Kansai is a day trip from Nagoya! I went for a day.

Using a fall special free pass (valid for multiple JR rides during the period), I stayed in Nagoya for a few days and visited the Kansai region using JR West's Special Rapid Service. Besides Osaka, which I posted about recently, I visited various other places in Kansai. Here's a detailed route: Around 7:30 AM: Depart Nagoya on the direct Limited Express to Maibara ↓ 9:00 AM: Transfer to Special Rapid Service at Maibara ↓ 10:30 AM: Arrive in Osaka ↓ 11:00 AM: Namba (Lunch around here) ↓ Sightseeing until around 12:00 PM 12:30 PM: Special Rapid Service towards Kyoto ↓ 1:00 PM: Arrive in Kyoto ↓ Sightseeing until around 2:00 PM, also bought a light snack 2:15 PM: Special Rapid Service via Kosei Line to Tsuruga ↓ 3:30 PM: Omi-Shiotsu (Changed plans from Tsuruga) ↓ 4:00 PM: Special Rapid Service (Local stops until Maibara) ↓ 5:00 PM: Arrive in Maibara, transfer at Ogaki ↓ 6:00 PM: Arrive in Nagoya That's the route. The Special Rapid Service is very fast, allowing you to sightsee in Kansai without using the Shinkansen. When I went to Kyoto, I couldn't take pictures at the tourist spots, but I bought Mitarashi dango at a shopping street near the station. Authentic Japanese sweets are indeed different. The sweet flavor of the Mitarashi spreading in my mouth was very delicious.