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.

Osaka is one of the biggest cities in Japan, it is also a popular destination in Kansai because of the many attractions within and without it. It is also a great place to eat and shop, there are many parts of the city dedicated for these. I found myself in a sea of people looking for food and shopping.


Osaka is also a mix of old and new like many of the other cities in the country I've been to. You'll find temples and shrines while weaving in and out of alleys, skyscrapers, shopping districts and parts of the city that will elicit a sense of nostalgia.