Kyoto & Osaka from Richmond, 14 – 23 Nov: £3,286 for two, all in
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The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- Autumn leaves peak mid-to-late November, with evening illuminations
- $158 below the highest fare we saw for these dates
- APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae: 7.9 from 3,276 reviews, free cancellation
The catch: The outbound fare has 3 stops and takes 63h 50m, landing Monday, Nov 16, and a checked bag is about $180 for two.
Worth it if you have time for a long trip and want temples and food in leaf season; skip it if long layovers wear you out.
Worth it if you can take a long trip there: $4,359 for two covers the flights at $2,669 plus the hotel at $1,690, with taxes and fees included. A checked bag and spending money are not in that total. You fly Nov 14–23, 2026, for 9 nights on B6 + AC, and it isn't nonstop: the outbound has 3 stops.
The total, before you go
£3,286 for two · 9 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, return | £2,012 |
| APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae, 9 nights, two guests, taxes in | £1,274 |
| The total, before you go | £3,286 |
| Hold luggage each, return (not in the total) | about £136 |
£119 per person below the highest fare we saw for these dates.
Not in it: seat selection on basic fares and hold luggage (about £34 each way per bag on JetBlue, £136 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
£1,006 per person, return
£2,012 for two, taxes and fees included · B6 + AC · 3 stops · 63h 50m
Out Sat, Nov 14, 3:34 PM – Mon, Nov 16, 5:40 PM · back Mon, Nov 23, 7:25 AM – Mon, Nov 23, 9:09 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| B6 + AC | £1,006 | 3 stops | 63h 50m |
| United + ANA. Operated by SkyWest DBA United Express | £1,096 | 2 stops | 25h 40m |
| B6 + AC | £1,006 | 3 stops | 74h 5m |
Prices checked 12 Oct 2026, 14:56 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
At $1,335 per person, or $2,669 for two, the fare is $158 below the highest fare we saw for these dates, 11% under it across the 12 offers we checked. We don't have enough history on this route to call any fare typical, so treat that as what we found when we checked, not a promise that it'll hold. The timing is the stronger reason. Autumn leaves at Tofuku-ji, Eikan-do and Arashiyama peak in mid-to-late November, with evening illuminations, and these 9 nights land right in that window. Typical highs are 57–64°F with lows near 43°F. It's mostly overcast with a couple of drizzly days, which is good walking weather for temple days. Nine nights also make the long trip there pay off: enough time for Kyoto, Osaka and a Nara day trip without rushing.
The kind of trip this is
This is a culture and food trip at an easy, walking pace. You'll spend early mornings at shrines, afternoons in gardens and evenings eating your way through markets and neon streets. It suits couples or two friends who like a long trip with room to wander, and who'd pick a kaiseki dinner or a street-food crawl over a beach chair. Base yourself in Kyoto and take easy day trips to Osaka and Nara.
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 pick and the one in the total: $1,690 for the stay ($188 a night), 7.9 from 3,276 reviews, with free cancellation. It's in the Kyoto Station area, which is handy for the shinkansen and day trips to Osaka and Nara. hotel anddoggy Kyoto Nijo is the top-rated option at 9.5 from 385 reviews, $2,042 for the stay ($227 a night), but it doesn't offer free cancellation. Naganoya scores 8.7 from 271 reviews and costs $1,920 for the stay ($213 a night), with free cancellation. Both of those sit in Nakagyo Ward, closer to Downtown Kyoto (Kawaramachi and Shijo), which puts Nishiki Market and Pontocho alley at hand for dinner. 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 Fushimi Inari's torii-gate tunnels before 8am, ahead of the crowds
- See the Arashiyama bamboo grove and Tenryu-ji's gardens while the autumn leaves peak
- Book a kaiseki dinner at a Gion ryotei for one slow evening
- Do a food crawl through Nishiki Market downtown
- Eat takoyaki and okonomiyaki on Dotonbori in Osaka
- Take a day trip to Nara's deer park and the Great Buddha of Todai-ji
Also worth it
- Nishiki Market food crawl
Tours and tickets in Kyoto & Osaka
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Getting there and around
| Airports in Richmond | Richmond International (RIC) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Kyoto & Osaka | Kansai International (KIX), Osaka Itami (ITM) |
| Flight time | 63h 50m (3 stops) |
| Distance | 6,990 miles each way |
| Time difference | +14 hours |
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What 9 nights in Kyoto & Osaka costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | £2,013 |
| Hotel, 9 nights (APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae) | £1,274 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 9 days for two | £1,764 |
| Total for two | £5,050 |
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: Richmond to Kyoto & Osaka
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | £1,006 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | £1,006 (12 Oct 2026) |
| Price checks | 4 |
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'll need a passport. The currency is the Japanese yen, and Kyoto is 14 hours ahead of Richmond.
- The flight goes out of Richmond International (RIC) and lands at Kansai International (KIX). The return leaves at 7:25 AM on Nov 23 and lands at 9:09 PM the same day.
- Prices are all-in as found when we checked. A checked bag, about $180 for two, isn't included.
- APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae and Naganoya offer free cancellation. hotel anddoggy Kyoto Nijo doesn't.
- Our full budget for two is $6,700, including $2,340 of spending money at $130 per person per day.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Yes, if you can handle the trip there. The outbound has 3 stops and takes 63h 50m. In return you get 9 nights in Kyoto during peak autumn leaves, with a fare $158 below the highest fare we saw for these dates.
How much is the whole trip for two?
$4,359, all in: flights at $2,669 plus 9 nights at APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae at $1,690, taxes and fees included. A checked bag (about $180 for two) and spending money are extra. With $2,340 of spending money, our budget comes to $6,700.
Is there a shorter flight?
We also found United + ANA with 2 stops and 25h 40m of travel, at $1,454 per person or $2,908 for two. It leaves at 6:10 AM on Nov 14 and lands at 9:50 PM on Nov 15.
Do I need a passport?
Yes, you'll need a passport for Japan. You'll pay in Japanese yen, and the clock runs 14 hours ahead of Richmond.
What is the weather like?
Typical highs are 57–64°F with lows near 43°F for these dates. Most days are overcast, with drizzle typical on a couple of them. Bring layers and a light rain jacket.
Is 9 nights enough?
It's enough for Kyoto's temples and gardens, a day in Osaka for Dotonbori street food and a day trip to Nara. Keep in mind the outbound lands Monday, Nov 16, so your first day there is short.
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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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- Photo: AXP Photography / Pexels, Pexels License
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