Day Trips from Kyoto
Kyoto can keep visitors enthralled for days.
Its famous (and lesser known, but less crowded) temples, shrines, gardens and historic districts have plenty to offer visitors from all over the world.
However, the former imperial capital also works well as a base for discovering the surrounding Kansai region. From historically significant cities to natural wonders, there's plenty to experience just a short train ride away.
Here's a guide to some top day trips from Kyoto, allowing you to broaden your travel experience while still returning to your Kyoto hotel, ryokan or home-away-from-home each night. As locals to this area, we can say that these are indeed some of the best places to visit in Japan, whether you’re here with your family, on a Japan honeymoon, traveling solo or with friends.
Nara: Deer & an Ancient Capital
Only 45 minutes from Kyoto by train, Nara was Japan's first permanent capital and houses some of the country's oldest and largest temples.
Todaiji Temple: Largest Bronze Buddha & Wooden Building in the World
One of Nara's top draws is Todaiji Temple, home to Japan's largest bronze Buddha statue.
The wooden structure housing the statue, though a reconstruction two-thirds the size of the original, remains the world's largest wooden building. Both the building and the Buddha statue are must-sees when you’re in Nara.
Nara Park: Feed the Deer, Messengers from the Gods in Japan
Surrounding Todaiji and several other significant temples is Nara Park, known for its population of over 1,000 freely roaming deer.
In Shinto belief, these deer are seen as divine messengers and have become a symbol of the city. You can buy special crackers (and only these crackers, called shika senbei) to feed them, but be prepared; some of these deer are hardly shy, and will follow you if they think you have food.
Kasuga Taisha: UNSCO World Heritage Site in Nara’s Forested Hills
This Shinto shrine, established in 768 CE and now deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is renowned for its thousands of stone and bronze lanterns, which are lit twice annually during Lantern Festivals in February and August.
Kasuga Taisha shrine's architectural style, with its bright red pillars and white walls, is considered the peak of Kasuga-zukuri architecture. The forested hills around the shrine are cooler in the summer, and often filled with deer depending on the season and time.
Isuien Garden: Nara’s Less Visited Japanese Gardens
Often missed by day-trippers, Isuien is a beautiful Japanese garden that showcases the technique of borrowed scenery. The garden incorporates distant views of Mount Wakakusa, Todaiji's Nandaimon Gate and Kasuga Taisha's lantern tower into its layout, creating a harmonious mix of near and far elements.
If you are visiting Kyoto on your honeymoon and taking a day trip to Nara, be sure to include these gardens for a lovely stop.
Osaka: Big City Japan as a Day Trip from Historic Kyoto
About half an hour from Kyoto, Osaka offers a complete change of pace with its contemporary architecture, lively street scenes and famous food culture.
Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street
For a more local experience, visit Tenjinbashi-suji, Japan's longest shopping street. Stretching for 2.6 kilometers, this covered arcade houses hundreds of small shops, cafes and restaurants. It's an excellent spot to experience everyday Osaka life and try local specialties without the tourist crowds.
Osaka Tenmangu Shrine
Near the northern end of Tenjinbashi-suji, you'll find Osaka Tenmangu Shrine. This important Shinto shrine is dedicated to the deity of scholarship and gets particularly busy during exam seasons when students come to pray for good results. The shrine's annual Tenjin Matsuri in July is one of Japan's largest festivals.
Umeda: Urban Osaka’s Modern Hub for Food, Shopping, Hotels & Transit
Umeda, Osaka's northern city center, offers a mix of shopping, dining and unique attractions. The Umeda Sky Building, with its Floating Garden Observatory, provides sweeping views of the city. The Osaka Ekimae Building complex is full of restaurants and bars, popular at weekday lunchtime and after five with the nearby office workers.
Shitennoji Temple: Osaka’s Pagoda
Shitennoji, founded in 593, is one of Japan's oldest temples. Despite being rebuilt several times, it keeps its original 6th-century design. The temple complex includes a five-story pagoda, several gates and a peaceful garden.
Tennoji Park & Abeno Harukas
Tennoji Park offers a green space in the city, complete with a zoo and art museum. Nearby, Abeno Harukas is Japan's tallest skyscraper, housing a department store, art museum and observation deck with spectacular city views.
Universal Studios Japan
For those seeking entertainment, Universal Studios Japan is a popular attraction. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Super Nintendo World are particularly noteworthy, offering immersive experiences for fans of these franchises.
(Over)Touristy Dotonbori, Namba Kuromon Market
If you’re in Osaka in the late afternoon or evening, catch the Dotonbori canal as it lights up. Super touristy and crowded with few (if any!) Japanese people around, it’s still worth a quick photo. Surrounding Namba is hit and miss with a mix of local bars & restaurants plus some touristy places. And Kuromon “Market,” despite what some might say, has become a tourist trap (just like Nishiki Market in Kyoto, both worth missing).
Himeji: Japan's Best Castle, Plus a Local Japan Vibe
About an hour from Kyoto by shinkansen (bullet train), Himeji is home to Japan's most spectacular castle.
Himeji Castle: The White Heron Fortress
A UNESCO World Heritage site, Himeji Castle is the finest surviving example of Japanese castle architecture. Its elegant white exterior has earned it the nickname "White Heron Castle." Unlike many castles in Japan, Himeji Castle has never been destroyed by war, earthquake or fire, allowing visitors to experience the castle much as it was hundreds of years ago.
The castle's design is a masterpiece of defensive architecture, with maze-like paths leading to the main keep, designed to confuse potential invaders. The interior of the castle is surprisingly simple, reflecting its primary purpose as a fortress rather than a residence.
Koko-en Garden: Japanese Gardens Next to Himeji Castle
Next to the castle, Koko-en is a relatively new addition to Himeji, opened in 1992 on the former site of the feudal lord's west residence. The garden is designed in the style of an Edo period garden, with nine separate walled gardens each showcasing a different traditional style. These include a tea garden, a pine tree garden and a flower garden. It’s especially nice in fall (for the colors) or spring (cherry blossom time).
Mount Shosha & Engyoji Temple
For those with extra time in Himeji, a trip to Mount Shosha and Engyoji Temple is worthwhile. This temple complex, founded over 1000 years ago, sprawls across the wooded mountaintop and offers a serene atmosphere away from the crowds. The temple has been used as a filming location for several movies, including "The Last Samurai."
Eats Around Himeji Station
If you’re in Himeji for a day trip, lunch in the Himeji station area is a good plan.
Our first recommendation is to try anago, or conger eel, a local Himeji area speciality. There are several restaurants grilling up anago in the streets and pedestrian shopping arcade around the station; we’ll vouch for Yamayoshi as being legit.
If you’re in the mood for a good wagyu steak experience, try Steak Senju. Here you can splurge for the Kobe beef; or, for a fraction of the price, opt for the nearly-as-good Himeji beef. Either way, you’ll enjoy the service and surroundings as much as the meal itself (we sure did!).
Kobe: A Cosmopolitan Port City
Less than an hour from Kyoto, Kobe offers day trippers a mix of international history and modern Japanese city vibes.
Kobe Beef: Not the Only Attraction (But a Good One)
A lot of day-trip types visiting Kobe are here to try the city's famous beef. Known for its marbled texture and rich flavor, authentic Kobe beef is a true delicacy. While it can be expensive, even a small portion is worth trying for the unique taste experience. Many restaurants offer lunch specials that are quite good value.
Kobe Harborland & Meriken Park
This shopping and entertainment complex offers beautiful views of the port. The Mosaic observation deck is particularly popular at night when the port is illuminated. The area also includes Meriken Park, home to the Kobe Port Tower and the Kobe Maritime Museum.
Kitano-cho: History in Kobe
This hillside area is home to many ijinkan, Western-style houses built for foreign merchants when Kobe opened to international trade in the 19th century. Several of these houses are open to the public, offering a glimpse into the lifestyle of Kobe's early foreign residents. The area also features many cafes and restaurants, making it a nice place to spend an afternoon.
Nunobiki Herb Gardens
Accessible by ropeway from Shin-Kobe Station (where you can get on/off the bullet train), the Nunobiki Herb Gardens offer a peaceful retreat with beautiful views over Kobe. The gardens feature a wide variety of herbs and flowers, as well as a glass house and several restaurants. It's a particularly great spot in the fall foliage time.
Sake Breweries: A Kobe Specialty
Kobe's Nada district is one of Japan's most famous sake-producing regions. Several breweries offer tours and tastings, providing insight into the sake-making process and the chance to sample different varieties of this traditional Japanese drink. Some restaurants in the area offer sake pairing meals, such as the Nadagogo Sakedokoro.
Uji: The Home of Japanese Green Tea
Just 20 minutes by train from Kyoto Station, Uji is famous for its high-quality green tea and historic temples.
Byodoin Temple: Right on the Money (No, Really!)
This UNESCO World Heritage site is featured on the 10 yen coin and is one of the few remaining examples of Heian-period architecture. The Phoenix Hall, with its distinctive wing-like structures, is particularly famous. The temple's museum houses many national treasures, including the original temple bell and door carvings.
Tea Ceremony & Tasting
Uji is the perfect place to experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony or simply sample some of Japan's finest green tea. Many tea shops offer tasting sessions where you can compare different grades of tea. Some also offer the opportunity to grind your own matcha, providing a hands-on experience of tea preparation. We recommend Tsuen, the oldest teahouse in Japan (or the whole world?!).
Tale of Genji Museum & Uji River
Uji was the setting for the final ten chapters of "The Tale of Genji," considered the world's first novel. This museum offers an interactive exploration of the tale and the Heian period in which it was set. While the exhibits are primarily in Japanese, audio guides are available in several languages.
The Uji River, which runs through the city, is a pleasant spot for a stroll. Traditional cormorant fishing demonstrations are held on summer evenings, offering a glimpse into this ancient fishing technique.
Mount Kurama & Kibune: Natural Retreats
These rural areas north of Kyoto offer beautiful natural scenery and a chance to escape the crowds.
Mount Kurama
About an hour from central Kyoto, Mount Kurama is home to Kurama-dera, a temple complex spread across a forested mountainside. The area is said to be the birthplace of Reiki healing and has a mystical atmosphere. A hike from Kurama to Kibune (or vice versa) takes about two hours and offers beautiful forest scenery.
The hike itself is moderately challenging, with steep sections and uneven terrain. However, the peaceful forest atmosphere and the unique temples and shrines along the way make it a rewarding experience. Be sure to stop at the Osugi Gongen, a massive sacred cedar tree believed to be over 1000 years old.
Kibune
This small town is famous for its riverside restaurants, which build platforms over the river during the summer months. These kawadoko offer a unique dining experience and a respite from the summer heat. Kifune Shrine, dedicated to the god of water and rain, is also worth a visit.
The shrine is particularly beautiful in the fall when the surrounding trees change color, and in early summer when it's illuminated by fireflies. If you're feeling adventurous, try drawing a fortune at the shrine: the paper appears blank until you dip it in the sacred spring water, revealing your fortune.
Lake Biwa: Japan's Largest Freshwater Lake
Just northeast of Kyoto, Lake Biwa offers natural beauty and outdoor activities.
Hikone Castle
One of only five castles in Japan designated as a National Treasure, Hikone Castle offers beautiful views over Lake Biwa. The castle town surrounding it maintains much of its Edo-period charm. The castle's garden, Genkyu-en, is a fine example of a Japanese landscape garden and is particularly beautiful during the cherry blossom season.
Shirahige Shrine
This picturesque shrine on the western shore of Lake Biwa is known for its torii gate that appears to float on the water, similar to the more famous one on Miyajima. The shrine is particularly photogenic at sunset, when the torii gate is silhouetted against the colored sky.
Cycling
The 220km bicycle path that circles the lake is a popular route for cyclists. Even if you don't want to circle the entire lake, renting a bike and cycling along the shore can be a pleasant way to enjoy the scenery. Many sections of the path offer beautiful views of the lake and surrounding mountains.
Biwako Valley
For a birds-eye view of Lake Biwa, head to Biwako Valley. A ropeway takes visitors to an observation point with panoramic views of the lake and surrounding area. In winter, the area becomes a small ski resort.
What’s the Right Day Trip from Kyoto for You?
Really, you can’t go wrong with any of these day trips from Kyoto.
As you can see, it would be easy to spend a week or more with one hotel, ryokan or airbnb in Kyoto as your base. You’d have plenty of time to see Kyoto itself, and could take 2 or 3 days to explore the surrounding Kansai by doing day trips from Kyoto.
Want to know more about Kyoto day trips? Why not schedule a free travel consultation with us?
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions About Day Trips from Kyoto
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Japan's efficient public transportation system makes it easy to explore these destinations. Most are accessible by train, with many on the shinkansen (bullet train) line. Local buses are available for reaching specific attractions within each area
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Yes, many of these destinations offer attractions suitable for children. Nara Park's deer, Universal Studios Japan in Osaka and the cycling routes around Lake Biwa are particularly popular with families.
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It's best to start early, especially for more distant destinations like Himeji. Aim to catch a train between 7-8 AM to make the most of your day.
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Yes, the Japan Rail Pass is valid on most trains to these destinations, including shinkansen to Himeji and Kobe. However, it's not valid on private railway lines like the one to Kurama and Kibune. Having said that, the Japan Rail Pass has gotten more expensive, and often times you're better off with point-to-point tickets for domestic Japan train travel as opposed to buying the pass in the first place.