\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">2.2<\/span> Afternoon in Nara<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Evening_in_Kyoto\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">2.3<\/span> Evening in Kyoto<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Day_3_Explore_Kyoto\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">3<\/span> Day 3: Explore Kyoto<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Morning_Arashiyama_and_the_bamboo_grove\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">3.1<\/span> Morning: Arashiyama and the bamboo grove<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Afternoon_Golden_Pavilion_and_northern_temples\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">3.2<\/span> Afternoon: Golden Pavilion and northern temples<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Evening_Beach_back_to_Central_Kyoto\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">3.3<\/span> Evening: Beach back to Central Kyoto<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Day_4_Kyoto_to_Himeji_and_Kobe\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">4<\/span> Day 4: Kyoto to Himeji and Kobe<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Morning_Kyoto_to_Himeji\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">4.1<\/span> Morning: Kyoto to Himeji<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Afternoon_Himeji_to_Kobe\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">4.2<\/span> Afternoon: Himeji to Kobe<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Evening_Dinner_in_Kobe_or_return_to_Kyoto\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">4.3<\/span> Evening: Dinner in Kobe or return to Kyoto<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Day_5_Kyoto_to_Osaka\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">5<\/span> Day 5: Kyoto to Osaka<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Morning_Kyoto_to_Osaka\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">5.1<\/span> Morning: Kyoto to Osaka<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Afternoon_Dotonbori_and_street_food\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">5.2<\/span> Afternoon: Dotonbori and street food<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Evening_options\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">5.3<\/span> Evening options<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Day_6_Explore_Osaka\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">6<\/span> Day 6: Explore Osaka<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Morning_Choose_your_plan\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">6.1<\/span> Morning: Choose your plan<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Option_1_Universal_Studios_Japan\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_3\">6.1.1<\/span> Option 1: Universal Studios Japan<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Option_2_Osaka_Aquarium_and_the_Bay_Area\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_3\">6.1.2<\/span> Option 2: Osaka Aquarium and the Bay Area<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Afternoon_Shinsekai_and_Shopping\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">6.2<\/span> Afternoon: Shinsekai and Shopping<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Evening_Final_night_in_Osaka\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">6.3<\/span> Evening: Final night in Osaka<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Day_7_Osaka_to_Kansai_International_Airport\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">7<\/span> Day 7: Osaka to Kansai International Airport<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"Day_1_Airport_to_Kyoto\">Day 1: Airport to Kyoto<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\"  decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-10558\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/kix-osaka-international-airport-800x500.jpg\" alt=\"Osaka International Airport (KIX)\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/kix-osaka-international-airport.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/kix-osaka-international-airport-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/kix-osaka-international-airport-768x480.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>After landing at Kansai Airport, make your way to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/cities\/kyoto-travel-guide\">Kyoto<\/a>; this will be <strong>your base for the first part of the trip<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>To get to Kyoto from the airport, you can take the <strong>JR Haruka Limited Express<\/strong> from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/kansai-airport-to-kyoto\">Kansai Airport to Kyoto Station<\/a>. The trip should take around an hour and 15 minutes.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Afternoon_in_Kyoto\">Afternoon in Kyoto<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\"  decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13003\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/kyoto-tower.jpg\" alt=\"Kyoto Tower\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/kyoto-tower.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/kyoto-tower-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/kyoto-tower-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Once you&#8217;ve checked in at your hotel, spend your afternoon getting to know the city.<\/p>\n<p>Here are <strong>several ideas for relaxing activities<\/strong> to help you start your sightseeing in Kyoto:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Take a peaceful stroll around Gion, Kyoto\u2019s traditional geisha district<\/li>\n<li>Visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yasaka-jinja.or.jp\/en\/\">Yasaka Shrine<\/a> which is just a short walk from Gion<\/li>\n<li>Explore Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka streets for souvenirs and street snacks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span id=\"Day_2_Kyoto_to_Nara\">Day 2: Kyoto to Nara<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>If you haven\u2019t done so already, start the day by <strong>activating your Kansai Area Pass at Kyoto Station<\/strong>. You\u2019ll use it today to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/nara-jr-pass\">travel to and from Nara<\/a>, which is one of Japan\u2019s oldest and most charming cities.<\/p>\n<p>To get to Nara from Kyoto using the Kansai Area Pass, you can <strong>take the JR Nara Line<\/strong>, which is a rapid service, from Kyoto Station to Nara Station.<\/p>\n<p>You should arrive in just <strong>45 minutes <\/strong>from Kyoto.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Morning_in_Nara\">Morning in Nara<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1417\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1417\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\"  decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-1417\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/nara-great-buddha-800x500.jpg\" alt=\"The Great Buddha at Todai-ji temple in Nara\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1417\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Great Buddha at Todai-ji temple in Nara<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Once you arrive, walk from the station to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/nara-park\">Nara Park<\/a>. At the park, you\u2019ll find:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Hundreds of freely roaming sika deer<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.todaiji.or.jp\/en\/\">Todai-ji Temple<\/a> and the Great Buddha (Daibutsu)<\/li>\n<li>Kasuga Taisha shrine<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You can take your time feeding the deer, then explore the massive bronze Buddha inside Todai-ji.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Afternoon_in_Nara\">Afternoon in Nara<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019re interested in Japanese art and history, the nearby <strong>Nara National Museum<\/strong> is worth a visit.<\/p>\n<p>From there, you can enjoy a local lunch, such as kakinoha-zushi, a sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves, or even a bento box from the station.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Evening_in_Kyoto\">Evening in Kyoto<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Take the JR Nara Line back to Kyoto and choose from a number of different dinner options in the city.<\/p>\n<p>You can try a kaiseki meal at Pontocho Alley or stay around the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/kyoto-train-station\">Kyoto Station<\/a> area for r<strong>amen or izakaya dishes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Day_3_Explore_Kyoto\">Day 3: Explore Kyoto<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>You can use day 3 to discover the best of Kyoto\u2019s temples and cultural sights.<\/p>\n<p>With your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/regional-passes\/kansai-area-pass\">Kansai Area Pass<\/a> already activated, you can use the Sagano Line to reach <strong>attractions on the western side of the city<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Morning_Arashiyama_and_the_bamboo_grove\">Morning: Arashiyama and the bamboo grove<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_87\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-87\" style=\"width: 801px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\"  decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-87\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/arashiyama-bamboo-grove-kyoto-e1466611768221.jpg\" alt=\"Arashiyama bamboo grove\" width=\"801\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/arashiyama-bamboo-grove-kyoto-e1466611768221.jpg 801w, https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/arashiyama-bamboo-grove-kyoto-e1466611768221-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 801px) 100vw, 801px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-87\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Arashiyama bamboo grove<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>From Kyoto Station, take the Sagano Line to Saga-Arashiyama Station, which should just take around 20 minutes to get there.<\/p>\n<p>Once you\u2019re there, you can do the following activities:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Walk through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/arashiyama-bamboo-forest\">Arashiyama Bamboo Grove<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Visit Tenryu-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site<\/li>\n<li>Cross the Togetsukyo Bridge and relax by the riverside<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It\u2019s also not a bad idea to take a short trip to Iwatayama Monkey Park for city views.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Afternoon_Golden_Pavilion_and_northern_temples\">Afternoon: Golden Pavilion and northern temples<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\"  decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-8154\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/kinkaku-ji-golden-pavilion-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion - Kyoto\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/kinkaku-ji-golden-pavilion.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/kinkaku-ji-golden-pavilion-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/kinkaku-ji-golden-pavilion-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>After lunch, <strong>head to Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion,<\/strong> which is one of Kyoto\u2019s most iconic spots.<\/p>\n<p>From Saga-Arashiyama, take a short bus or taxi to reach Kinkaku-ji. From there, you can:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Visit Ryoan-ji, known for its Zen rock garden<\/li>\n<li>Stop by Ninna-ji, another UNESCO site<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span id=\"Evening_Beach_back_to_Central_Kyoto\">Evening: Beach back to Central Kyoto<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Return to your hotel and enjoy a quiet evening. You can take in some sights, strolling along the <strong>Kamogawa River<\/strong> or checking out the shops along Teramachi Street.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Use your pass<\/strong> for any JR trains if you&#8217;re moving between neighborhoods like Kyoto Station, Tambaguchi, or Nijo.<\/p>\n<div class=\"custom-shortcode-element image-left\"><div class=\"image-container desktop\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/jr-regional-passes-cta-1.png\"  width=\"300\" height=\"200\" alt=\"Buy your Kansai Area Pass\"><\/div><div class=\"content-container\"><div class=\"custom-title\">Unlimited travel within the Kansai region<\/div><div class=\"image-container mobile\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/jr-regional-passes-cta-1.png\"  width=\"300\" height=\"200\"  alt=\"Buy your Kansai Area Pass\"><\/div><div class=\"custom-text\"><\/p>\n<p>Discover the Kansai region, the cultural heart of Japan, and enjoy seamless connectivity for between 1-4 days between the major cities of Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, and Himeji.<\/p>\n<p><\/div><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/regional-passes\/kansai-area-pass\" class=\"custom-button\">Buy your Kansai Area Pass<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"Day_4_Kyoto_to_Himeji_and_Kobe\">Day 4: Kyoto to Himeji and Kobe<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>On day 4 you can <strong>visit 2 of Japan\u2019s most iconic cities<\/strong>. You can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/himeji-castle-travel-guide\">head to Himeji<\/a> for its famous castle and Kobe for its harbor views and food scene.<\/p>\n<p>Start early to make the most of both destinations.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Morning_Kyoto_to_Himeji\">Morning: Kyoto to Himeji<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\"  decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-1095\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/himeji-castle-sakura-e1489142774509-800x514.jpg\" alt=\"Himeji castle and river during the cherry blossom season\" width=\"800\" height=\"514\" \/><\/p>\n<p>From Kyoto Station, <strong>take the JR Kyoto Line<\/strong> to Himeji Station. Going from Kyoto should take you around 90-120 minutes to get there.<\/p>\n<p>Walk straight from the station to Himeji Castle, Japan\u2019s most impressive original castle. You\u2019ll see its white walls rising above the city skyline.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Afternoon_Himeji_to_Kobe\">Afternoon: Himeji to Kobe<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>At lunch, you can try Himeji oden near the station before heading to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/kobe-travel-guide\">Kobe<\/a>. Once you\u2019re at the station, you can take the JR rapid train from <strong>Himeji to Sannomiya Station on Kobe<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Once you\u2019re in Kobe, you can <strong>explore some or all of the following <\/strong>if you have time:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Harborland for waterfront shopping and views<\/li>\n<li>Kobe Nunobiki Herb Garden<\/li>\n<li>Kitano district, known for its Western-style houses<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span id=\"Evening_Dinner_in_Kobe_or_return_to_Kyoto\">Evening: Dinner in Kobe or return to Kyoto<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Before you leave Kobe, you should<strong> try the world-famous Kobe beef<\/strong>. After dinner, you can take the JR train back to Kyoto, which should take 70 minutes on the rapid service line.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Day_5_Kyoto_to_Osaka\">Day 5: Kyoto to Osaka<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>On day 5 you can explore the last city of your trip with the Kansai Area Pass: Osaka.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Morning_Kyoto_to_Osaka\">Morning: Kyoto to Osaka<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11277\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11277\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\"  decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-11277\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/osaka-castle-park-800x500.jpg\" alt=\"Nishinomaru garden - Osaka Castle Park\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/osaka-castle-park.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/osaka-castle-park-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/osaka-castle-park-768x480.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11277\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nishinomaru Garden with Osaka castle in the background.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>From Kyoto Station, take the <strong>JR Rapid Service to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/osaka-station-city\">Osaka Station<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Once you arrive at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/destinations\/osaka\">Osaka<\/a>, there are plenty of things for you to see and do, such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Explore Osaka Castle<\/li>\n<li>Visit the Osaka Museum of History<\/li>\n<li>Go to Nishinomaru Garden and see the cherry blossoms if you\u2019re there in spring<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Our recommendation is to <strong>start at Osaka Castle<\/strong>, one of the city\u2019s major landmarks. The castle grounds are open, with a moat and gardens perfect for a morning walk.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Afternoon_Dotonbori_and_street_food\">Afternoon: Dotonbori and street food<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Make your way to Dotonbori, Osaka\u2019s most famous district for food and entertainment.<\/p>\n<p>In this area of Osaka, you can:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Take a photo at the Glico running man sign<\/li>\n<li>Try street food like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushikatsu<\/li>\n<li>Walk along the canal<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span id=\"Evening_options\">Evening options<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>At the end of the day in Osaka there are <strong>several interesting things you can do<\/strong> during the evening, for example:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Head up to the Umeda Sky Building for night views<\/li>\n<li>Explore the quirky Shinsekai neighborhood<\/li>\n<li>Visit Spa World if you want to relax Japanese-style<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span id=\"Day_6_Explore_Osaka\">Day 6: Explore Osaka<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Even if your Kansai Area Pass has already expired<\/strong>, but you still have plenty to see in Osaka. Use an ICOCA card or buy individual tickets for today\u2019s local transport.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Morning_Choose_your_plan\">Morning: Choose your plan<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>During the morning in Osaka, you have a couple of<strong> different options for how you can spend your day<\/strong>. Go over the following options to see what works best for you.<\/p>\n<h4><span id=\"Option_1_Universal_Studios_Japan\">Option 1: Universal Studios Japan<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\"  decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9511\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/universal-studios-japan-800x500.jpg\" alt=\"Universal Studios Japan, Osaka\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/universal-studios-japan.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/universal-studios-japan-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/universal-studios-japan-768x480.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Take the JR Yumesaki Line from Osaka Station to Universal City Station to enjoy the day at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/universal-studios-japan-osaka\">Universal Studios<\/a> in Osaka.<\/p>\n<p>Spend the day at <strong>Japan\u2019s top theme park<\/strong> which is home to Super Nintendo World, Harry Potter World, and more.<\/p>\n<p>We recommend getting there early to <strong>avoid the long lines<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h4><span id=\"Option_2_Osaka_Aquarium_and_the_Bay_Area\">Option 2: Osaka Aquarium and the Bay Area<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>The second option you have, you can take the Osaka Metro to Osakako Station. From there, you can <strong>visit the Kaiyukan Aquarium<\/strong>. This is one of the world\u2019s largest aquariums.<\/p>\n<p>Afterward, you can explore the <strong>Tempozan Marketplace<\/strong> or take a ride on the Tempozan Ferris Wheel<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Afternoon_Shinsekai_and_Shopping\">Afternoon: Shinsekai and Shopping<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In the afternoon, you should visit the <strong>Shinsekai area<\/strong>. This is a retro neighborhood built in the early 1900s. Here you can:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Visit Tsutenkaku Tower<\/li>\n<li>Try classic local food like kushikatsu<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>There are also plenty of <strong>cool shops and arcades<\/strong> to have fun in.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Evening_Final_night_in_Osaka\">Evening: Final night in Osaka<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Since this is your last night in Osaka, you should make the most of it! Here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Enjoy dinner at Hozenji Yokocho, a narrow alley with traditional restaurants<\/li>\n<li>Walk along Dotonbori for a lively nighttime atmosphere<\/li>\n<li>Stop by a game center or karaoke spot<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span id=\"Day_7_Osaka_to_Kansai_International_Airport\">Day 7: Osaka to Kansai International Airport<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s time to end your trip and <strong>return to the airport<\/strong>. If your flight is in the evening, you can try to squeeze in one last walk or breakfast in Osaka.<\/p>\n<p>To go to the airport, from Tennoji or Shin-Osaka Station you can take the <strong>JR Limited Express Haruka Line<\/strong> to Kansai Airport Station<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll get to the airport in about 50 minutes.<\/p>\n<p>Ready to start your trip?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Kansai Area Pass is ideal if you&#8217;re planning to explore Japan\u2019s historical heartland. Covering top destinations like Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Himeji, and Kobe, this regional pass lets you travel quickly and affordably across the region. The pass is available for up to 4 consecutive days. In this 7-day itinerary, we\u2019ll show you how to plan your trip and some ideas for using local transport on city days.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":15554,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[92],"tags":[],"acf":{"bread_1":false,"bread_2":false,"bread_3":false,"bread_4":false,"bread_5":false,"bread_6":false,"bread_7":false,"bread_last":false,"custom_guide":"","pageresume":"Use the Kansai Area Pass to explore Kyoto and beyond. Discover Osaka, Nara, Kobe, and top attractions. 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