Kyoto & Osaka from Milwaukee, Nov 14–23: $5,164 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- Autumn leaves peak mid-to-late November at Tofuku-ji, Eikan-do and Arashiyama
- Fare is $1,308 per person, $203 below the typical fare
- hotel anddoggy Kyoto Nijo scores 9.5 from 385 reviews
The catch: Two stops on the way out add up to 20h 45m from a 5:00 AM Milwaukee departure, and a checked bag is about $160 for two.
Worth it if 20h 45m with two stops is fine for nine nights of temples and food; skip it if you want a nonstop.
Worth it if the long flight doesn't bother you: $5,164 for two, all in. That's the flights at $2,616, hotel anddoggy Kyoto Nijo at $2,336 and $212 paid at the hotel, with taxes and fees included, for Nov 14–23, 2026, nine nights. You'd fly United (operated by SkyWest DBA United Express) with two stops, so it isn't nonstop, and a checked bag and spending money are extra.
The total, before you go
$5,164 for two · 9 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $2,616 |
| hotel anddoggy Kyoto Nijo, 9 nights, two guests, taxes in | $2,336 |
| Resort fee, collected at the desk | $212 |
| The total, before you go | $5,164 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $160 |
$203 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 United, $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
$1,308 per person, round trip
$2,616 for two, taxes and fees included · United. Operated by SkyWest DBA United Express · 2 stops · 20h 45m
Out Sat, Nov 14, 5:00 AM – Sun, Nov 15, 4:45 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| United. Operated by SkyWest DBA United Express | $1,308 | 2 stops | 20h 45m |
| United + ANA. Operated by Republic Airways DBA United Express | $1,315 | 2 stops | 22h |
| Alaska + EVA Air | $1,389 | 2 stops | 26h 15m |
Prices checked Oct 15, 2026, 7:42 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
The fare is $1,308 per person, $203 below the typical fare on this route, a 13% gap, and the lowest we've seen in 30 days. For two, that's $2,616 for the flights and $5,164 for the whole trip with the hotel, taxes and fees included, as found when we checked; prices move. The timing matters too: the autumn leaves at Tofuku-ji, Eikan-do and Arashiyama peak in mid-to-late November, with evening illuminations, and these dates sit right in that window. Expect typical highs of 57–64°F and lows near 43°F, good walking weather for temple days with a jacket. Nine nights gives you room for Kyoto, Osaka and Nara without rushing, so the long trip over earns its keep.
The kind of trip this is
This is a culture-and-food trip at a walking pace: early mornings at shrines and temples, afternoons in gardens and markets, evenings eating your way through Osaka. It suits a couple or two friends who like to wander, don't mind an early alarm for the quiet hours, and want a city trip with nature close by. With nine nights, you can mix busy days with slow ones.
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
Our best-value pick is hotel anddoggy Kyoto Nijo: $2,336 for the stay ($260 a night), a 9.5 score from 385 reviews, in Nakagyo Ward near Kawaramachi. It has no free cancellation, and $212 is paid at the property. KABIN Kyoto is the top-rated pick on a big sample, 9.1 from 2,894 reviews, at $2,500 for the stay ($278 a night) in the Gion area, plus $227 at the property. La'gent Hotel Kyoto Nijo costs $2,523 ($280 a night), scores 8.7 from 3,915 reviews and is the only one of the three with free cancellation, plus $229 at the property. Downtown Kyoto (Kawaramachi and Shijo) puts Nishiki Market and Pontocho alley close by. Gion and Higashiyama is the area for teahouse streets and the temple walk from Kiyomizu-dera to Nanzen-ji.
hotel anddoggy Kyoto Nijo
$2,336 for 9 nights, two guests · $260 a night
See roomsKABIN Kyoto
$2,500 for 9 nights, two guests · $278 a night
See roomsLa'gent Hotel Kyoto Nijo
$2,523 for 9 nights, two guests · $280 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
- Arashiyama bamboo grove and the gardens of Tenryu-ji, with autumn color on these dates
- Kaiseki dinner at a Gion ryotei for one slow evening
- Nishiki Market food crawl in downtown Kyoto
- Takoyaki and okonomiyaki on Dotonbori, 15 minutes from Kyoto by express train
- 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 Milwaukee | Milwaukee Mitchell International (MKE) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Kyoto & Osaka | Kansai International (KIX), Osaka Itami (ITM) |
| Flight time | 20h 45m (2 stops) |
| Distance | 6,382 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 | $2,616 |
| Hotel, 9 nights (hotel anddoggy Kyoto Nijo) | $2,336 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 9 days for two | $2,340 |
| Total for two | $7,292 |
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: Milwaukee to Kyoto & Osaka
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $1,308 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $1,308 (Oct 16, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $1,511 |
| Price checks | 6 |
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 Japan, and the currency is the Japanese yen.
- Kyoto is 15 hours ahead of Milwaukee.
- The outbound leaves MKE Saturday, Nov 14 at 5:00 AM and lands at Kansai International (KIX) Sunday, Nov 15 at 4:45 PM.
- The total includes the $212 paid at hotel anddoggy Kyoto Nijo; a checked bag (about $160 for two) is not included.
- Only La'gent Hotel Kyoto Nijo offers free cancellation; the other two hotels don't.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Worth it if the long flight works for you. The fare is $1,308 per person, $203 below the typical fare on this route and the lowest in 30 days, and the dates line up with the autumn-leaf peak. The trade-off is two stops and 20h 45m on the way out.
How much is the whole trip for two?
$5,164 for two, all in: flights at $2,616, hotel anddoggy Kyoto Nijo at $2,336 for nine nights, and $212 paid at the hotel, with taxes and fees. A checked bag (about $160 for two) and spending money are extra.
Do I need a passport?
Yes, Japan requires a passport. Bring a card that works abroad or some Japanese yen.
What is the weather like?
Typical highs run 57–64°F, with lows near 43°F. Most days are usually overcast, and the normals show drizzle on Nov 16 and Nov 18, so pack layers and a light rain jacket.
Is 9 nights enough?
Yes, for a full first look. Nine nights covers Kyoto's temples and gardens, an Osaka evening on Dotonbori and a day trip to Nara, with room for slow days. Osaka Namba is 15 minutes from Kyoto by express train.
Which airport do I fly into?
This fare lands at Kansai International (KIX). Osaka Itami (ITM) also serves the area.
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Kyoto & Osaka in pictures
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