Izakaya Guide Guide for Foreigners

Kansai (also called Kinki region) is Japan's second-most important urban area — home to Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, and Nara. While Tokyo is Japan's modern capital, Kansai is its cultural and historical soul, with thousands of temples, vibrant street food culture, and a noticeably more relaxed pace of life.

For foreigners from Nepal, Vietnam, India, and Taiwan living in Japan, Kansai is often the most approachable region — it's cheaper than Tokyo, more food-diverse, and has a growing international community.