Welcome to Kansai
The Kansai region is the heart of Japan, comprised of the seven prefectures of Fukui, Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, and Wakayama. Historically Japan's political and cultural epicenter, the Kansai region held the capital of Japan for centuries before it moved to Tokyo in 1869.
Today the region is Japan's second-largest economic area, and boasts an incredibly accessible transportation network on rail, sea, and air. The region has a host of different industries, world-renowned universities, and cutting-edge research centers, all of which are approaching the world stage as Osaka, the center of the Kansai region, will be the site of the world's next biggest event: Expo 2025.
About
Tech Tours Kansai is your one-stop shop service to unlock the full potential of your business visit to Japan. The Kansai region is full of unique industries from modern manufacturing and research to traditional crafts and textiles, and our team of travel experts will create custom tours to experience these industries first-hand. With the World Expo coming to Osaka and Kansai in 2025, the region is rapidly gaining attention from government officials and corporate incentive groups around the world, attracting even more visitors and business opportunities.
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Provided by the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition
Services
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Assistance in maximizing your Expo 2025 travel experience.
Take full advantage of your trip to Japan and Expo 2025. Collaborating with financial and other institutions, we offer custom-made tours tailored to your individual needs to help you find the areas and industries you want to visit. Our team provides expert matchmaking to connect you with the ideal industry and business partners in the Kansai region.
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Your one-stop-shop service provided by travel experts.
More than just guidance on the Expo 2025 venue, our team of full-time travel advisors will assist during each step of your travel from pre-planning till after you return home.
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©Kobe Tourism Bureau
Access to the entire Kansai region.
Our team can coordinate travel throughout the Kansai region, including site visits and accommodations.
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Wide-range of support options.
More than just coordination with site visits and tours, our team provides support for all travel needs including dietary requests as well as coordinating special excursions and spousal programs.
Kansai's Specialized Industries
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Gastronomy
The Kansai region is renowned as the heart of Japanese culture, and nothing exemplifies this more than its cuisine. We can arrange tours and visits to the diverse range of producers and growers.
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Traditional Crafts
Many traditional Japanese crafts have roots in the Kansai region from Sakai's renowned knivemaking in Osaka prefecture to Kyoto's exquisite silk fabrics.
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Electronics
Many electonics and electrical equipment manufactures are based in Kansai, mainly around Osaka, with opportunities for tours and site visits.
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Textiles
Kansai is the center of the traditional textile industry, being well-known as the main producer of fabrics and dyed goods rooted in kimono culture.
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Science and Technology
The shared borders of Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara form Keihanna Science City, home to advanced research institutions that attract the attention of researchers from around the world and will be showcased at the Expo 2025 site.
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Telecommunications
The Kansai region is home to many information technology companies who utilize advanced skills and creativity to deliver globally-competitive services.
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Medical and Life Sciences
Kansai holds a rich network of medicine and life sciences-focused universities, research institutions, and companies. Meanwhile, many global pharmaceutical companies trace their roots to or have long placed their headquarters in Osaka and Kansai, giving the region a high market share.
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Manufacturing
Kansai is full of many manufacturing industries ranging from daily goods to precision equipment and manufacturing machinery as well as parts and components, forming a wide-ranging and dense industrial cluster.
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Next-Generation Industries
Many manufacturing and R&D centers for next-generation industries with high technological capabilities are located in Kansai. Prominent among these, exports of lithium-ion batteries from Kansai have the top share of the national market.
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Gastronomy
The Kansai region is renowned as the heart of Japanese culture, and nothing exemplifies this more than its cuisine. We can arrange tours and visits to the diverse range of producers and growers.
-
Traditional Crafts
Many traditional Japanese crafts have roots in the Kansai region from Sakai's renowned knivemaking in Osaka prefecture to Kyoto's exquisite silk fabrics.
-
Electronics
Many electonics and electrical equipment manufactures are based in Kansai, mainly around Osaka, with opportunities for tours and site visits.
-
Textiles
Kansai is the center of the traditional textile industry, being well-known as the main producer of fabrics and dyed goods rooted in kimono culture.
-
Science and Technology
The shared borders of Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara form Keihanna Science City, home to advanced research institutions that attract the attention of researchers from around the world and will be showcased at the Expo 2025 site.
-
Telecommunications
The Kansai region is home to many information technology companies who utilize advanced skills and creativity to deliver globally-competitive services.
-
Medical and Life Sciences
Kansai holds a rich network of medicine and life sciences-focused universities, research institutions, and companies. Meanwhile, many global pharmaceutical companies trace their roots to or have long placed their headquarters in Osaka and Kansai, giving the region a high market share.
-
Manufacturing
Kansai is full of many manufacturing industries ranging from daily goods to precision equipment and manufacturing machinery as well as parts and components, forming a wide-ranging and dense industrial cluster.
-
Next-Generation Industries
Many manufacturing and R&D centers for next-generation industries with high technological capabilities are located in Kansai. Prominent among these, exports of lithium-ion batteries from Kansai have the top share of the national market.
Sample Itineraries
Courses with Expo Site Visit
Courses without Expo Site Visit
Factory Tour Course
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Day 1
Expo 2025 VisitFull day site visit to Expo 2025 venue
Overnight stay in Osaka city
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Day 2
Factory and R&D Center ToursMorning: Factory tour within Osaka city
Afternoon: Visit Company B's R&D center, etc. in Sakai City
Overnight stay in Sakai City
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Day 3
Information Exchange with Lab OfficialsFull day visit companies and research institutes in Kansai Science City, exchange opinions with company representatives, and more
See more here: https://www.kri.or.jp/en/
Overnight stay in Keihanna district
※The business hours of tourist facilities may be changed, they may be temporarily closed, or admission may be restricted.
※Provided by the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition
Traditional Industry Course
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Day 1
Expo 2025 VisitFull day site visit to Expo 2025 venue
Overnight stay in Osaka city
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Day 2
Traditional Industry Workshop VisitMorning: Visit and experience the “Sakai Traditional Crafts Museum” in Sakai City
Afternoon: Site visit to traditional knifemaking workshop
Overnight stay in Sakai City or Osaka City
※3-day courses are also available upon request.
※The business hours of tourist facilities may be changed, they may be temporarily closed, or admission may be restricted.
※Provided by the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition.
Next Generation Industry Course
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Day 1
Expo 2025 VisitFull day site visit to Expo 2025 venue
Overnight stay in Osaka city
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Day 2
Research Lab VisitsMorning: University research lab visit in Kyoto city
Afternoon: Visit a manufacturing consulting agency
Overnight stay in Kyoto city or Osaka city
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Day 3
Information Exchange with Research LabsMorning: Visit to and tour of advanced research lab
in the Keihanshin area
Afternoon: Workshop and information exchange
with reseachers
Overnight stay in Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe City
※The business hours of tourist facilities may be changed, they may be temporarily closed, or admission may be restricted.
※Provided by the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition
Advanced Technology and Disaster Preparedness Course
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Day 1
Next Generation Industry/advanced technology visitsFull day visit to Kansai Science City (Seika Town, Kyoto Prefecture)
(Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR), Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE), Advanced ICT Research Institute, etc.)
※Interpreter must accompany, fees apply
Overnight stay in Keihanna district
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Day 2
Next Generation Industry/advanced technology visitsFull day Visit Harima Science Garden City (Sayo Town, Hyogo Prefecture)
(Super Photon ring-8 GeV (SPring-8), X-ray Free Electron Laser Facility (SACLA), etc.)
Overnight stay in Himeji City or Kobe City
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Day 3
Disaster Preparedness LearningFull day visit to the Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution (Kobe City) / visit to the Hyogo Earthquake Engineering Research Center (E-Defense) (Miki City )
※The business hours of tourist facilities may be changed, they may be temporarily closed, or admission may be restricted.
※Visits to the institutions listed above are not guaranteed every time. (Please contact us beforehand)
※We may not be able to accept requests due to such reasons as the number of group members or the experiment schedule at the destination taking precedent.
Manufacturing Course
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Day 1
Workshop VisitMorning: Visit Kawamura Gishi Co., Ltd. (Daito City, Osaka Prefecture) where you can observe the manufacturing process of welfare equipment, prosthetic legs, prosthetic arms, and apparatuses.)
Afternoon: Visit the Monodzukuri Business Information-center Osaka (MOBIO)
(Higashiosaka City, Osaka Prefecture) where you can tour the workshops of participating companies.
Overnight stay in Osaka City
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Day 2
Facility TourFull day visit to the KTC Monozukuri Museum (Kumiyama Town, Kyoto Prefecture)
※This plan allows you to register for the approximately 2-hour TORIKO tour of the manufacturing process as well as visit the Nepros Museum.
※Interpreter must accompany, fees apply
Overnight stay in Kyoto City or Osaka
※The business hours of tourist facilities may be changed, they may be temporarily closed, or admission may be restricted.
※Visits to the institutions listed above are not guaranteed every time. (Please contact us beforehand)
※We may not be able to accept requests due to such reasons as the number of group members or the experiment schedule at the destination taking precedent.
Traditional Industry Course
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Day 1
Workshop VisitMorning: Visit to Sakai Traditional Crafts Museum (Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture)
(Sakai-Tohji Knife Museum (Izumi Riki Seisakusho), Baba Cutlery Works, etc.)
※Closed on the 3rd Tuesday of the month
※Interpreter must accompany, fees apply
Afternoon: Visit to Akashiya Co., Ltd. (Nara City), a long-established company that manufactures calligraphy and makeup brushes.
Visit to Naratoyosawa Breweries (Nara City), a sake brewery with over 150 years of history.
Take a tour of the manufacturing process, sake-tasting, etc.
Overnight stay in Nara City
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Day 2
Workshop VisitMorning: Visit to Takayama Bamboo Garden and Museum”(Ikoma City, Nara Prefecture) where you can take a tour of the manufacturing process of bamboo tea whisks and various other utensils used in tea ceremony.
※Those interested can also take a matcha green tea experience within the elegant surroundings of the bamboo forest.
Afternoon: Visit to enstol Co., Ltd. (Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture), where you can take an up-close tour to see the handwork of craftsmen who make all kinds of furniture.
※Interpreter must accompany, fees apply
Overnight stay in Kyoto City or Osaka
※The business hours of tourist facilities may be changed, they may be temporarily closed, or admission may be restricted.
※Visits to the institutions listed above are not guaranteed every time. (Please contact us beforehand)
※We may not be able to accept requests due to such reasons as the number of group members or the experiment schedule at the destination taking precedent.
