A journey · Kyoto · Nara · Osaka
Best of Kansai
The old capital, the older one, and the city that ignores both. Four hotels a train ride apart: a night or two on the river at Arashiyama first, five above the lanes of Higashiyama, a night or two on the edge of the deer park at Nara, and two or three beside Osaka Castle Park. Not a single leg needs a car.
- Stops
- 4
- Nights
- 12
- Stayed in
- 3
- With partner perks
- 3
The route
Fly into Kansai International: the JR Haruka reaches Kyoto Station in about 75 minutes, then the JR Sagano line to Saga-Arashiyama in a quarter of an hour, where Suiran sends a car.
1
Kyoto · 2 nights
Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto
A 39-room hotel on the Hozu River in Arashiyama, western Kyoto, on part of the grounds of Tenryu-ji where the government guest ryokan Rantei once stood. Two restored buildings survive on the estate, Baron Shozo Kawasaki's 1899 summer villa and a 1910 thatched-roof building, and 17 of the rooms have their own hot-spring bath.
Booked through Marriott STARS
A short taxi across the city, about half an hour to the lanes of Higashiyama, with the transfer arranged by us and at no charge.
2
On our list
Kyoto · 5 nights · On our list
On the Higashiyama slopes near Ninenzaka and Kodai-ji, among the old lanes of Kyoto's temple quarter.
Booked through Hyatt Privé
A taxi to Kyoto Station, then Kintetsu to Nara in 35 minutes, and a short taxi from Kintetsu-Nara to the door of Shisui.
3
Nara · 2 nights
Shisui, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nara
A 43-room hotel on the western edge of Nara Park, set in the Yoshikien garden that was once part of the grounds of Kofuku-ji, with Kasuga Taisha, Kofuku-ji and Todai-ji around it. Reception, restaurant and lounge occupy the low wooden residence built in 1922 for the governor of Nara, entered through its original roofed gate, and the design and interiors are by Kengo Kuma & Associates.
Booked through Marriott STARS
Kintetsu-Nara to Osaka in about 45 minutes, then a short ride to the castle park.
4
Osaka · 3 nights
Patina's first city hotel, a 20-storey, 221-key building a minute's walk from Osaka Castle Park, looking over the castle park and Naniwa-no-miya Park, opened on 1 May 2025. Architecture by Jun Mitsui & Associates and interiors by Strickland in wood, plaster, washi and stone, taking cues from the castle's copper roofs and moats.
Home from Osaka: Itami for flights within Japan, Kansai International for the rest.
What to know
Fly into Kansai International: the JR Haruka reaches Kyoto Station in about 75 minutes, then the JR Sagano line to Saga-Arashiyama in a quarter of an hour, where Suiran sends a car.
12 nights across 4 hotels: 2 at Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto; 5 at Park Hyatt Kyoto; 2 at Shisui, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nara and 3 at Patina Osaka.
Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto to Park Hyatt Kyoto: a short taxi across the city, about half an hour to the lanes of Higashiyama, with the transfer arranged by us and at no charge. Kyoto to Nara: a taxi to Kyoto Station, then Kintetsu to Nara in 35 minutes, and a short taxi from Kintetsu-Nara to the door of Shisui. Kintetsu-Nara to Osaka in about 45 minutes, then a short ride to the castle park. Home from Osaka: Itami for flights within Japan, Kansai International for the rest.
Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto (Marriott STARS); Park Hyatt Kyoto (Hyatt Privé) and Shisui, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nara (Marriott STARS). Booked through us, each adds a room upgrade on arrival where one is free, breakfast for two each day, a hotel credit to spend on dining or the spa, and early check-in or late checkout when the hotel can give it, at no extra cost to you.
Take this journey
Tell us your dates; we will book each stop with its partner perks and arrange the way between.