Taste of Kansai Tour 2024
Feast your way through Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, and more!
Bringing you the very best of the Kansai region, with a special focus on food and drink. Savor regional dishes sure to excite all of your senses!
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The Kansai region of Japan holds some of the country’s most renowned food cultures, from the elegant culinary traditions of Kyoto and Nara to Osaka and Kobe’s vibrant metropolitan street scenes. Our Taste of Kansai tour takes you on a journey throughout this delightful region, mixing hands-on food-focused activities with deluxe sit-down meals, plus a generous sprinkling of gorgeous autumn sightseeing spots. You’ll pick juicy citrus fruit at a local orchard, try your hand at making onsen tamago hot springs eggs, take in the vistas at Ama no Hashidate (called one of Japan’s Top 3 Most Scenic Views), and explore the awe-inspiring Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site and arguably Japan’s finest remaining original castle.
Of course, as with any perfect meal, we haven’t forgotten your drink pairing! Make your own umeshu plum wine, tour and taste Suntory beer at the Suntory factory, and stop by two different renowned sake breweries to sample some of Japan’s finest spirits.
Another highlight of this tour is a night spent on Mt. Koya, the sacred center of Shingon Buddhism and a UNESCO World Heritage site. You’ll get the rare opportunity to stay in temple lodgings, called shukubo, and dine on sophisticated shojin ryori Buddhist vegetarian cuisine. Definitely a chance not to be missed!
This fully-guided itinerary loops up from Wakayama and sacred Mt. Koya, through Nara, Kyoto, and past Lake Biwa (Japan’s largest lake), visits the remote Japan Sea coast of “Kyoto-by-the-Sea,” before heading back down through the traditional atmosphere of Kinosaki Onsen and ends in the lively cities of Kobe and Osaka. Immerse yourself and converse with local Japanese through numerous hands-on experiences like matcha green tea tasting, a maguro (tuna) slicing performance, fashioning your own takoyaki and nigiri, and more!
After having your fill of regional cuisine each day, soak away your stress at one of the several hot springs, or just browse for fascinating omiyage gifts. Satisfy yourself through an exceptional Japanese journey and join us on our Taste of Kansai Tour in 2024!
Destination Highlights
Wakayama – Mt. Koya – Nara – Lake Biwa – Kyoto – Uji – Kyoto-by-the-Sea – Kinosaki Onsen – Himeji Castle – Kobe – Osaka – and more!
Tour Includes
9 nights premium accommodations – 23 regional specialty meals – Onsen (Hot Springs) – WiFi router – HNL Airport Lounge – Unique activities & experiences – and much more!
Price
Full Package $4,590 (Adult) / Land Package $3,590 (Adult)
Taste of Kansai Tour 2024
Tour Details
9 NIGHTS / 10 DAYS IN JAPAN
For an in-depth look at the many activities and destinations you’ll visit, please see our itinerary here (PDF file): Taste of Kansai Tour Itinerary
Or check out the short summary below!
Itinerary Summary
Day | Date | Description |
---|---|---|
1 | 29-OCT | HNL Airport departure on Japan Airlines (nonstop flight) |
2 | 30-OCT | Arrive in Kansai (KIX), welcome dinner, rest at hotel |
3 | 31-OCT | Umeshu (plum wine) making experience, Kuroshio Ichiba Seafood Market and Maguro slicing performance, Mt. Koya World Heritage sightseeing, special temple lodging experience including shojin ryori Buddhist cuisine dinner |
4 | 01-NOV | Morning Buddhist services (optional), Orange picking experience, Nara Deer Park and Todaiji Temple, deluxe kaiseki dinner, enjoy PRIVATE hot springs! |
5 | 02-NOV | Lake Biwa Ropeway sightseeing, Byodoin Temple and Omotesando shopping street sightseeing, Matcha making experience, Gion geisha district sightseeing |
6 | 03-NOV | Scenic Torokko local train ride, Arashiyama bamboo grove and Togetsukyo Bridge sightseeing, Suntory Beer Factory tour + tasting, Nishiki Ichiba Market, free evening at your leisure |
7 | 04-NOV | Ine no Funaya traditional fishing village + boat tour, Ama no Hashidate (one of Japan’s “Top 3 most scenic views”) + cable car ride, Kinosaki Onsen Town + onsen egg hands-on experience, hot springs! |
8 | 05-NOV | Genbudo Cave and Genbudo Museum (dinosaur fossils), Himeji Castle (UNESCO World Heritage site) and Kokoen Japanese Garden sightseeing, explore around Kobe Harborland, hot springs! |
9 | 06-NOV | Sake brewery tours and tastings at both Kikumasamune and Hamafukutsuru, Takoyaki and nigiri making experience for lunch, explore Osaka Castle, Aqualiner Osaka River cruise experience, Tsutenkaku Tower and Osaka’s famous Shin-Sekai district, deluxe farewell dinner |
10 | 07-NOV | Full free day to explore Osaka! |
11 | 08-NOV | Free morning & early afternoon, depart for HNL in the evening on Japan Airlines (nonstop flight) |