Kyoto & Osaka from Tucson, Nov 14–23: round trip from $1,415
Round-trip flights from Tucson to Kyoto & Osaka cost $1,415 per person ($2,830 for two) for Nov 14–23, 2026, which is nine nights. The fare is on Alaska + Hainan, operated by SkyWest Airlines as Alaska SkyWest, with 2 stops, so it isn't nonstop. Expect highs of 57–64°F and lows near 43°F, and the best-value hotel, APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae, runs $188 a night.
The flight
$1,659 $1,415 per person, round trip
the highest fare we saw for these dates
$2,830 for two, taxes and fees included · Alaska + Hainan. Operated by SkyWest Airlines as Alaska SkyWest · 2 stops · 38h 35m
Out Sat, Nov 14, 6:00 AM – Mon, Nov 16, 12:35 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska + Hainan. Operated by SkyWest Airlines as Alaska SkyWest | $1,415 | 2 stops | 38h 35m |
| JX + VZ | $1,497 | 3 stops | 56h 7m |
| JX + VZ | $1,534 | 2 stops | 56h 7m |
Prices checked Oct 12, 2026, 11:33 AM MST. 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 | $2,830 |
| APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae, 9 nights | $1,690 |
| Trip total for two | $4,520 |
Regular: $5,008 You pay: $4,520 Saved: $488
the highest fare we saw for these dates.
Tweak this trip
Why go now
The fare is $1,415 per person round trip, or $2,830 for two, all-in when we checked on Oct 12. That's $244 below the highest fare we saw for these dates, a 15% gap across the 12 offers we found. We don't have enough earlier checks on this route to call any price typical, so read this as the low end of what we saw, not a promise that it will hold. The timing is the real draw. Autumn leaves at Tofuku-ji, Eikan-do and Arashiyama peak in mid-to-late November, with evening illuminations, and you land on Nov 16, right in that window. Typical highs run 57–64°F, so it's jacket weather for long walking days. Add $1,690 for the best-value hotel and a $2,340 spending budget, and the whole trip for two comes to $6,860.
The kind of trip this is
This is a culture-and-food city trip with plenty of walking: temples and gardens in Kyoto by day, street food in Osaka by night. It suits couples or two friends who like early starts and long, unhurried meals. Nine nights keeps the pace relaxed, with room for a day trip to Nara and slow mornings in between. It isn't a beach vacation, so pack layers and comfortable shoes.
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
We checked three places in Kyoto, all room only with free cancellation. APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae is the best value at $1,690 for the stay ($188 a night), with a 7.9 score from 3,276 reviews. It's in the Kyoto Station area, which is handy for the shinkansen and day trips. Naganoya is the budget pick at $1,920 for the stay ($213 a night), with an 8.7 score from 271 reviews. It's in Nakagyo near Downtown Kyoto (Kawaramachi and Shijo), close to Nishiki Market and Pontocho alley. The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu - a member of the Leading Hotels of the World- is the top-rated stay, scoring 9.5 from 482 reviews, at $14,248 for the stay ($1,583 a night). It sits in Gion and Higashiyama, among the teahouses, the geisha streets and the temple walk from Kiyomizu-dera to Nanzen-ji.
APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae
$1,690 for 9 nights, two guests · $188 a night
See roomsThe Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu - a member of the Leading Hotels of the World-
$14,248 for 9 nights, two guests · $1,583 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 through Fushimi Inari's torii-gate tunnels before 8am.
- See the Arashiyama bamboo grove and the gardens of Tenryu-ji while the autumn color peaks.
- Save one evening for a kaiseki dinner at a Gion ryotei.
- Eat your way through Nishiki Market on a food crawl.
- Take the express 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
- Nishiki Market food crawl
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 Tucson | Tucson International (TUS) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Kyoto & Osaka | Kansai International (KIX), Osaka Itami (ITM) |
| Flight time | 38h 35m (2 stops) |
| Distance | 6,090 miles each way |
| Time difference | +16 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 | $2,830 |
| Hotel, 9 nights (APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae) | $1,690 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 9 days for two | $2,340 |
| Total for two | $6,860 |
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: Tucson to Kyoto & Osaka
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $1,415 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $1,415 (Oct 12, 2026) |
| Price checks | 3 |
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 need a passport for Japan, and the currency is the Japanese yen.
- Kyoto is 16 hours ahead of Tucson.
- The outbound flight leaves TUS at 6:00 AM on Saturday, Nov 14 and lands at KIX at 12:35 PM on Monday, Nov 16, after 38h 35m and 2 stops.
- All three hotels are room only with free cancellation. Fares and rates are all-in as we found them and can change.
- Season note: evening illuminations light up the fall color at Tofuku-ji, Eikan-do and Arashiyama in mid-to-late November.
Questions readers ask
How much is the flight?
It's $1,415 per person round trip, or $2,830 for two, all-in when we checked. The fare is on Alaska + Hainan, operated by SkyWest Airlines as Alaska SkyWest, with 2 stops. Other fares we saw for these dates went as high as $1,659 per person.
Do I need a passport?
Yes, you need a passport for Japan. Plan on paying in Japanese yen, and keep in mind that Kyoto runs 16 hours ahead of Tucson.
What is the weather like?
Typical highs are 57–64°F and lows sit near 43°F. The normals for these dates show mostly overcast days and a couple of drizzly ones, so bring a light rain layer.
Is 9 nights enough?
It's enough for Kyoto's temples, a night or two of Osaka food and a Nara day trip. Heads-up: the outbound flight lands Monday, Nov 16, so check that your hotel dates match your arrival day.
What does the whole trip cost for two?
We put it at $6,860 for two: $2,830 for flights, $1,690 for nine nights at APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae and $2,340 for spending, which works out to $130 per person per day.
Can I fit Osaka in while staying in Kyoto?
Yes. Osaka Namba and Dotonbori are 15 minutes from Kyoto by express train, so an evening of street food and neon fits easily around a Kyoto base.
Also found for you
The newest finds from Tucson.
$844 $569 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $275 (33%)
the typical fare on this route
Tweak this trip
$772 $546 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $226 (29%)
the typical fare on this route
Tweak this trip
More trips
$656 $448 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $208 (32%)
the typical fare on this route
$772 $546 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $226 (29%)
the typical fare on this route
$844 $569 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $275 (33%)
the typical fare on this route
All trips from Tucson · 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