Kyoto & Osaka from Madison, Nov 14–23: round trip from $2,065
Round-trip flights from Madison to Kyoto & Osaka cost $2,065 per person ($4,129 for two) for Nov 14–23, 2026, 9 nights, on MX + B6 + NH with 3 stops, so it's not nonstop. Expect highs of 57–64°F and lows near 43°F, mostly overcast. The best-value hotel, APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae, is $1,690 for the stay.
The flight
$2,065 per person, round trip
$4,129 for two, taxes and fees included · MX + B6 + NH · 3 stops · 64h 49m
Out Sat, Nov 14, 4:58 PM – Mon, Nov 16, 9:50 PM · back Mon, Nov 23, 9:20 AM – Mon, Nov 23, 9:17 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| MX + B6 + NH | $2,065 | 3 stops | 64h 49m |
| KE + TW | $2,089 | 3 stops | 62h 43m |
| AS + NH | $2,102 | 3 stops | 60h 51m |
Prices checked Oct 12, 2026, 2:13 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
Your trip for two
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $4,129 |
| APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae, 9 nights | $1,690 |
| Trip total for two | $5,819 |
Tweak this trip
Why go now
The fare is $2,065 per person round trip, or $4,129 for two, all-in when we checked. Heads-up: that's $251 above $1,814, the median of our earlier checks on this route, and the lowest we saw in recent checks was $1,460. This one has no deal badge and no savings flag. Why look anyway? The calendar. Autumn leaves at Tofuku-ji, Eikan-do and Arashiyama peak in mid-to-late November, with evening illuminations, and Nov 14–23 lands in that window. Typical highs run 57–64°F with lows near 43°F, mostly overcast with a couple of drizzly days, which makes for comfortable walking between temples, gardens and food markets. Nine nights is enough for Kyoto, an evening or two in Osaka and a day in Nara. Prices move, so treat these as what we found, not a promise.
The kind of trip this is
A culture-and-food city trip at a slow, walkable pace: temples and gardens in the morning, markets and street food later in the day. It suits couples and friends who like history, long walks and eating well, and anyone who wants the autumn leaves. With Osaka close by, you get quiet lanes and neon nightlife on the same trip, without changing hotels.
Weather in Kyoto & Osaka, Nov 14–23
Typical highs 57–64°F, lows near 43°F this time of year
| Day | Typical high | Typical low | Typical weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Nov 14 | 62 °F | 44 °F | Overcast |
| Sun, Nov 15 | 64 °F | 44 °F | Overcast |
| Mon, Nov 16 | 63 °F | 43 °F | Drizzle |
| Tue, Nov 17 | 64 °F | 45 °F | Overcast |
| Wed, Nov 18 | 57 °F | 42 °F | Drizzle |
| Thu, Nov 19 | 58 °F | 41 °F | Overcast |
| Fri, Nov 20 | 60 °F | 42 °F | Overcast |
| Sat, Nov 21 | 62 °F | 41 °F | Overcast |
| Sun, Nov 22 | 62 °F | 44 °F | Overcast |
| Mon, Nov 23 | 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: $1,690 for the stay ($188 a night), scored 7.9 across 3,276 reviews, with free cancellation. It's in the Kyoto Station area, handy for the shinkansen and day trips. Our top-rated pick is hotel anddoggy Kyoto Nijo at $2,042 ($227 a night), scored 9.5 from 385 reviews; the room is a dog-friendly Premier Twin, and it doesn't offer free cancellation. Naganoya sits between the two at $1,920 ($213 a night), scored 8.7 from 271 reviews, with free cancellation and a Standard Triple Studio. Both of those are in Nakagyo Ward, close to Downtown Kyoto (Kawaramachi and Shijo), which puts Nishiki Market and Pontocho alley within reach. All three are room only.
APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae
$1,690 for 9 nights, two guests · $188 a night
See roomshotel anddoggy Kyoto Nijo
$2,042 for 9 nights, two guests · $227 a night
See roomsNaganoya
$1,920 for 9 nights, two guests · $213 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 Fushimi Inari's torii-gate tunnels before 8am, ahead of the crowds
- See the Arashiyama bamboo grove and the gardens of Tenryu-ji in autumn color
- Book a kaiseki dinner at a Gion ryotei for one slow evening
- Graze your way through a Nishiki Market food crawl in Downtown Kyoto
- Eat takoyaki and okonomiyaki on Dotonbori in Osaka
- Take a day trip to Nara's deer park and the Great Buddha of Todai-ji
Tours and tickets in Kyoto & Osaka
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
Getting there and around
| Airports in Madison | Dane County Regional (MSN) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Kyoto & Osaka | Kansai International (KIX), Osaka Itami (ITM) |
| Flight time | 64h 49m (3 stops) |
| Distance | 6,337 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 9 nights in Kyoto & Osaka costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $4,130 |
| Hotel, 9 nights (APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae) | $1,690 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 9 days for two | $2,340 |
| Total for two | $8,160 |
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: Madison to Kyoto & Osaka
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $2,065 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $1,460 (Oct 12, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $1,814 |
| Price checks | 5 |
Good to know
- Passport: yes, US citizens need a valid passport for Kyoto & Osaka.
- 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 (JPY).
- Japan is 15 hours ahead of Madison.
- The outbound flight takes 64h 49m with 3 stops, leaving MSN at 4:58 PM on Saturday, Nov 14 and landing at KIX at 9:50 PM on Monday, Nov 16.
- APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae and Naganoya have free cancellation; hotel anddoggy Kyoto Nijo doesn't. All three are room only.
Questions readers ask
How much is the flight?
$2,065 per person round trip, $4,129 for two, all-in when we checked. That's $251 above the $1,814 median of our earlier checks on this route. Fares change, so check the live price.
Is it nonstop?
No. The fare we found is on MX + B6 + NH with 3 stops, from Dane County Regional (MSN) to Kansai International (KIX). The outbound takes 64h 49m. The return leaves at 9:20 AM on Nov 23 and lands at 9:17 PM the same day.
Do I need a passport?
Yes, you need a passport. You'll pay in Japanese yen (JPY), and Japan runs 15 hours ahead of Madison.
What's the weather like?
Typical highs are 57–64°F with lows near 43°F. Most days are overcast, with drizzle in the normals for Nov 16 and Nov 18. Bring layers and a light rain jacket.
Is 9 nights enough?
Yes, for Kyoto with side trips. Plan on temples and gardens in Kyoto, an evening on Dotonbori in Osaka and a day trip to Nara. The outbound lands late on Nov 16, so your first full day is Nov 17.
What's the whole trip likely to cost for two?
We estimate $8,160 for two over 9 days: $4,130 for flights, $1,690 at APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae and $2,340 for spending, which works out to $130 per person a day.
Also found for you
The newest finds from Madison.
$421 $376 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $45 (11%)
the highest fare we saw for these dates
Tweak this trip
$2,268 $1,736 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $532 (23%)
the highest fare we saw for these dates
Tweak this trip
More trips
$619 $479 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $140 (23%)
the typical fare on this route
$732 $538 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $194 (27%)
the typical fare on this route
$421 $376 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $45 (11%)
the highest fare we saw for these dates
All trips from Madison · Kyoto & Osaka from every city · Prices on this route · Trips in November 2026 · Home
Kyoto & Osaka in pictures
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. We use AI tools to draft the text of each page from the data on it; code checks every number in the draft against that data and rejects what does not match, and the team reviews pages and fixes or removes what readers report. How we pick · Report a mistake.
Image credits
- Photo: Axel Garbet / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Mike The Fabrica / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: AXP Photography / Pexels, Pexels License