The best spots in the Kansai area

2024/07/30

Seven prefectures from the Kinki Region, which encompasses the Osaka Plain and is commonly referred to as Kansai. For many centuries, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and Kobe were the political and cultural center of Japan.

Osaka

Japan's second largest metropolitan area is Osaka, which is located in Osaka. For many centuries, it has been the economic hub of the Kansai Region. Naniwa was the former name of Osaka. Naniwa was the first known capital city of Japan before the Nara Period, when the capital was moved with the reign of each new emperor.

In the 16th century, Toyotomi Hideyoshi selected Osaka as the location of his castle, and without Tokugawa Ieyasu terminating the Toyotomi lineage after Hideyoshi's death and establishing his government in Edo (Tokyo), the city could have become Japan's political capital.

Universal Studios Japan

The first theme park opened under the Universal Studios brand in Asia was Universal Studios Japan (USJ). Founded in 2001 in the Osaka Bay Area, the theme park has expanded over the years and is now considered one of the most popular amusement parks in Japan.

Universal Studios Japan currently has ten sections: Hollywood, New York, San Francisco, Jurassic Park, Waterworld, Amity Village, Universal Wonderland, Minion Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and Super Nintendo World. Amusement rides available for visitors include child-friendly carousels, thrilling roller coasters, and simulators centered on popular movies such as the Minions, Shrek, and Jurassic Park.

Osaka Castle

In 1583, the Osaka Castle was constructed on the site of the destroyed Ishiyama Honganji Temple by Oda Nobunaga thirteen years prior. The castle, which Toyotomi Hideyoshi had in mind, was to be the focal point of a new, unified Japan under Toyotomi rule. At that time, it was the biggest castle.

The castle tower's present ferro-concrete reconstruction was not built until 1931. In the 19th century, the castle gained a new glamor due to major repair works. The castle tower is now entirely modern on the inside and even features an elevator for easier access. An informative museum about the history of the castle and Toyotomi Hideyos can be found here.

Kyoto

Kyoto has been inhabited since the 8th century. As the capital of Japan, the city was constructed and the Imperial Court resided there until 1868 when it relocated to Tokyo.

The capital of the prefecture is not the current capital of the country, but it is still the capital of the prefecture and is better than Tokyo in terms of historical sites, relics, and monuments. The charm and traditional atmosphere of many neighborhoods is what attracts millions of domestic and international tourists each year.

Nijo Castle (Nijojo)

Nijo Castle was constructed in 1603 as the residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period (1603-1867). The palace buildings of the castle were finished by his grandson Iemitsu twenty-three years later and a five-story castle keep was added to further expand it.

In 1994, the castle was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, marking its status as one of the best-surviving examples of castle palace architecture from Japan's feudal era.

Fushimi Inari Shrine

The thousands of vermilion Torii gates that straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings are what makes it famous. Mount Inari's wooded forest, which is 230 meters tall and part of the shrine grounds, is where the trails lead into.

Fushimi Inari is the highest-ranking shrine in the thousands of shrines dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. Inari's messengers are believed to be foxes, which is why there are many fox statues scattered throughout the shrine grounds. Before the capital moved to Kyoto in 794, Fushimi Inari Shrine had ancient origins.

Nara

The city now known as Nara was the location of Japan's first permanent capital, Heijo, in 710. In the past, the capital was relocated to a new location every time a new emperor took the throne.

Nara is situated within an hour of Kyoto and Osaka. The city's cultural treasures include some of Japan's oldest and largest temples due to its historical importance.

Todaiji Temple

One of the most famous and historically significant temples in Japan, Todaiji is also a landmark of Nara. As the head temple of all provincial Buddhist temples of Japan, the temple was constructed in 752 and gained so much power that it was relocated from Nara in 784 to lessen its influence on government affairs.

The Daibutsuden (Big Buddha Hall) of Todaiji was the largest wooden building in the world until recently, even though the present reconstruction of 1692 is only two thirds of the original temple hall's size. One of Japan's largest bronze statues of Buddha (Daibutsu) is housed in the massive building. Vairocana is represented by the Buddha, who is 15 meters tall and sitting, and is surrounded by two Bodhisattvas.

Nara Park

In the center of Nara lies Nara Park, which is a substantial park. Todaiji, Kasuga Taisha, Kofukuji, and the Nara National Museum can all be found at this location, which was established in 1880. There are also hundreds of deer that are free to roam around there.

The park sells deer crackers, and some deer have learned to bow to visitors to ask for food. Nara's deer are surprisingly tame, but they can become aggressive if you try to feed them, so don't feed them too much.

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In Osaka, Japan's second largest metro area, Kyoto has been inhabited since the 8th century, and Nara was the place where Japan's first permanent capital was established.

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