Kansai, the western region of Japan. There are many famous sightseeing spots around the region, but some of them you can only get to by driving yourself around. This time, we would like to introduce you to places where you can include in your next itinerary.

Driving Around Kansai

Are you confident enough to travel around Japan on your own?
Have you already been to Kyoto and Osaka and other major cities in the western parts of Japan?
Ever wanted to expand your horizons to travel to places where people haven't been yet?

Gain access to places where you haven't been yet using the car rental services in Japan!

The whole view of the Kansai international airport from an aeroplane.

If you want to explore the Kansai region, let us introduce you to some of the places where you won't find on an ordinary itinerary.

Where to start?

Well, if you are arriving at an airport, the easiest way to rent a car is to go to the 1st floor of the Aeroplaza/ Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport building, which is closely located to the terminal one building.

Nissan rent-a-car Kansai airport (Map)
Open Hours: 08:00 – 21:00
Ph: +81(0)72-456-8623
Book online on their official webpage.

If you are arriving from other cities, you can find their car rentals near major city stations as well. Use their outlet location search page to find out your nearest locations.

So, where to go first?

Once you have your car, you're good to go!
But where should we begin with?

Rout 1: The Great Falls of Nachi and a Spa in a Cave?

Are you traveling from Kansai international airport like us?
One of the shorter trips that you can take from there is to go down south towards Wakayama following the Kumano Kodo trail.
Kumano Kodo is an ancient path for pilgrimage that's spread across parts of Mie, Nara, Wakayama, and Osaka prefectures.

If you have chosen this route, take the Kiiji trail down along the coastal area between Osaka and Wakayama.

Along the track, you will be driving by a city called Tanabe and Shirahama, which is about halfway through your journey.

Here, you can find interesting sites like this Engetsu island near Shirahama or stop by at Tanabe to learn about the Binchotan charcoal, famous charcoal used in Japanese cooking, in the city of Tanabe.

If you are looking for a place to stay for a night, Hotel Urashima could be your choice!

Not only the hotel is located along the water, but the hot springs here are located inside a cave!

The great falls of Nachi

You can choose to ride up to the Nachi falls within the same day, or save that part of the trip till the next day.
The fall of Nachi is one of the taller waterfalls in Japan and it is about 133 meters tall and the shrine located nearby is one of the three shrines from the Kumano Kodo known as the Kumano Nachi Taisha.

If you wish to discover the details of this trip, visit our blog page that will take you further into details of this trip.

Route 2: The Kyotanba Area and The Biwa Lake

Looking for a longer drive?

Head up north to discover the hidden beauties of northern Kyoto.

Before we head straight into the deeper northern Kyoto area, let's take a slight detour towards the Shirahige shrine (map) at Lake Biwa.

What's unique about this shrine here is that the main gates for the shrine is actually built inside the lake.

On your way up north, make sure you make a stop at Miyama (map).
Here, the beautiful old houses of Japan remains used just like those at Shirakawago in Gifu.

Driving further up north, you will find the famous Amanohashidate. 
Take the ropeway up the top of Amanohashidate View Land (map) to see the bridge from high up.

Another half an hour drive north from Amanohashidate will take you to the city of Ine (map).
Here the buildings are built along the water as they used to be used as fishing houses.

If you are travelling with friends and family, check out this glamping camping site! (map)
You will have a beautiful scene of the ocean in these unique tent-style cottages.

Check out our video on the Kansai road trip!

Well, here was our Kansai drive around recommendations.
Did you find your favourite route?

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