Kyoto & Osaka, Japan: trips from $853
Kyoto's 1,600 temples, geisha lanes and kaiseki dining sit half an hour from Osaka's street-food canals, making the pair Japan's cultural and culinary heart.
Trips to Kyoto & Osaka from every city
Cheapest first, per person, round trip, taxes and fees included.
$1,015 $853 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $162 (16%)
the typical fare on this route
$1,686 $1,203 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $483 (29%)
the highest fare we saw for these dates
$1,240 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included
$1,810 $1,247 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $563 (31%)
the highest fare we saw for these dates
$1,610 $1,248 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $362 (22%)
the highest fare we saw for these dates
$1,257 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included
$1,268 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included
$1,461 $1,294 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $167 (11%)
the highest fare we saw for these dates
$1,295 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included
$1,559 $1,299 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $260 (17%)
the highest fare we saw for these dates
$1,311 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included
$1,493 $1,335 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $158 (11%)
the highest fare we saw for these dates
$1,616 $1,344 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $272 (17%)
the highest fare we saw for these dates
$1,528 $1,370 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $158 (10%)
the highest fare we saw for these dates
$1,401 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included
$1,659 $1,415 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $244 (15%)
the highest fare we saw for these dates
$1,821 $1,426 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $395 (22%)
the typical fare on this route
$2,161 $1,596 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $565 (26%)
the highest fare we saw for these dates
$1,617 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included
$2,268 $1,736 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $532 (23%)
the highest fare we saw for these dates
$2,503 $1,821 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $682 (27%)
the highest fare we saw for these dates
$2,077 $1,881 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $196 (9%)
the highest fare we saw for these dates
$2,065 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included
Lowest fares to Kyoto & Osaka by city, last 30 days
| From | Lowest, 30 days | Checks |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $717 | 3 |
| Los Angeles | $852 | 7 |
| Seattle | $1,003 | 3 |
| San Francisco | $1,021 | 2 |
| Houston | $1,033 | 3 |
| Denver | $1,101 | 1 |
| Detroit | $1,115 | 3 |
| Miami | $1,119 | 6 |
| Las Vegas | $1,123 | 4 |
| Atlanta | $1,129 | 3 |
| Baltimore | $1,161 | 1 |
| Nashville | $1,169 | 3 |
| St. Louis | $1,169 | 5 |
| Orlando | $1,171 | 3 |
| Omaha | $1,176 | 4 |
| San Diego | $1,186 | 2 |
| Indianapolis | $1,190 | 3 |
| Minneapolis | $1,190 | 3 |
| Chicago | $1,192 | 5 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $1,192 | 2 |
When to go
| Month | Season |
|---|---|
| January | fine |
| February | fine |
| March | best |
| April | best |
| May | best |
| June | fine |
| July | avoid |
| August | avoid |
| September | fine |
| October | best |
| November | best |
| December | best |
- March, April: Cherry blossom along the Philosopher's Path and Maruyama Park, usually the first two weeks of April.
- November: Autumn leaves at Tofuku-ji, Eikan-do and Arashiyama peak in mid-to-late November, with evening illuminations.
- July: Gion Matsuri festival runs through July with the grand float processions on the 17th and 24th.
July, August: Kyoto's basin traps heat and humidity in July and August.
Where to stay 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
- Fushimi Inari's torii-gate tunnels before 8am
- Arashiyama bamboo grove and the gardens of Tenryu-ji
- Kaiseki dinner at a Gion ryotei
- Nishiki Market food crawl
- Takoyaki and okonomiyaki on Dotonbori in Osaka
- Day trip to Nara's deer park and the Great Buddha of Todai-ji
Good to know
| Airports | Kansai International (KIX), Osaka Itami (ITM) |
|---|---|
| Passport for US citizens | yes |
| Price level | upscale |
| Time zone | Asia/Tokyo |
| Kind of trip | culture, history, food, city, nature |
Kyoto & Osaka in pictures
Questions about Kyoto & Osaka
When is the best time to visit Kyoto & Osaka?
March, April, May, October, November and December. July, August: Kyoto's basin traps heat and humidity in July and August.
Do US citizens need a passport for Kyoto & Osaka?
Yes. Kyoto & Osaka is in Japan; bring a valid passport.
What is the cheapest flight to Kyoto & Osaka right now?
Kyoto & Osaka from Los Angeles, Dec 3–8, 2026, from $853 per person round trip, is the cheapest trip we have published; the full list is on this page.
How expensive is Kyoto & Osaka on the ground?
Kyoto & Osaka is upscale by US standards: plan about $130 per person per day for food, getting around and tickets.