Kyoto & Osaka from Madison, Dec 3–8: round trip from $1,736
Round-trip flights from Madison to Kyoto & Osaka cost $1,736 per person ($3,472 for two), all-in, for Dec 3–8, 2026, a 5-night trip, when we checked. The fare is on American + JAL, operated by Republic Airways as American Eagle, with 2 stops, so it isn't nonstop. Expect highs of 51–55°F, and the best-value hotel, Comfort Hotel ERA Kyoto Horikawagojo, is $475 for the stay.
The flight
$2,268 $1,736 per person, round trip
the highest fare we saw for these dates
$3,472 for two, taxes and fees included · American + JAL. Operated by Republic Airways as American Eagle · 2 stops · 22h 19m
Out Thu, Dec 3, 5:51 AM – Fri, Dec 4, 7:10 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| American + JAL. Operated by Republic Airways as American Eagle | $1,736 | 2 stops | 22h 19m |
| MX + F9 + YP + 7C | $1,869 | 3 stops | 91h 9m |
| MX + F9 + YP + 7C | $1,875 | 3 stops | 88h 24m |
Prices checked Oct 12, 2026, 10:55 AM CDT. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
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Your trip for two
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $3,472 |
| Comfort Hotel ERA Kyoto Horikawagojo, 5 nights | $475 |
| Trip total for two | $3,947 |
Regular: $5,011 You pay: $3,947 Saved: $1,064
the highest fare we saw for these dates.
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Why go now
At $1,736 per person round trip, all-in when we checked, this fare is $532 below the highest fare we saw for these dates. That's a 23% gap across the 12 offers we saw. For two, flights come to $3,472. Add the $475 best-value room and a $1,300 spending budget and the whole trip lands at $5,247 for two. Autumn leaves here peak in mid-to-late November, so early December comes just after that. Typical highs are 51–55°F with lows near 36°F and mostly overcast skies, which means jacket weather that's good for long walks between shrines and warm bowls of noodles. This one's about culture and food: Kyoto's 1,600 temples by day, then Osaka's street food at night, 15 minutes away by express train. Prices change, so read these as what we found, not a promise.
The kind of trip this is
This is a culture-and-food city trip with a bit of nature mixed in: temples, gardens, market stalls and neon food streets. It suits a couple or a pair of friends who like to walk all day and eat well, and who are fine with cool, gray weather. The pace is steady. Plan early starts for the shrines, slow afternoons in the gardens and one evening in Osaka.
Weather in Kyoto & Osaka, Dec 3–8
Typical highs 51–55°F, lows near 36°F this time of year
| Day | Typical high | Typical low | Typical weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Dec 3 | 55 °F | 35 °F | Partly cloudy |
| Fri, Dec 4 | 52 °F | 35 °F | Overcast |
| Sat, Dec 5 | 51 °F | 36 °F | Overcast |
| Sun, Dec 6 | 54 °F | 35 °F | Overcast |
| Mon, Dec 7 | 54 °F | 38 °F | Overcast |
| Tue, Dec 8 | 55 °F | 37 °F | Drizzle |
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com · averages, not a forecast
Where to stay in Kyoto & Osaka
All three picks are in the Kyoto Station area, which is handy for the shinkansen and day trips. Comfort Hotel ERA Kyoto Horikawagojo is the best value: $475 for the 5 nights ($95 a night), with a review score of 8.8 from 4,321 reviews and free cancellation. Comfort Hotel ERA Kyoto Toji is our budget pick at $485 ($97 a night). It scores 9 from 3,927 reviews and also has free cancellation. 22 PIECES is the top-rated option: a 4-star studio with a living area for $1,694 ($339 a night), with a review score of 9.3 from 1,082 reviews. Heads-up, it doesn't offer free cancellation. All three are room only. For a night out, Osaka Namba and Dotonbori has the street food and nightlife.
Comfort Hotel ERA Kyoto Horikawagojo
$475 for 5 nights, two guests · $95 a night
See rooms22 PIECES
$1,694 for 5 nights, two guests · $339 a night
See roomsComfort Hotel ERA Kyoto Toji
$485 for 5 nights, two guests · $97 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 at Fushimi Inari before 8 AM, ahead of the crowds
- Arashiyama bamboo grove, then the gardens of Tenryu-ji
- Book a kaiseki dinner at a ryotei in Gion
- Graze your way through Nishiki Market on a food crawl
- Takoyaki and okonomiyaki on Dotonbori in Osaka
- Day trip to Nara for the 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
- Day trip to Nara's deer park and the Great Buddha of Todai-ji
Tours and tickets in Kyoto & Osaka
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Getting there and around
| Airports in Madison | Dane County Regional (MSN) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Kyoto & Osaka | Kansai International (KIX), Osaka Itami (ITM) |
| Flight time | 22h 19m (2 stops) |
| Distance | 6,337 miles each way |
| Time difference | +15 hours |
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What 5 nights in Kyoto & Osaka costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $3,472 |
| Hotel, 5 nights (Comfort Hotel ERA Kyoto Horikawagojo) | $475 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 5 days for two | $1,300 |
| Total for two | $5,247 |
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 | $1,736 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $1,736 (Oct 12, 2026) |
| Price checks | 3 |
Good to know
- Passport: yes, US citizens need a valid passport for Kyoto & Osaka.
- Currency: Japanese yen (JPY).
- You'll need a passport. The currency is the Japanese yen (JPY).
- Japan is 15 hours ahead of Madison.
- The outbound leaves Dane County Regional (MSN) at 5:51 AM on Dec 3 and lands at Kansai International (KIX) at 7:10 PM on Dec 4, after 22h 19m and 2 stops.
- All three hotels are room only. The two Comfort Hotel ERA options have free cancellation and 22 PIECES does not.
- The route covers 6,337 miles each way, and prices are all-in as found when we checked.
Questions readers ask
How much is the flight?
When we checked, it was $1,736 per person round trip, all-in, or $3,472 for two, on American + JAL, operated by Republic Airways as American Eagle. That's $532 below the highest fare we saw for these dates. Prices move, so check the live fare.
Is it nonstop?
No. The outbound has 2 stops and takes 22h 19m. It leaves Madison at 5:51 AM on Dec 3 and arrives at Kansai International (KIX) at 7:10 PM on Dec 4.
Do I need a passport?
Yes, you need a passport for Japan. The local currency is the Japanese yen, and the clock runs 15 hours ahead of Madison.
What is the weather like?
These are seasonal normals, not a forecast: highs of 51–55°F and lows of 35–38°F, mostly overcast, with drizzle possible on Dec 8. Bring layers and a light rain jacket.
Is 5 nights enough?
For a first taste, yes. Plan a couple of Kyoto temple days, one evening in Osaka 15 minutes away by express train, and a day trip to Nara. Since you land the evening of Dec 4, you'll have fewer full days than the 5 nights suggest.
What does the whole trip cost?
Our budget for two comes to $5,247: $3,472 for flights, $475 for the best-value hotel and $1,300 for spending, which works out to $130 per person per day.
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Kyoto & Osaka in pictures
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Image credits
- Photo: AXP Photography / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Axel Garbet / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Mike The Fabrica / Pexels, Pexels License