Kyoto & Osaka from Kansas City, 11 – 16 Dec: £2,589 for two, all in
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The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- Hotel New Hankyu Kyoto, rated 8.4 by 4,459 guests
- Free cancellation at Hotel New Hankyu Kyoto
- Typical highs 48–56°F, lows near 36°F this time of year
The catch: Not nonstop: 3 stops on the way, 59h 53m in all.
Worth it if museums and old streets are your thing; skip it if you want a pool.
Round trip from Kansas City to Kyoto & Osaka was $1,493 per person ($2,986 for two) when we checked, for Dec 11–16, 2026, 5 nights, on F9 + YP + RS with 3 stops, not nonstop. December in Kyoto usually means highs of 48–56°F and lows near 36°F, and the best-value hotel, Hotel New Hankyu Kyoto, is $449 for the stay. Heads-up: the outbound lands Sunday, Dec 13 at 8:40 PM.
The total, before you go
£2,589 for two · 5 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, return | £2,251 |
| Hotel New Hankyu Kyoto, 5 nights, two guests, taxes in | £338 |
| The total, before you go | £2,589 |
| Hold luggage each, return (not in the total) | about £181 |
Not in it: seat selection on basic fares and hold luggage (about £45 each way per bag on Frontier, £181 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
£1,125 per person, return
£2,251 for two, taxes and fees included · F9 + YP + RS · 3 stops · 59h 53m
Out Fri, Dec 11, 8:32 PM – Sun, Dec 13, 8:40 PM · back Wed, Dec 16, 7:50 AM – Wed, Dec 16, 7:35 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| F9 + YP + RS | £1,125 | 3 stops | 59h 53m |
| F9 + YP + LJ | £1,130 | 3 stops | 61h 38m |
| F9 + YP + MM | £1,175 | 3 stops | 58h 30m |
Prices checked 13 Oct 2026, 21:43 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
At $1,493 per person, this fare is $8 above $1,485, the median of our 5 earlier checks on this route. That makes it a fair price, not a markdown. The lowest we saw in the past 30 days was $1,262, so it has been lower. What you get is Kyoto in mid-December, after the autumn leaves peak in mid-to-late November. Expect highs of 48–56°F, lows near 36°F, a drizzly Saturday, Dec 12 and a clear Monday, Dec 14 in the typical pattern. That's good weather for temple walks, a market crawl and a long, warm dinner. For two people, flights, Hotel New Hankyu Kyoto and $1,300 in spending money come to $4,735. All prices include taxes and fees as we found them, and they can change at any time.
The kind of trip this is
This is a cool-weather city and food trip: temples and gardens by day in Kyoto, street food in Osaka at night, with a short train ride between them. It suits a couple or a pair of friends who like walking, eating and early starts, and who don't mind a long journey for a shorter stretch on the ground. The pace is steady rather than packed, with room for one day trip.
Weather in Kyoto & Osaka, 11 – 16 Dec
Typical highs 48–56°F, lows near 36°F this time of year
| Day | Typical high | Typical low | Typical weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 11 Dec | 56 °F | 37 °F | Overcast |
| Sat 12 Dec | 52 °F | 38 °F | Drizzle |
| Sun 13 Dec | 51 °F | 37 °F | Overcast |
| Mon 14 Dec | 48 °F | 35 °F | Clear |
| Tue 15 Dec | 49 °F | 33 °F | Overcast |
| Wed 16 Dec | 53 °F | 33 °F | Mostly clear |
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com · averages, not a forecast
Where to stay in Kyoto & Osaka
Hotel New Hankyu Kyoto is the best value at $449 for the stay, or $90 a night. It has a review score of 8.4 from 4,459 reviews, and it sits in the Kyoto Station area, which is handy for the shinkansen and day trips. The Royal Park Canvas - Kyoto Nijo is our budget pick at $600, or $120 a night, and scores 8.9 from 3,076 reviews. It's in Nakagyo Ward, close to Downtown Kyoto (Kawaramachi and Shijo), where Nishiki Market and Pontocho alley are nearby. The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu - a member of the Leading Hotels of the World- is the top rated at 9.5. It costs $4,735, or $947 a night, and it's in Gion and Higashiyama, with teahouses and the temple walk on its doorstep. All three are room only with free cancellation.
Hotel New Hankyu Kyoto
£338 for 5 nights, two guests · £68 a night
See roomsThe Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu - a member of the Leading Hotels of the World-
£3,569 for 5 nights, two guests · £714 a night
See roomsThe Royal Park Canvas - Kyoto Nijo
£452 for 5 nights, two guests · £90 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 of Fushimi Inari before 8am, ahead of the day crowds
- See the Arashiyama bamboo grove, then the gardens of Tenryu-ji
- Book a kaiseki dinner at a Gion ryotei for one slow evening
- Eat your way through Nishiki Market on a food crawl
- Ride to Osaka for takoyaki and okonomiyaki on Dotonbori
- Take a day trip to Nara's 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
Tours and tickets in Kyoto & Osaka
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Getting there and around
| Airports in Kansas City | Kansas City International (MCI) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Kyoto & Osaka | Kansai International (KIX), Osaka Itami (ITM) |
| Flight time | 59h 53m (3 stops) |
| Distance | 6,392 miles each way |
| Time difference | +15 hours |
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What 5 nights in Kyoto & Osaka costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | £2,251 |
| Hotel, 5 nights (Hotel New Hankyu Kyoto) | £338 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 5 days for two | £980 |
| Total for two | £3,569 |
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: Kansas City to Kyoto & Osaka
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | £1,125 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | £951 (12 Oct 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | £1,119 |
| Price checks | 5 |
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).
- You need a passport. The currency is the Japanese yen, and Japan is 15 hours ahead of Kansas City.
- The outbound fare has 3 stops and takes 59h 53m. It leaves MCI on Friday, Dec 11 at 8:32 PM and lands at Kansai International (KIX) on Sunday, Dec 13 at 8:40 PM.
- The return leaves Wednesday, Dec 16 at 7:50 AM and arrives the same day at 7:35 PM, Kansas City time.
- All three hotels are room only with free cancellation, priced for 5 nights from Dec 11.
- Kansas City to Kyoto & Osaka is 6,392 miles. Kansai International (KIX) and Osaka Itami (ITM) both serve the area.
Questions readers ask
How much is the flight?
We found it at $1,493 per person round trip, or $2,986 for two, including taxes and fees. It's on F9 + YP + RS with 3 stops. Prices change, so check the live fare before you decide.
Is this a good price for the route?
It's about average. The fare is $8 above $1,485, the median of our 5 earlier checks, and the lowest we saw in the past 30 days was $1,262.
Is 5 nights enough?
You get less time on the ground than the dates suggest. You land Sunday, Dec 13 at 8:40 PM and fly out Wednesday, Dec 16 at 7:50 AM. That leaves about two full days, enough for Kyoto plus Osaka or Nara.
Do I need a passport?
Yes, you need a passport for Japan. The local currency is the Japanese yen, and Japan is 15 hours ahead of Kansas City.
What is the weather like?
It's cool. December highs usually run 48–56°F with lows near 36°F, and the typical pattern for these dates includes drizzle on Dec 12 and clear skies on Dec 14. Bring layers and a rain jacket.
What does the whole trip cost for two?
Flights at $2,986, Hotel New Hankyu Kyoto at $449 and $1,300 in spending money come to $4,735 for two people.
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All trips from Kansas City · Kyoto & Osaka from every city · Prices on this route · Trips in December 2026 · Home
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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- Photo: AXP Photography / Pexels, Pexels License
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