Introduction

The region I would like to talk about is the Kansai region of Japan because it is culturally enriched. The Kansai area is found in the southern part of the main island of Honshu that include the Hyogo, Nara, Mie, Shiga, Wakayama, Osaka, and Kyoto prefectures.

The history of the first people who settled in the Kansai area link back to the original inhabitants of Japan when it was first settled. The settlers came from as far back as 15,000 years ago from Okinawa in the South and Siberians from the North. Due to the Kansai having little damage from natural disasters and war, it has the most UNESCO World Heritage spots in all of Japan. Kansai has two of the first capitals of Japan which is significant because Japan is one of the oldest countries in the world. The infamous Silk Road also had roots in the Kansai region.

During the summer time, it can get the hottest between July and August at a high of 89℉ and a low of 78℉. This heat can be very short but it can get very cloudy and humid during this period in the Kansai area. Then the colder seasons last anywhere from 3 months to 4 months with a high of 47℉ and a low of 39℉. The colder seasons are more clear of clouds but it can be wet year round. Japan's peak seasons for tourism have to do with Japan's beautiful seasons from March to April for the cherry blossoms, April to May for "Golden Week", Summer vacation in August, the "Silver Week" of September, the end of November for Autumn foliage, and New Years. The Kansai region of Japan has very few off-peak seasons and has mild weather in the region that would impact tourism.

The country with the most tourism into Japan in China with Korea in second place. Most of the tourists that come into the Kansai area come for a few reasons, one of them for the Autumn leaves in November. There are many beautiful historical temples found in this area tha draw many tourists into the area. One of my most favorite cities in the area have friendly deer that sometimes even bow for food! This has brought many tourists into the Kansai area as well. Then of course, the infamous Japanese Cherry Blossoms in the Spring. Millions come to see these beautiful trees with elegant pastel blossoms from all over the world. When people come, they stay anywhere from a week to two weeks. There are enough tourist accommodations that will make the experience a good one, however it is not plentiful. The Japanese people are naturally hospitable people and have stays called "Ryokans" that feel similar to an AirBnb. The Japanese also have what they call "capsule hotels" that run cheap and tourists love to stay in them. Many of the temples in the Kansai area are tourist/foreigner friendly but there are a few that have little to no translations on their signs. The Japanese use the Japanese Yen currency and they prefer to use cash over card. Another big tip for foreigners going to Japan is to USE A WALLET. It can be considered impolite or disrespectful to put your money in your pocket even though a Japanese person may never tell you that. The country is beautiful and charming with very friendly people that will be some of the nicest people you'll ever meet.

Transportation of Kansai

Kansai is about 12,790 square miles and covers quite a few cities that are connected in many ways. One of the most common ways that connects the region is through railways. Many of the citizens of Japan in the Kansai area utilize the railway system to get to where they need to go. This system is possible and learnable for a tourist but it is not an easy ride in the park especially if you're not familiar with railway transit. There are typically three options of transportation as soon as you get out of the airport in the Kansai region which are: railways, buses, or taxis. There are car rentals, but that is not too common for tourists to use for means of transportation. Buses are another common use of transportation for both the locals and tourists with local bus transits and charter buses to go even longer distances if you're looking to save some money. If you're ok spending some money, there are even options to use the bullet trains in the Kansai area. Japan offers a very unique pass that allows access to almost any type of transportation that is covered by the "Japan Rail Pass". This pass grants unlimited travel on many trains, some ferries, and some buses as well. If you're in Japan for a month and want to get around with ease, this pass is definitely the way to go. I found myself along with other tourists riding a train, then transferring onto a bus to get even closer to my destination. These are the most common means of transportation in the Kansai region of Japan.

Accommodations

The hotels found within the Kansai area range from budget hotels to luxury hotels. There are a few very unique stays in the Kansai area that attract visitors. One of the unique hotels found in the Kansai region of Japan are called "Capsule Hotels". The next stay that is unique to Japan is called a "Ryokan" which resembles a hostel but offers a very traditional experience. Then there are budget independent hotels and budget chains like Holiday Inn and independent luxury and chain luxury hotels like the Marriott.

Japan is well known for its hospitality and services to tourists going above and beyond what is required of them. The Japanese are no strangers to travelers and no strangers on how to accommodate them. Some of their accommodations date back to around 700 AD and some of their new accommodations are one of a kind. I will be talking about the ancient ryokans, capsule hotels, and hostels found in the Kansai region.

Food and Beverages of Kansai

The Kansai region is famous for some foods that have become popular in the USA within the last decade or so. Most of the main dishes have a vegetable base or a seafood base. There are restaurants dedicated to these famous dishes and there are tiny restaurant bars called izakaya that travelers should try out. These famous dishes are okonomiyaki (a savory seafood pancake), takoyaki (a puffball version of okonomiyaki), shabu shabu, and Kobe beef. Another cooking style recognized around the world from Japan is called Teppenyaki, which is a large steel plate used to cook food. In Japan, there can be street vendors found on the sides of the roads in heavily populated areas. These street vendors also seem to never let anyone down with their delicious food prepared right in front of your eyes. Japan has many unique beverages as well. The various alcoholic drinks unique to Japan can be found in these izakaya restaurant bars. But one of the most interesting parts about the beverages in Japan is that a vast majority of them will come from wedding machines. These vending machines aren't your typical Pepsi or Coca Cola vending machines. They have wide varieties of drinks and even have some warm drinks available. Another big bonus are the small family marts scattered throughout the cities.

Tourism and Recreation

The Kansai region is filled with many recreational activities for the outdoorsy people that travel to Japan. I have been to quite a few of these hikes and recreational activities myself. Japan has many mountains with lush green forests that seem to have a beautiful mystery to them. There are many mountains that have hidden gems with historical landmarks in them. The Kansai region is filled with history and landmarks to look and learn from them. A lot of these temples will have many beautiful parts of nature around them to hike around or walk around to enjoy. One area even has deer that come up to you to say hi that you can feed from your hands.

Historical Sites and Natural Wonders
Fushimi Inari Shrines
Akame 48 waterfals
Kinkakuji
Nachi Falls
Osaka Castle
Kumano Kodo
Todaiji
Kayak/raft in Gojo
Kiyomizu-dera
Mt. Kongo

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats

Strengths:

The people go above and beyond our idea of service.
Everything is very clean, organized, and prompt.
Public transportation is phenomenal and convenient.
Many places to stay with many things to do.
Almost something to do for any person's interests.

Weaknesses:

Not many people speak fluent English there (if you consider that a weakness).
You won't know what a lot of the food is because they aren't labeled in English.
It can be a little expensive.

Opportunities:

Many beautiful cities to see in the Kansai region.
Many beautiful Shinto temples all around.
The small family marts have delicious snacks, and they're everywhere.
A lot of mountains, forests, rivers, and nature.

Threats:

May have too much fun.
There is a popular gang in Japan called Yakuza.
There are muder hornets.
Could get lost easily.

The Kansai area has so much to offer for the tourists visiting the area. If you like cities and shopping, Osaka is the place to go to. If you like to get more of a cultural experience and see many beautiful temples, then Kyoto is the place to go. If you like the outdoors and wildlife, Nara is the place to go. You will have gained much knowledge about the Japanese culture and have made many new memories of trying new things in a land far away.