The Kinki region is located in the central western part of Honshu between the Chubu region and the Chugoku region, and is the second largest metropolitan area and economic zone in Japan after the Kanto region.
It consists of 7 prefectures: Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Nara, Mie, Shiga, and Wakayama.
Osaka, Japan's second largest city, and Kyoto, the ancient city famous for sightseeing, are located in the Kinki region.
Kansai International Airport in Osaka Prefecture is the gateway to the sky in the Kinki region.
The map of the Kinki region is as follows.
The light blue part in the center of Shiga Prefecture is the largest lake in Japan called "Lake Biwa".
The island in the south of Hyogo prefecture is called "Awaji Island".
The charm of the Kinki region
Lots of delicious food, mainly in Osaka
There are so many delicious foods in Osaka that it is said to be a "city of eating down", and many tourists come from all over Japan and abroad.
In addition, there are many delicious foods in the surrounding prefectures, and the Kinki region is a gourmet region.
Let's look at each prefecture.
Osaka
Osaka is cheap and delicious, but it is a natural place, and it is a treasure trove of popular gourmet food.
The representatives of Osaka gourmet are "okonomiyaki" and "takoyaki", which are called "flour" using wheat flour.
"Okonomiyaki" is a type of teppanyaki that uses wheat flour, chicken eggs, cabbage, etc., and uses your favorite ingredients such as chicken eggs, vegetables, meat, seafood, and noodles using wheat flour dissolved in water as a dough, and on the iron plate. It is a dish with seasonings such as baked, sauce, mayonnaise, and green paste.
Osaka specialty "Okonomiyaki"
"Takoyaki" is a dish in which octopus and condiments are put in a flour dough and baked into a sphere with a diameter of about 3-5 cm.
Both are often eaten at home and are exactly the taste of the common people of Osaka.
Osaka specialty "Takoyaki"
"Kushikatsu" is also famous as a soul food in Osaka.
"Kushikatsu" is made by sticking ingredients such as beef, vegetables, and seafood on a skewer and fried.
Each store is particular about sauces and clothes, and you can enjoy the taste of each store.
It is important to note that some sauces are shared in the store, and you only need to attach the "kushikatsu" to the sauce once before you put it in your mouth, and then attach the half-eaten "kushikatsu" to the sauce again. Is forbidden.
Osaka specialty "Kushikatsu"
Udon is also famous as a taste of the common people, and "Kitsune udon" with fried squares and triangles and "Kasu udon" with fried beef small intestine are also famous.
Other than that, there are "Harihari-nabe" which has a simple taste of whale and mizuna, "Tetchiri" which is a hot pot dish using high-class fish puffer fish, and "Oshizushi" which is made with Thai, shrimp, anago, etc. There are many delicious foods.
Kyoto
Next to Osaka Prefecture, the ancient capital of Kyoto can enjoy a different food culture from Osaka.
The famous dish is "Obanzai," which is a traditional side dish that has been made in ordinary households in Kyoto for a long time.
You can enjoy it at various stores at home in Kyoto, which uses seasonal ingredients such as seasonal Kyoto vegetables and devises not to waste the ingredients.
Although it is a little more prestigious, I also want to try the kaiseki dish "Kyoto Kaiseki," which has developed along with the tea ceremony.
In addition, "Yudofu", where you can enjoy the aroma and flavor of Kyoto-like tofu itself, is also famous.
Kyoto specialty "Obanzai"
Hyogo prefecture
The best brands of Japanese beef, "Kobe beef" and "Kobe beef steak" are famous.
"Kobe beef" has a fine texture, sweet lean meat has an elegant taste, and the flavor and aroma of sashimi fat are exquisite, which enhances the finest taste.
The price is also higher.
On the other hand, the common ones are the local dish "Takomeshi", which is cooked with rice, "Akashiyaki", which is made by putting octopus in a dough with plenty of eggs and soup stock, baking it in a round shape, and eating it with fried noodles and rice. The flavored grilled rice "Sobameshi" is famous.
Hyogo Prefecture's specialty "Kobe beef steak"
Shiga Prefecture
The most famous is the traditional local dish "Funazushi".
"Funazushi" is a traditional Shiga food made by fermenting salted crucian carp excluding internal organs other than ovaries in cooked rice, and is said to have become the prototype of sushi.
It is a delicacy born in Lake Biwa, which has a unique scent.
In addition, Shiga's proud brand beef "Omi beef" is also famous.
It is characterized by its finely textured meat and beautiful sashimi, and has a melting taste.
Shiga Prefecture's specialty "Lake Biwa Funazushi"
Nara Prefecture
The square pressed sushi "Kaki no Ha Sushi", which is made by placing fish fillets on sushi rice and wrapping it in fragrant persimmon leaves, is famous.
In addition, "Nara-zuke", which is pickled in sake lees and has a unique aroma, is also a specialty.
Nara Prefecture's specialty "Kaki no ha sushi"
Wakayama Prefecture
Since it faces the Pacific Ocean, it is famous for its seafood dishes such as "Shirasu-don", "Whale fried in Tatsuta", and "Saba no Nare sushi".
Wakayama ramen, which is a rich pork bone soy sauce-flavored soup topped with soy sauce-simmered char siu, menma, and kamaboko, and a small amount of onion and bean sprout toppings, is also popular.
Wakayama Prefecture's specialty, the popular "Wakayama Ramen"
Mie Prefecture
Mie Prefecture has the famous Ise Jingu, and the "Akafuku" and "Ise udon" that are served around it are famous.
"Akafuku" is anko mochi, which is a standard souvenir and abandonment for visiting Ise.
"Ise udon" is a udon that is made by adding tamari soy sauce, dried bonito flakes, and soup stock to a slightly sweet soup, and is also a specialty of Ise udon.
"Akafuku" from Ise, a specialty of Mie Prefecture
Speaking of Mie's classic gourmet, "Matsusaka beef" cannot be missed.
"Matsusaka beef", a branded ingredient from all over Japan, slowly grows carefully selected cows of excellent pedigree over a long period of time, and the fineness of the marbling is called "a work of meat". It is characterized by its high-quality fat and soft sweetness that melts in the palm of your hand.
Mie Prefecture's specialty, luxury brand "Matsusaka beef"
In addition, because it faces the Pacific Ocean, the king of shrimp named "Ise Ebi" and "Tekone Sushi", which is a fresh bonito with the taste of soy sauce, are also famous.
Lots of famous tourist destinations
]In the Kinki region, there are many famous tourist destinations such as the ancient capitals of Kyoto and Nara, which have many historical temples and shrines, as well as Osaka, the second largest city in Japan.
In particular, Kyoto Prefecture is a popular tourist destination not only for foreigners but also for Japanese people.
Let's look at each prefecture.
Kyoto
It is the most popular tourist destination in Japan.
There are many popular temples and shrines.
I can't introduce all of them, so I will only introduce the standard tourist attractions.
At the temple, "Kiyomizu-dera", which is known for its spectacular view of "The Stage of Kiyomizu," "Toji," a world heritage site whose symbol is "five-storied pagoda," and "Kinkaku-ji," which is synonymous with Kyoto,There are many other famous spots such as "Ryoanji Temple", which is famous for one of the best stone gardens in Kyoto.
Among the shrines, "Fushimi Inari Taisha", which is famous for "Senbon Torii", "Shimogamo Shrine", the oldest shrine in Kyoto, "Kitano Tenmangu", which is known as "Tenjin-san", and the red-colored Otorii are famous. There are many other famous spots such as "Heian Jingu".
In addition to temples and shrines, "Nijo Castle", which was the stage of "Taisei Hokan", "Sanjusangendo", a national treasure with more than 1000 Senju Kannon, and "Kyoto Imperial Palace" where successive emperors once lived, etc. There are many other famous spots.
If you visit Japan, Kyoto is a must-see tourist spot.
Kyoto's famous "Kinkakuji"
Osaka
Unlike Kyoto, Osaka has many modern sightseeing spots.
The first is "Universal Studios Japan," the premier theme park in the Kinki region.
The park is composed of Hollywood movies and a world view with the theme of characters, and is a very popular spot with many seasonal events such as Halloween and Christmas.
Recently popular is Abeno Harukas, the tallest complex building in Japan.
From the observatory 300m above the ground, you can see Shikoku and the Seto Inland Sea.
In addition, the Kinki region's leading aquarium "Kaiyukan", Japan's largest complex facility "Grand Front Osaka" consisting of four blocks on a vast site of about 70,000 square meters, "Grand Front Osaka" built on the site of the Osaka Expo There are many other famous spots such as "Expo'70 Commemorative Park", "Hirakata Park", one of the largest amusement parks in Osaka Prefecture, and "Osaka Castle" built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who unified the world.
Osaka Prefecture theme park "Universal Studios Japan"
Nara Prefecture
There are not as many temples and shrines as in Kyoto, but there are famous temples and shrines in Nara.
The most famous one is Todaiji Temple, one of the largest wooden buildings in the world, famous for the Great Buddha of Nara.
The size of the Great Buddha is overwhelming at a height of about 14.7 meters and a circumference of 70 meters around the platform.
In addition, "Horyuji Temple", which is the oldest wooden building in the world and was registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage for the first time in Japan, is also famous.
"Nara Park" near Todaiji Temple is home to about 1,200 deer and is famous as the mascot of Nara Park.
"Big Buddha of Nara" in "Todaiji" in Nara Prefecture
Hyogo prefecture
The most famous is Himeji Castle, a national treasure registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, nicknamed "Shirasagi Castle" because of its white walls and its elegant appearance.
In addition, Kobe City, which is the prefectural capital of Hyogo Prefecture, has been a port city for a long time and is characterized by its fashionable and tasteful cityscape.
"Meriken Park" is an open park where you can enjoy the scenery like a harbor, and it is a popular tourist spot with facilities such as Kobe Port Tower, Kobe Maritime Museum, a hotel, and an observation plaza.
Himeji Castle, a national treasure in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture
Wakayama Prefecture
The most popular spot is the animal contact theme park that represents the Kinki region, and "Adventure World" where you can meet the most pandas in Japan.
In addition to pandas, there is a safari world and a marine world where you can see live dolphins and sea lions on the 800,000 square meter site, and you can see about 1,400 sea and land animals living in their natural state. can do.
There are also famous temples and shrines such as "Kongobuji", the head temple of Koyasan Shingon sect, which was opened by Kobo Daishi, and "Kumano Hongu Taisha", the head shrine of Kumano shrines nationwide.
"Adventure World" famous for pandas in Wakayama prefecture
Shiga Prefecture
Speaking of Shiga Prefecture, Japan's largest lake, Lake Biwa, which measures about 670 square kilometers, is famous.
It occupies about one-sixth of the area of Shiga prefecture, and is a popular spot where you can enjoy fishing, with pleasure boats running and many swimming pools on the shore of the lake.
Hikone Castle, which is famous for its castle tower designated as a national treasure, is also a popular tourist spot.
Japan's largest lake in Shiga Prefecture, "Lake Biwa"
Mie Prefecture
It is said to be an ancient power spot in Japan, and "Ise Jingu", the highest shrine in Japan, is the most famous.
It is a venerable Jingu with a history of 2000 years, consisting of 125 shrines including "Kotai Jingu (Naiku)" and "Toyore Daijingu (Outer Shrine)".
In addition, "Okage Yokocho" in the gate town of Ise Jingu Naiku is a popular tourist spot where you can eat Akafuku and Ise udon specialties.
"Ise Jingu", the highest shrine in Japan in Mie Prefecture
Lots of popular hot spring resorts
There are many popular hot spring resorts in the Kinki region.
A typical example is "Arima Onsen" in Hyogo prefecture, one of the "three famous springs in Japan".
It is about 60 minutes by car from Osaka and about 30 minutes from the center of Kobe, and is known as Japan's oldest famous hot spring.
In Hyogo Prefecture, "Kinosaki Onsen", which has a history of 1300 years, and "Awaji Island / Sumoto Onsen" on Awaji Island are also famous.
Kyoto Prefecture is famous for the "Sunset Gaura Onsen" located in the scenic spot "Sunset Gaura", which is a seaside hot spring area located at the western base of the Tango Peninsula that juts out into the Sea of Japan.
Osaka Prefecture is famous for the radium spring "Ishikiri Onsen" at the western foot of Mt. Ikoma, which straddles the border between Osaka and Nara.
Nara Prefecture is famous for its hot springs, "Shigisan Onsen," which springs up in the sacred grounds, and "Horai Onsen," which is close to Todaiji Temple and Kofukuji Temple.
Wakayama Prefecture is famous for "Shirahama Onsen," one of Japan's leading hot spring villages alongside Atami and Beppu, and "Katsuura Onsen," which is located near Katsuura Port, which has the largest amount of tuna landed in Japan.
Shiga Prefecture is famous for its "Biwako Onsen" at the foot of Mt. Hiei, the head temple of the Tendai sect, and "Koka Onsen" in Koka City, which has many tourist attractions related to ninja.
Mie Prefecture is famous for its "Yunoyama Onsen", which was opened in the Nara period, and "Iga Onsen" in Iga City, which is known as a ninja village.
The Kinki region has a large number of popular travel destinations, including Kyoto and Osaka.
It can be said that this is a must-see area when sightseeing in Japan.