Kyoto & Osaka from Des Moines, 14 – 23 Nov: £3,680 for two, all in
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The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- £426 per person below the highest fare we saw for these dates
- Free cancellation at APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae
- Typical highs 57–64°F, lows near 43°F this time of year
The catch: Not nonstop: 2 stops on the way, 20h 15m in all.
Worth it if museums and old streets are your thing; skip it if you want a pool.
A round trip from Des Moines to Kyoto & Osaka is $1,596 per person, or $3,192 for two, for Nov 14–23, 2026 (nine nights), on United with SkyWest DBA United Express, with 2 stops and no nonstop. Expect typical highs of 57–64°F and lows near 43°F, right in autumn leaf season. The best-value hotel, APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae, is $1,690 for the stay, or $188 a night.
The total, before you go
£3,680 for two · 9 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, return | £2,406 |
| APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae, 9 nights, two guests, taxes in | £1,274 |
| The total, before you go | £3,680 |
| Hold luggage each, return (not in the total) | about £121 |
£426 per person below the highest fare we saw for these dates.
Not in it: seat selection on basic fares and hold luggage (about £30 each way per bag on United, £121 for two return); a resort fee, if the hotel has one, is collected at the desk. Prices are what we found at the time shown; the booking site’s checkout is the binding one.
The flight
£1,203 per person, return
£2,406 for two, taxes and fees included · United. Operated by SkyWest DBA United Express · 2 stops · 20h 15m
Out Sat, Nov 14, 5:30 AM – Sun, Nov 15, 4:45 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| United. Operated by SkyWest DBA United Express | £1,203 | 2 stops | 20h 15m |
| American + JAL. Operated by SkyWest Airlines as American Eagle | £1,253 | 2 stops | 21h 20m |
| American + JAL. Operated by SkyWest Airlines as American Eagle | £1,280 | 1 stop | 32h 5m |
Prices checked 12 Oct 2026, 10:19 GMT-5. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
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Why now
We checked 12 fares for these dates, and $1,596 per person was the lowest. That's $565 below the highest fare we saw for these dates, or 26% less, and $3,192 for two. Prices include taxes and fees as found when we checked, and they can change. The timing is the real draw: autumn leaves at Tofuku-ji, Eikan-do and Arashiyama peak in mid-to-late November, with evening illuminations, and these dates land in that window. Expect highs of 57–64°F and lows near 43°F, mostly overcast with a couple of drizzly days. That's good walking weather for temples, gardens and market crawls. With nine nights, you have room for Kyoto, Osaka and a day in Nara without rushing.
The kind of trip this is
This is a culture-and-food city trip with some nature in between: temples and gardens by day, kaiseki or street food by night. It suits couples and friends who like to walk a lot and eat well. Because the flight is long, nine nights is a sensible length. The pace is steady rather than packed, and early starts pay off at the busiest shrines.
Weather in Kyoto & Osaka, 14 – 23 Nov
Typical highs 57–64°F, lows near 43°F this time of year
| Day | Typical high | Typical low | Typical weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 14 Nov | 62 °F | 44 °F | Overcast |
| Sun 15 Nov | 64 °F | 44 °F | Overcast |
| Mon 16 Nov | 63 °F | 43 °F | Drizzle |
| Tue 17 Nov | 64 °F | 45 °F | Overcast |
| Wed 18 Nov | 57 °F | 42 °F | Drizzle |
| Thu 19 Nov | 58 °F | 41 °F | Overcast |
| Fri 20 Nov | 60 °F | 42 °F | Overcast |
| Sat 21 Nov | 62 °F | 41 °F | Overcast |
| Sun 22 Nov | 62 °F | 44 °F | Overcast |
| Mon 23 Nov | 58 °F | 43 °F | Overcast |
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com · averages, not a forecast
Where to stay in Kyoto & Osaka
We found three 3-star hotels in Kyoto, all room only. APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae is the best value at $1,690 for the stay ($188 a night). It's rated 7.9 from 3,276 reviews and has free cancellation. It's in the Kyoto Station area, which is handy for the shinkansen and day trips. hotel anddoggy Kyoto Nijo is the top rated at 9.5 from 383 reviews, at $2,042 for the stay ($227 a night). It doesn't offer free cancellation, and the room is dog friendly. Naganoya is our budget-tier pick at $1,920 for the stay ($213 a night). It's rated 8.7 from 271 reviews and has free cancellation. Both of those are in Nakagyo Ward, close to Downtown Kyoto (Kawaramachi and Shijo), which is good for Nishiki Market and Pontocho alley.
APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae
£1,274 for 9 nights, two guests · £142 a night
See roomshotel anddoggy Kyoto Nijo
£1,539 for 9 nights, two guests · £171 a night
See roomsNaganoya
£1,447 for 9 nights, two guests · £161 a night
See roomsAll hotels in Kyoto & Osaka for these dates
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
Where in Kyoto & Osaka
- Gion and Higashiyama: Wooden teahouses, geisha streets and the temple walk from Kiyomizu-dera to Nanzen-ji.
- Downtown Kyoto (Kawaramachi and Shijo): Central shopping and dining with Nishiki Market and Pontocho alley at hand.
- Kyoto Station area: Convenient for the shinkansen and day trips, with large hotels.
- Arashiyama: Quiet riverside ryokan stays by the bamboo grove in the western hills.
- Osaka Namba and Dotonbori: Street-food neon and nightlife, 15 minutes from Kyoto by express train.
What to do in Kyoto & Osaka
- Walk Fushimi Inari's torii-gate tunnels before 8am, ahead of the crowds.
- See the Arashiyama bamboo grove and the gardens of Tenryu-ji while the leaves peak.
- Plan one splurge night: a kaiseki dinner at a Gion ryotei.
- Graze your way through a Nishiki Market food crawl downtown.
- Eat takoyaki and okonomiyaki on Dotonbori in Osaka, 15 minutes from Kyoto by express train.
- Take a day trip to Nara's deer park and the Great Buddha of Todai-ji.
Tours and tickets in Kyoto & Osaka
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Getting there and around
| Airports in Des Moines | Des Moines International (DSM) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Kyoto & Osaka | Kansai International (KIX), Osaka Itami (ITM) |
| Flight time | 20h 15m (2 stops) |
| Distance | 6,289 miles each way |
| Time difference | +15 hours |
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
What 9 nights in Kyoto & Osaka costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | £2,406 |
| Hotel, 9 nights (APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae) | £1,274 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 9 days for two | £1,764 |
| Total for two | £5,444 |
Flights and hotel are the prices we found; spending is a planning estimate for an upscale destination, per person per day times two.
Price history: Des Moines to Kyoto & Osaka
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | £1,203 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | £1,203 (12 Oct 2026) |
| Price checks | 3 |
Good to know
- Passport: passport needed: travellers from the United States need a valid passport for Kyoto & Osaka; check the expiry rule of the country before you book.
- Currency: Japanese yen (JPY).
- Autumn leaves at Tofuku-ji, Eikan-do and Arashiyama peak in mid-to-late November, with evening illuminations.
- You need a passport, and the currency is the Japanese yen (JPY).
- Japan is 15 hours ahead of Des Moines.
- The outbound flight leaves DSM at 5:30 AM on Saturday, Nov 14 and lands at Kansai International (KIX) at 4:45 PM on Sunday, Nov 15, after 20h 15m and 2 stops.
- All three hotel prices are room only. APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae and Naganoya have free cancellation, but hotel anddoggy Kyoto Nijo does not.
- Prices include taxes and fees as found when we checked, and they can change.
Questions readers ask
How much is the flight?
It's $1,596 per person round trip, or $3,192 for two, on United with SkyWest DBA United Express, with 2 stops. We also saw American + JAL at $1,662 and $1,698 per person.
Do I need a passport?
Yes, you need a passport for Japan. You'll pay in Japanese yen (JPY), and the clock runs 15 hours ahead of Des Moines.
What is the weather like?
Typical highs are 57–64°F, with lows near 43°F. Most days are overcast, and the normals show drizzle on Nov 16 and Nov 18. Bring layers and a light rain jacket.
Is 9 nights enough?
Yes, for a first trip. Nine nights covers Kyoto's temples and gardens, an evening or two in Osaka, which is 15 minutes away by express train, and a day in Nara. Keep in mind you land late on Nov 15.
What would the whole trip cost for two?
Our sample budget is $7,222 for two. That's $3,192 for flights, $1,690 for APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae and $2,340 for spending, which works out to $130 per person per day.
Which airport do I fly into?
This fare lands at Kansai International (KIX). Osaka Itami (ITM) also serves the area.
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Kyoto & Osaka in pictures
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Prices converted from US dollars at the rate of 15 Oct 2026.
Image credits
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