Kyoto & Osaka from London, Nov 27–Dec 2: $2,623 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- Fare is $912 per person, $59 below the typical fare on this route
- APA Hotel Kyoto Eki Horikawadori: 8.1 from 5,409 reviews, free cancellation
- Autumn leaves season at Tofuku-ji, Eikan-do and Arashiyama, with evening illuminations
The catch: There are two stops, and the outbound takes 53h 20m: you land at 6:10 AM Sunday, Nov 29, so two of the 5 hotel nights pass in transit.
Worth it if a long two-stop journey is fine for autumn Kyoto at this fare; skip it if you want more time on the ground than in transit.
Worth it if you can handle a long journey. The total is $2,623 for two, all in: flights at $1,824, the APA Hotel Kyoto Eki Horikawadori at $738 and $61 in property fees, with taxes included. The trip runs Nov 27–Dec 2, 2026, for 5 nights on CZ + MM, with two stops rather than a nonstop, and the total doesn't include a checked bag or spending money.
The total, before you go
$2,623 for two · 5 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $1,824 |
| APA Hotel Kyoto Eki Horikawadori, 5 nights, two guests, taxes in | $738 |
| Resort fee, collected at the desk | $61 |
| The total, before you go | $2,623 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $160 |
$59 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 China Southern, $160 for two round trip); the resort fee is counted above. Prices are what we found at the time shown; the booking site’s checkout is the binding one.
The flight
$912 per person, round trip
$1,824 for two, taxes and fees included · CZ + MM · 2 stops · 53h 20m
Out Fri, Nov 27, 9:30 PM – Sun, Nov 29, 6:10 AM · back Wed, Dec 2, 9:15 PM – Thu, Dec 3, 5:55 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| CZ + MM | $912 | 2 stops | 53h 20m |
| MF + GK | $939 | 2 stops | 49h 40m |
| MF + GK | $943 | 2 stops | 48h 50m |
Prices checked Oct 15, 2026, 1:48 PM GMT+1. 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
Tweak this trip
Why now
When we checked, the fare was $912 per person. That's $59 below the typical fare on this route, about 6% under, and the lowest in 30 days. Across the 12 offers we checked, fares ran from $912 to $994. With the APA Hotel Kyoto Eki Horikawadori, the trip comes to $2,623 for two before you go. Timing is the other reason. Autumn leaves at Tofuku-ji, Eikan-do and Arashiyama peak in mid-to-late November, with evening illuminations, and you land on Nov 29, near the end of that window. Expect highs of 55–58°F and lows near 40°F, with drizzle or rain on some days, so pack a light rain layer. This trip suits two people who want temples in the morning and Osaka street food at night. Prices can change after the time we checked.
The kind of trip this is
This is a culture-and-food city trip at an unhurried pace. You'll take early temple walks in Kyoto and see gardens and bamboo in Arashiyama. For dinner, Osaka's street-food canals are about half an hour away. It suits couples or friends who like walking, eating well and cool jacket weather. It's not the trip for beach seekers or anyone who wants a short, easy flight.
Weather in Kyoto & Osaka, Nov 27–Dec 2
Typical highs 55–58°F, lows near 40°F this time of year
| Day | Typical high | Typical low | Typical weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Nov 27 | 57 °F | 41 °F | Drizzle |
| Sat, Nov 28 | 58 °F | 41 °F | Drizzle |
| Sun, Nov 29 | 58 °F | 41 °F | Overcast |
| Mon, Nov 30 | 58 °F | 39 °F | Rain |
| Tue, Dec 1 | 55 °F | 39 °F | Overcast |
| Wed, Dec 2 | 55 °F | 36 °F | Overcast |
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com · averages, not a forecast
Where to stay in Kyoto & Osaka
We priced three hotels, all room only. APA Hotel Kyoto Eki Horikawadori is the best-value pick and the one in our total: $738 for the 5 nights ($148 a night) plus $61 in fees at the property. It scores 8.1 from 5,409 reviews and has free cancellation. Comfort Hotel ERA Kyoto Horikawagojo costs $784 ($157 a night) and scores higher, 8.8 from 4,305 reviews, also with free cancellation. insomnia KYOTO OIKE is the top rated at 9.3 from 2,748 reviews. It costs $1,240 ($248 a night) plus $113 in property fees, with no free cancellation. The first two are in the Kyoto Station area, which is handy for the shinkansen and day trips. insomnia is in Karasuma, in Nakagyo Ward. Downtown Kyoto (Kawaramachi and Shijo) puts Nishiki Market and Pontocho alley at hand.
APA Hotel Kyoto Eki Horikawadori
$738 for 5 nights, two guests · $148 a night
See roomsinsomnia KYOTO OIKE
$1,240 for 5 nights, two guests · $248 a night
See roomsComfort Hotel ERA Kyoto Horikawagojo
$784 for 5 nights, two guests · $157 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 crowds
- See the Arashiyama bamboo grove, then the gardens of Tenryu-ji
- Book a kaiseki dinner at a ryotei in Gion
- Eat your way through Nishiki Market on a food crawl
- Take the train 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 London | Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW), Stansted (STN), Luton (LTN), London City (LCY) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Kyoto & Osaka | Kansai International (KIX), Osaka Itami (ITM) |
| Flight time | 53h 20m (2 stops) |
| Distance | 5,889 miles each way |
| Time difference | +9 hours |
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What 5 nights in Kyoto & Osaka costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $1,824 |
| Hotel, 5 nights (APA Hotel Kyoto Eki Horikawadori) | $738 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 5 days for two | $1,300 |
| Total for two | $3,862 |
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: London to Kyoto & Osaka
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $912 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $912 (Oct 15, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $971 |
| Price checks | 5 |
Good to know
- Passport: passport needed: travelers from the United Kingdom 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.
- The currency is the Japanese yen, and Japan is 9 hours ahead of London.
- The outbound flight is two stops and 53h 20m from Heathrow (LHR) to Kansai International (KIX), a distance of 5,889 miles.
- The fare doesn't include a checked bag, which is about $160 for two.
- APA and Comfort Hotel ERA offer free cancellation. insomnia KYOTO OIKE does not.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Worth it if you can handle the journey. The fare is $59 per person below the typical fare on this route and the lowest in 30 days, and the dates fall in autumn leaves season. The trade-off is two stops and 53h 20m on the way out.
How much is the whole trip for two?
$2,623, all in: flights at $1,824, the APA hotel at $738 and $61 in property fees, with taxes included. A checked bag adds about $160 for two. With the $1,300 we budget for spending, the total comes to $3,862.
What is the weather like?
It's cool and often gray. Highs are 55–58°F and lows are near 40°F. Typical conditions for these dates include drizzle on Nov 27 and 28, rain on Nov 30, and overcast skies the other days.
Is 5 nights enough?
You land at 6:10 AM on Nov 29 and fly home at 9:15 PM on Dec 2. That's tight but workable for Kyoto, one Osaka evening and a Nara day trip.
Do I need a passport?
Yes, you need a passport for Japan. Plan for the yen too, and for a 9-hour time difference from London.
Which airport do I fly into?
This fare leaves from Heathrow (LHR) and lands at Kansai International (KIX). Osaka Itami (ITM) also serves the area.
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Kyoto & Osaka in pictures
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