7-Day Kansai JR Pass Itinerary: Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Himeji & Hiroshima

Day 1: Arrival & Osaka Exploration

Osaka, Japan

2:00PM

Arrival at Kansai International Airport

Arrive at Kansai International Airport and activate your JR Pass at the ticket office. Take the JR Kansai Airport Rapid Service to Osaka Station (approx. 65 minutes).
Covered by JR Pass, 65 minutes

4:00PM

Check-in and Rest

Check into your Osaka hotel and relax after the journey.
Varies, 1 hour

5:30PM

Osaka Castle Park Visit

Walk to Osaka Castle Park, explore the grounds (free), and admire the castle exterior; park open until sunset.
Free, 1 hour

7:00PM

Dinner at Dotonbori

Take local transportation (paid separately) to Dotonbori and enjoy Osaka's famous street food like takoyaki and okonomiyaki.
Approx ¥2000, 2 hours
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Day 2: Universal Studios Japan

Osaka, Japan

8:00AM

Breakfast near hotel

Enjoy a solid breakfast at a nearby bakery or café.
Approx ¥1000, 1 hour

9:00AM

Universal Studios Japan

Use your JR Pass to travel to Universal City Station via JR Yumesaki Line (about 15 minutes). Spend full day at USJ (8:30AM–9:00PM).
¥8200 (park ticket), 11 hours

8:30PM

Return to hotel

Return to your hotel via JR line to rest after a full day of fun.
Covered by JR Pass, 15 minutes
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Day 3: Osaka Landmarks

Osaka, Japan

8:00AM

Breakfast

Start your day with a traditional Japanese breakfast near your accommodation.
Approx ¥1000, 1 hour

9:00AM

Visit Osaka Castle Museum

Explore inside Osaka Castle, learning about its history and climbing to the observation tower, open 9AM–5PM.
¥600, 2 hours

11:30AM

Lunch at Osaka Station City

Try one of the many dining options inside Osaka Station City complex.
Approx ¥1500, 1 hour

1:00PM

Umeda Sky Building

Use JR lines and a short walk to reach Umeda Sky Building’s Floating Garden Observatory open until 10PM.
¥1500, 1.5 hours

3:00PM

National Museum of Art, Osaka

Explore modern art exhibits; open 10AM–5PM, closed Mondays.
¥430, 1.5 hours

5:00PM

Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi Overview

Evening stroll to enjoy shopping and vibrant street scenes. Some local trains or walking covered by JR Pass zone.
Free, 2 hours

7:30PM

Dinner at Shinsekai Kushikatsu Daruma

Taste Osaka’s specialty deep-fried skewers in the nostalgic Shinsekai district.
Approx ¥2000, 1.5 hours
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Day 4: Kyoto Eastern Area

Kyoto, Japan

7:30AM

JR Train Osaka to Kyoto

Take JR Special Rapid Service from Osaka Station to Kyoto Station. Journey takes approximately 30 minutes.
Covered by JR Pass, 30 minutes

8:15AM

Breakfast near Kyoto Station

Eat at a local café near the station to refuel for a cultural day.
Approx ¥1000, 1 hour

9:30AM

Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

Visit the iconic torii gate mountain walk; accessible 24 hours with no entrance fee.
Free, 2 hours

12:00PM

Lunch around Fushimi area

Sample Kyoto-style dishes at nearby eateries.
Approx ¥1500, 1 hour

1:30PM

Kiyomizu-dera & Higashiyama

Take local buses (non-JR, payment separate) or taxi to visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple and stroll Higashiyama streets, temple open 6AM–6PM.
¥400, 3 hours

5:00PM

Return to Osaka

Take JR train back to Osaka in about 30 minutes.
Covered by JR Pass, 30 minutes

6:00PM

Dinner in Osaka

Relax with traditional izakaya dining near your hotel.
Approx ¥2500, 2 hours
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Day 5: Kyoto Western Gems

Kyoto, Japan

7:30AM

JR Train Osaka to Kyoto

Use JR service again to reach Kyoto Station.
Covered by JR Pass, 30 minutes

8:30AM

Breakfast near Kyoto Station

Eat at a café before heading out.
Approx ¥1000, 1 hour

9:30AM

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Tenryu-ji

Travel from Kyoto Station to Saga Arashiyama Station on JR Sanin Line. Explore bamboo grove and temple open 8:30AM–5:30PM.
¥500, 3 hours

1:00PM

Lunch in Arashiyama

Enjoy local cuisine near the riverbanks.
Approx ¥1500, 1 hour

2:30PM

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)

Take local bus from Arashiyama (fare not covered by JR Pass) to Golden Pavilion; open 9AM–5PM.
¥400, 1.5 hours

4:30PM

Return to Osaka

Return to Kyoto Station by bus and then JR line to Osaka.
Covered by JR Pass (bus fare approx. ¥230 not covered), 1 hour

6:00PM

Dinner in Osaka

Experience local specialties again as a final Kyoto trip night.
Approx ¥2500, 2 hours
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Day 6: Nara Day Trip

Nara, Japan

8:00AM

JR Train Osaka to Nara

Take JR Yamatoji Rapid Service from Osaka Station to Nara Station, around 45 minutes.
Covered by JR Pass, 45 minutes

9:00AM

Visit Todai-ji Temple

Admire the giant Buddha in this famous temple open 7:30AM–5:30PM, entry fee required.
¥600, 2 hours

11:30AM

Nara Park

Spend time with freely roaming deer and walking the park.
Free, 1 hour

12:45PM

Lunch in Nara-machi

Try local specialties in Naramachi old town.
Approx ¥1500, 1 hour

2:00PM

Kasuga Taisha Shrine

Explore shrine with its many stone lanterns; open from 6:30AM–5PM.
¥500, 1.5 hours

3:45PM

Nara National Museum

Learn about Buddhist art, open 9:30AM–5PM, closed Mondays.
¥520, 1 hour

5:00PM

Return to Osaka

JR train back to Osaka Station.
Covered by JR Pass, 45 minutes

6:00PM

Dinner in Osaka

Dinner in Osaka to relax after day trip.
Approx ¥2500, 2 hours
View Hotel Availability

Day 7: Hiroshima Day Trip

Hiroshima, Japan

6:30AM

Shinkansen Osaka to Hiroshima

Use JR Pass to travel on Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima Station, approx 1h30m.
Covered by JR Pass, 1h30m

8:00AM

Breakfast near Hiroshima Station

Quick Japanese breakfast at nearby café.
Approx ¥1000, 30 minutes

8:30AM

Peace Memorial Park and Museum

Visit Hiroshima’s Peace Museum and park; museum open 8:30AM–6PM.
¥200, 2.5 hours

11:15AM

Atomic Bomb Dome

View the iconic structure located inside the Peace Park.
Free, 30 minutes

12:00PM

Lunch - Hiroshima Okonomiyaki

Taste Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki at Okonomimura or similar.
Approx ¥1500, 1 hour

1:15PM

Miyajima Island Excursion

Travel by JR train (covered by pass) to Miyajimaguchi Station, then ferry to island (not covered by JR Pass; approx. ¥360 roundtrip). Visit Itsukushima Shrine open 6:30AM–6PM.
¥360 ferry + ¥300 shrine, 3 hours

4:30PM

Return to Hiroshima Station

Ferry and JR train back to Hiroshima Station.
Covered by JR Pass except ferry, 1 hour

5:30PM

Shinkansen back to Osaka

Return to Osaka by Shinkansen, 1h30m journey.
Covered by JR Pass, 1h30m

7:00PM

Dinner in Osaka

Final dinner relaxing in hotel area.
Approx ¥2500, 2 hours
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