Kyoto & Osaka from Grand Rapids, 14 – 23 Nov: £3,155 for two, all in
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The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- £273 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, 21h 13m in all.
Worth it if museums and old streets are your thing; skip it if you want a pool.
Round-trip flights from Grand Rapids to Kyoto & Osaka cost $1,248 per person ($2,496 for two) for Nov 14–23, 2026. That's nine nights, flying United with flights operated by Republic Airways DBA United Express, and the route has 2 stops. Expect highs of 57–64°F and lows near 43°F, and the best-value hotel, APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae, is $1,690 for the stay, or $188 a night.

The total, before you go
£3,155 for two · 9 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, return | £1,881 |
| APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae, 9 nights, two guests, taxes in | £1,274 |
| The total, before you go | £3,155 |
| Hold luggage each, return (not in the total) | about £121 |
£273 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
£941 per person, return
£1,881 for two, taxes and fees included · United. Operated by Republic Airways DBA United Express · 2 stops · 21h 13m
Out Sat, Nov 14, 5:32 AM – Sun, Nov 15, 4:45 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| United. Operated by Republic Airways DBA United Express | £941 | 2 stops | 21h 13m |
| United + ANA | £991 | 2 stops | 23h 10m |
| G4 + JX + VZ | £1,079 | 3 stops | 90h 39m |
Prices checked 12 Oct 2026, 10:49 GMT-4. 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
$1,248 per person round trip, or $2,496 for two, with taxes and fees included when we checked. That's $362 below the highest fare we saw for these dates, a 22% gap. We looked at 12 offers, and fares ran from $1,248 to $1,610. The timing matters too: autumn leaves at Tofuku-ji, Eikan-do and Arashiyama peak in mid-to-late November, with evening illuminations, and these nine nights land right in that window. Seasonal normals show highs of 57–64°F and lows near 43°F, mostly overcast with a little drizzle. That's comfortable weather for long days walking between temples and markets. The trip works best for slow mornings at shrines and long evenings eating your way through Osaka. Fares move, so treat this as what we found today. We can't promise it will hold.
The kind of trip this is
This is a culture-and-food city trip with some nature mixed in. Days go to temples, gardens and fall color in Kyoto. Evenings can be Osaka street food or a quiet kaiseki dinner. It suits a couple or two friends who like to walk a lot and eat well. The pace is unhurried, and nine nights leave room for a Nara day trip without cramming.
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
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 comes with free cancellation. It sits in the Kyoto Station area, which makes the shinkansen and day trips easy. hotel anddoggy Kyoto Nijo is the top rated, at 9.5 from 383 reviews, and costs $2,042 for the stay ($227 a night) for a dog-friendly Premier Twin Room. Heads-up: you can't cancel it for free. Naganoya is rated 8.7 from 271 reviews and costs $1,920 ($213 a night) for a Standard Triple Studio, with free cancellation. That makes it the budget pick if you want to stay downtown. Both are in Nakagyo Ward, close to Downtown Kyoto (Kawaramachi and Shijo), which is good for dining, Nishiki Market and Pontocho alley. All three are room only.
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
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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 the torii-gate tunnels at Fushimi Inari before 8 AM.
- See the Arashiyama bamboo grove, then the gardens of Tenryu-ji, during autumn-leaf season.
- Sit down to a kaiseki dinner at a Gion ryotei.
- Graze your way through Nishiki Market on a food crawl.
- Eat takoyaki and okonomiyaki along Dotonbori in Osaka.
- Take a day trip to Nara for the deer park and the Great Buddha of Todai-ji.
Also worth it
- Fushimi Inari's torii-gate tunnels before 8am
- Arashiyama bamboo grove and the gardens of Tenryu-ji
- Nishiki Market food crawl
- Takoyaki and okonomiyaki on Dotonbori in Osaka
- 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 Grand Rapids | Gerald R. Ford International (GRR) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Kyoto & Osaka | Kansai International (KIX), Osaka Itami (ITM) |
| Flight time | 21h 13m (2 stops) |
| Distance | 6,449 miles each way |
| Time difference | +14 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 | £1,881 |
| Hotel, 9 nights (APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae) | £1,274 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 9 days for two | £1,764 |
| Total for two | £4,919 |
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: Grand Rapids to Kyoto & Osaka
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | £941 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | £941 (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 for Japan, and the currency is the Japanese yen (JPY).
- Kyoto is 14 hours ahead of Grand Rapids.
- The outbound leaves Gerald R. Ford International (GRR) at 5:32 AM on Saturday, Nov 14 and lands at Kansai International (KIX) at 4:45 PM on Sunday, Nov 15.
- All three hotels are room only. APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae and Naganoya have free cancellation, and hotel anddoggy Kyoto Nijo does not.
- The weather figures are seasonal normals, not a forecast. Drizzle is typical around Nov 16 and Nov 18.
Questions readers ask
How much is the flight?
It's $1,248 per person round trip, or $2,496 for two, with taxes and fees included when we checked. You fly United, with flights operated by Republic Airways DBA United Express, and there are 2 stops. That's $362 below the highest fare we saw for these dates. Prices change, so check the live fare.
How long does it take to get there?
The outbound takes 21h 13m with 2 stops and covers 6,449 miles. It leaves GRR at 5:32 AM and lands at KIX the next afternoon.
Do I need a passport?
Yes, Japan requires a passport. You'll be paying in Japanese yen.
What is the weather like?
For Nov 14–23, seasonal normals show highs of 57–64°F and lows near 43°F. Most days are overcast, with drizzle on Nov 16 and Nov 18. Bring layers and a light rain jacket.
Is 9 nights enough?
For Kyoto, Osaka and a Nara day trip, yes, at a relaxed pace. You land Sunday, Nov 15 at 4:45 PM, and the rest of the stay is yours for temples, food and the autumn leaves.
What does the whole trip cost for two?
Our sample budget for two is $6,526. That's $2,496 in flights, $1,690 at APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae and $2,340 for spending, based on $130 per person per day.
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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
- Photo: Mike The Fabrica / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: AXP Photography / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Axel Garbet / Pexels, Pexels License



