Kansai International Airport 1 hr 14
Umeda Sky Building (52 min) Striking conjoined skyscrapers with a garden rooftop observation area, restaurant & cocktail lounge. Osaka Castle (45 min) Revered castle dating to 1597 & since rebuilt, featuring gardens & a museum with varied exhibits. Heijō Palace Remains (33 min) Reconstruction of the 8th-century imperial palace that once stood on this site. Shitennoji (50 min) Famed Buddhist temple built in 593 A.D. & featuring a 5-story pagoda, statues & ponds with turtles. Tōshōdai-ji (36 min) Buddhist temple complex known for its 8th-century Golden Hall, acknowledged as a national treasure. Yakushi-ji Temple (37 min) Originally built in 680, this Buddhist landmark was once one of the Seven Great Temples in Nara. Hōryū-ji (23 min) Buddhist temple with frescoes, statues & the world's oldest wooden buildings on its grounds. Nara Park (44 min) Landscaped, public park with ancient temples & the Nara National Museum of art, plus tame deer. Kasuga-taisha (47 min) Bright vermillion columns support the roof of this Shinto shrine originally established in 768 A.D.. Tsutenkaku (51 min) Famous for its neon lights, this landmark features an observation deck open to the public. Osaka Castle Park (52 min) Vast green space offering gardens with cherry blossoms, athletic fields, open-air theaters & more. Tōdai-ji (45 min) Buddhist temple originally built in the mid-700s, with Japan's largest bronze Buddha statue. Kōfuku-ji (44 min) Complex of Buddhist temple halls & pagodas, plus an on-site museum showcasing national treasures. Sumiyoshi Taisha (52 min) Historic, 3rd-century Shinto shrine in a scenic setting with a red footbridge & a peaceful garden. Dotonbori (53 min) Lively entertainment district known for its soaring illuminated billboards, restaurants & theaters. |