Japan offers different kinds of passes and cards to make traveling within regions and across the country easier for foreign visitors. One of the options you have when you visit the country is the JR Kansai Wide Area Pass. This allows you to explore Kansai and other areas. I used this pass recently and came up with a list of places you can include in your itinerary.

Kyoto is one of my favorite destinations in Japan. The city combines the old and new with many centuries old temples amid the urban sprawl. You'll see remnants of the country's storied past whenever you move from one part of the city to the next.


If you are planning a trip, read my guide about this historic city.

Kyoto wasn't exactly the place I thought it would be, but it didn't disappoint. The city is fast-paced but slow, modern yet has an old soul.

I spent around 5 days for my Kyoto-Tokyo trip during autumn in 2015. It was nice to see the changing colors of the trees and the cool weather. I also learned a lot from a country that is decades ahead of the Philippines.

Kyoto is a historical city that has many UNESCO Heritage Sites, one of which is Nijo Castle. This site took me back centuries ago during Japan's feudal epoch.

I was in Japan for a few days, I was torn between staying the whole time in Tokyo or Osaka. I wanted to stay in the former because I had friends to meet there, while the latter was a place I was more interested in because of its history and culture. In the end I decided to go to both places, which was a rushed trip because I only had five days total in Japan.