Kyoto & Osaka from Birmingham, Nov 5–10: $3,162 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- $887 per person below the typical fare on this route
- Lowest in 30 days on this route
- Hostel Ayame, rated 9.1 by 247 guests
The catch: Not nonstop: 2 stops on the way, 22h 40m in all.
Worth it if museums and old streets are your thing; skip it if you want a pool.
Round-trip flights from Birmingham to Kyoto & Osaka cost $1,210 per person ($2,420 for two) for Nov 5–10, 2026, which is 5 nights. You fly American + JAL with 2 stops, so it isn't nonstop, and typical highs run 63–65°F under mostly overcast skies. The best-value stay, Hostel Ayame, is $742 for all 5 nights.
The total, before you go
$3,162 for two · 5 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $2,420 |
| Hostel Ayame, 5 nights, two guests, taxes in | $742 |
| The total, before you go | $3,162 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $160 |
$887 per person below the typical fare on this route.
Not in it: seat picks on basic fares and a checked bag (about $40 each way per bag on American, $160 for two round trip); 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
$1,210 per person, round trip
$2,420 for two, taxes and fees included · American + JAL. Operated by PSA Airlines as American Eagle · 2 stops · 22h 40m
Out Thu, Nov 5, 5:30 AM – Fri, Nov 6, 7:10 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| American + JAL. Operated by PSA Airlines as American Eagle | $1,210 | 2 stops | 22h 40m |
| American + JAL + Jetstar. Operated by SkyWest Airlines as American Eagle | $1,271 | 2 stops | 21h 18m |
| United + ANA. Operated by Gojet Airlines DBA United Express | $1,284 | 2 stops | 24h 45m |
Prices checked Oct 13, 2026, 7:23 PM CDT. 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
$1,210 per person is $887 below the typical fare on this route. That's 42% off, and it's the lowest fare on this route in 30 days. We checked 12 offers, and fares ran from $1,210 to $2,191. With 5 nights at Hostel Ayame for $742 and $1,300 set aside for spending, the whole trip comes to $4,462 for two. Early November in Kyoto usually means highs of 63–65°F and lows near 47°F, which is comfortable weather for walking between temples, gardens and food markets all day. One heads-up on the season: the autumn leaves at Tofuku-ji, Eikan-do and Arashiyama peak in mid-to-late November, so these dates fall just before the peak. Prices include taxes and fees as we found them and can change before you book.
The kind of trip this is
This is a culture and food trip with two cities in one. Kyoto has temples, gardens and geisha lanes, and Osaka's street-food canals are half an hour away. It suits couples or a pair of friends who like early starts, long walks and eating their way through markets. Plan on full days at a steady pace, with one slower evening set aside for a kaiseki dinner.
Weather in Kyoto & Osaka, Nov 5–10
Typical highs 63–65°F, lows near 47°F this time of year
| Day | Typical high | Typical low | Typical weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Nov 5 | 64 °F | 49 °F | Drizzle |
| Fri, Nov 6 | 65 °F | 45 °F | Overcast |
| Sat, Nov 7 | 64 °F | 48 °F | Overcast |
| Sun, Nov 8 | 65 °F | 46 °F | Overcast |
| Mon, Nov 9 | 63 °F | 47 °F | Overcast |
| Tue, Nov 10 | 63 °F | 46 °F | Drizzle |
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com · averages, not a forecast
Where to stay in Kyoto & Osaka
For best value, Hostel Ayame is $742 for the stay ($148 a night) for a Standard Twin Room. It has a 9.1 review score from 247 reviews and is in the Kyoto Station area, which is handy for the shinkansen and day trips like Nara. La'gent Hotel Kyoto Nijo is the budget pick at $747 for the stay ($149 a night). It scores 8.7 across 3,924 reviews and sits in Nakagyo Ward, close to Downtown Kyoto (Kawaramachi and Shijo) for Nishiki Market and Pontocho alley. Both offer free cancellation. The top-rated option is The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu - a member of the Leading Hotels of the World-, which scores 9.5 from 482 reviews. It costs $7,475 for the stay ($1,495 a night), with no free cancellation. It puts you in Gion and Higashiyama, steps from the teahouses and the temple walk from Kiyomizu-dera to Nanzen-ji.
Hostel Ayame
$742 for 5 nights, two guests · $148 a night
See roomsThe Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu - a member of the Leading Hotels of the World-
$7,475 for 5 nights, two guests · $1,495 a night
See roomsLa'gent Hotel Kyoto Nijo
$747 for 5 nights, two guests · $149 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 the torii-gate tunnels at Fushimi Inari before 8am, while the paths are still quiet.
- See the Arashiyama bamboo grove, then the gardens of Tenryu-ji in the western hills.
- Book a kaiseki dinner at a Gion ryotei for one slow, special evening.
- Snack your way through Nishiki Market in Downtown Kyoto.
- Ride over to Osaka for takoyaki and okonomiyaki on Dotonbori after dark.
- 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 Birmingham | Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International (BHM) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Kyoto & Osaka | Kansai International (KIX), Osaka Itami (ITM) |
| Flight time | 22h 40m (2 stops) |
| Distance | 6,959 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 5 nights in Kyoto & Osaka costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $2,420 |
| Hotel, 5 nights (Hostel Ayame) | $742 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 5 days for two | $1,300 |
| Total for two | $4,462 |
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: Birmingham to Kyoto & Osaka
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $1,210 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $1,210 (Oct 14, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $2,097 |
| Price checks | 11 |
Good to know
- Passport: passport needed: travelers 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 this trip to Japan.
- Japan uses the Japanese yen, and Kyoto is 15 hours ahead of Birmingham.
- The outbound flight takes 22h 40m with 2 stops, leaving at 5:30 AM on Nov 5 and landing at Kansai International (KIX) at 7:10 PM on Nov 6.
- All three hotels are room only. Hostel Ayame and La'gent Hotel Kyoto Nijo offer free cancellation; The Hotel Seiryu does not.
- The autumn leaves peak in mid-to-late November, with evening illuminations, so these dates come just before the peak.
Questions readers ask
How much is the flight?
When we checked, it was $1,210 per person round trip, or $2,420 for two, with taxes and fees included. That's $887 below the typical fare on this route. Prices can change before you book.
How long is the flight, and is it nonstop?
It isn't nonstop. The flight is American + JAL with 2 stops and takes 22h 40m. It leaves Birmingham at 5:30 AM on Thursday, Nov 5 and lands at Kansai International at 7:10 PM on Friday, Nov 6, Japan time.
What is the weather like?
Early November usually brings highs of 63–65°F and lows near 47°F. Skies are mostly overcast, and drizzle is typical on Nov 5 and Nov 10. A light jacket and good walking shoes will cover it.
Do I need a passport?
Yes, you'll need a passport for Japan. The local currency is the Japanese yen.
Is 5 nights enough?
It's enough for the highlights if you pace it well. Plan on a day each for Fushimi Inari and Gion, Arashiyama, and Nishiki Market, plus an evening in Osaka and a day trip to Nara. Keep in mind that you land on the evening of Nov 6.
What does the whole trip cost for two?
Flights at $2,420, Hostel Ayame at $742 and $1,300 for spending come to $4,462 for two over 5 days.
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Kyoto & Osaka in pictures
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