Dayang Travel Agency:: The Kansai region is the hottest spot around Little New Year – explore famous sights and theme parks for a fun-filled family adventure

If you're planning a family trip during the Lunar New Year, the Kansai region is definitely your top choice. Spanning cities like Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe, this area inherits traditional Japanese culture while blending international influences and vibrant commercial energy. Osaka, bustling with commercial vitality, is one of Japan’s most important business hubs; Kyoto, known as the spiritual home of Japan, offers a serene taste of Japanese beauty through its quiet culture and traditions; and Kobe, the port city, exudes a uniquely cosmopolitan vibe with its pervasive international atmosphere. As the saying goes, a visit to Kansai lets you experience both the classic and modern sides of Japan in one trip.

Beyond offering educational and entertaining family travel through natural scenery and historic sites, Kansai also gives you access to the only Universal Studios in Northeast Asia. Here, the spirit of the American Universal Studios is preserved, along with many Japan-exclusive performances and attractions. These thrilling, exciting rides and spectacular shows gradually immerse visitors in a joyful, almost dreamlike world of cinema, providing fun for both kids and adults alike.


★★★ Recommended Attraction = Foreigners' Houses (Ijinkan)
In Japanese, "ijin" refers to foreigners, and a house built in a foreign style is called an "ijinkan" (foreigner's house). After Kobe opened its port during the Meiji era, Europeans built consulates or residences on the slopes of Mount Nishinomiya in styles resembling those from their homelands. Many of these stone or wooden houses remain preserved today, surrounded by European-style gardens. The buildings feature long, outward-opening windows and bay windows, with interiors decorated in European home styles...Click to view all attraction introductions

★★★ Recommended Attraction = Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
During the era when Kinkaku-ji was built, Japanese culture was transitioning from being dominated by nobility and officials to being centered around shoguns and samurai. Zen Buddhism, beloved by both groups, flourished like never before. Architecturally, Kinkaku-ji blends the aristocratic Shinden-zukuri style with the Zen-inspired design favored by samurai. Originally known as the "Kitayama Detached Palace" of shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the temple is located at the foot of Kyoto’s northern mountains. This period, deeply influenced by Song Dynasty Zen culture from China, is referred to in Japanese cultural history as the "Kitayama Culture." Kitayama Culture merged the samurai-appreciated Chinese Zen aesthetic, the traditional court culture of the Heian period, and popular culture—giving rise to the refined and profound art of Noh theater and the construction of Kinkaku-ji...Click to view all attraction introductions

★★★ Recommended Attraction = Kiyomizu-dera (Pure Water Temple)
Kiyomizu-dera is located in the Eastern Mountains (Higashiyama) area of Kyoto’s eastern section of the capital (Rakuyo), built in 798 AD during the Heian period. It has a long history and gets its name from the Otowa Waterfall (Otowa-no-taki) on its grounds. Having survived several fires over time, the current structure of Kiyomizu-dera was rebuilt in 1633 to match its original form. Walking along the Kiyomizu-zaka approach toward the temple, you first see the red "kirizuma" style of the temple’s Niomon Gate. The "kirizuma" roof style features one longer side of the roof, with the ridge dividing the surface vertically into two—the most orthodox roof design in Japan...Click to view all attraction introductions

★★★ Recommended Attraction = Universal Studios Japan
Opened on March 31, 2001, Universal Studios Japan is unlike typical amusement parks. Its movie-themed attractions, originating from Hollywood, are distinct and clear-cut. While it carries forward the spirit of the Universal Studios in California and Florida, it also adds many Japan-exclusive performances, shows, and mascots—such as Sesame Street, Pink Panther, Snoopy, Betty Boo, and Hello Kitty. With a focus on thrills and excitement, it takes visitors into a joyful, screen-like fantasy world. From rides to themed streetscapes, the park replicates scenes from iconic movies and includes areas like New York Zone, San Francisco Zone, and Hollywood Zone. These evoke nostalgic old films, allowing guests to see props and sets that appeared in movies...Click to view all attraction introductions

★★★ Recommended Attraction = Sagano Romantic Train
Located in the suburbs of Kyoto, the Arashiyama and Sagano areas boast stunning scenery and tranquil surroundings. The Hozugawa Gorge between Kameoka and Arashiyama is particularly renowned as one of Japan’s most breathtaking sights. Lining the valley are plants such as Kitayama cedar, cherry blossoms, and maple trees. During cherry blossom season or when the maples turn red, the mountainside’s vibrant colors attract countless visitors. The Sagano Romantic Train is the best way to enjoy the flower season in Arashiyama and Sagano. The train began operating in 1991 as a scenic railway built specifically for tourists—known in Japan as the “Romantic Train”...Click to view all attraction introductions