Travel in region Kansai

If you’ve experienced enough of cosmopolitan Tokyo and need a change of pace from serene Kyoto, then you’ll need a list of the best things to do in Osaka, the spirited heart of the western Kansai region. Osaka is known as “the kitchen of Japan,” best known for signature Japanese delicacies like takoyaki, ball-shaped snacks often made with octopus meat; and okonomiyaki, savory pancakes made on teppan (Japanese metal grill plates). The city’s massive food scene features all types of dining spots, ranging from street vendors to Michelin-starred restaurants. Osaka is also an entertainment capital where you can meet Mario and Luigi at Super Nintendo World, part of Universal Studios Japan, or catch a baseball game at the Osaka Dome with over 36,000 fans from all over the world.

The award-winning airline has been a bridge between Japan and Qatar for 14 years and now serves two of the country’s major cities, Osaka and Tokyo.

The UNESCO World Heritage sites of the former capital Kyoto give unforgettable insights into Japanese history, but across Japan are numerous, less heralded (and less visited) destinations that can transport travelers back in time. Be it the tales unearthed in castle ruins or fortresses that have withstood the tests of time, a journey to Japan's Kansai region and the islands of Okinawa can offer travelers fresh insights into Japan's past and the moments that shaped its future.

Kyoto offers a tantalizing glimpse of ancient Japan – which is why it's one of the most popular destinations in the country. Might we suggest escaping the temple crowds by exploring an alluring spot nearby?

The principals of the innovative London and New York-based travel company Black Tomato made their name by assembling detail-oriented and sometimes very out of the way travel plans for exceedingly curious, adventurous clients. Having surveyed the market to ascertain what their clients are interested in now and the changes they see in the travel landscape, they’ve come up with the ways they see that travel happening in the next year and in what parts of the world those ambitious travelers could be.