11 Unforgettable Day Trips from Osaka or Kyoto

Japan’s metro and Shinkansen network is nothing short of mind-blowing—it made exploring the Kansai region effortless. Back home, some of the distances we covered would’ve taken six hours, but in Japan, thanks to their ultra-high-speed trains, it took just 1.5 hours. This meant that by choosing a base like Osaka, we had access to an incredible variety of day trip experiences—be it visiting the bowing deer in Nara, learning about the impact of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima, or stepping back in time in the historic streets of Kurashiki Bikan. If you’re visiting Osaka or Kyoto, don’t spend all your time within the city—day trips will add a whole new dimension to your adventure. Some of our best memories from Japan came from these side trips, so we’ve rounded up 11 of the best day trips from Osaka and Kyoto that you won’t want to miss!

11 Best Day Trips from Osaka

Here are our top picks for the best day trips from Osaka or Kyoto! Since these are meant to be quick getaways, we’ve kept the travel time to mostly under 1.5 hours each way. While Japan is packed with incredible towns worth visiting, we’ve narrowed it down to these 11 unforgettable day trips that will add even more excitement to your time in Japan!

1) Nara – Bowing deers, delicious toro bowl (30-45 mins away)

To start off, one of our favourite day trips from Osaka or Kyoto was to Nara, located only 30-45 minutes away by train.

And no, it wasn’t for the bowing-deers, but instead it was because we found one of the most delicious toro (fatty part of tuna) bowls topped with mouth-watering Okinawa Uni. In fact, I think it was one of the most memorable meals in our entire trip through Japan, even surpassing our Tokyo Wagyu tasting and Omakase experiences!

And beyond the food, Nara is a perfect escape from the bustling cities of Osaka and Kyoto, providing tranquil gardens with cute deers prancing around, beautiful temples, and abundant local arts to discover.

During our stay in Kyoto, we took a day trip to Nara—but honestly, we could’ve easily spent a night there to soak up even more of this charming town’s history, culture, and hidden gems.

Best Things to do in Nara

• The best Uni Toro bowl in all of Japan at Maguro Koya
• See the Mochi show at Nagatanidou
• Discover Nara’s local gardens, parks, and the cute deers
• Interact with the bowing-deers (Our feelings about this are mixed. While it’s a unique experience, it can feel somewhat staged for tourists, and unfortunately, many of the deer didn’t seem to be in the best health. Instead, we just admired them from a distance)
• Orange Cafe Suimon for the most zen Japanese Garden cafes
• Sake tasting
• Japanese Tea ceremony in Nara
• and more!

📝 For more information about how to spend the perfect day trip in Nara, check out our Nara itinerary guide!

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Nara Tours

Nara Early-bird Tour: This tour starts at 7am or 9am, allowing you to explore Nara before all the crowds

Nara E-bike highlights tour: This tour brings you through Nara on E-bike to discover Todaiji temple, Mt Wakakusa, Kasuga-taishi, ukimido, and Nara park. 

2) Arashiyama – Bamboo forest, peaceful town (35 mins away)

Arashiyama is famous for their bamboo forest and is one of the best day trips to do from Osaka, or even better from Kyoto. But look beyond the bamboo forest, and you’ll discover that Arashiyama has so much more to offer.

To be honest, the bamboo forest felt smaller than we expected and was absolutely packed with tourists (although we grabbed that photo in the fraction of a second when we found an opening), which took away some of the magic. We made a quick stop, then wandered beyond to explore the quieter, cozier neighborhoods of Arashiyama.

That’s where we found its true charm—chatting with friendly locals, browsing artisanal crafts, and stumbling upon Otagi Nenbutsu-ji, a hidden gem with 1,200 moss-covered arhat statues. We wrapped up the day in the most relaxing way possible—our first Japanese onsen, right beside the serene Katsura River.

things to do in Arashiyama

• Admire the stunning views beside the Katsura river
• Relax at the Fu Fu No Yu onsen
• Have one of the best Wagyu bento lunches at Kijurou
• See the Arashiyama Bamboo forest 
• Walk through the local neighbourhoods north of the bamboo forest
• Discover the free Seiryōji temple
• Explore the 1200 moss-covered arhat statues at Otagi temple
• Shop for local artisanal souvenirs
• and more!

📝 If you want a more in depth guide, we shared how we spend one day in Arashiyama within our Kyoto itinerary guide!

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Arashiyama Tours

Arashiyama tour: Discover the bamboo grove, visit the historic Tenryuji Gardens, admire the vibrant Kimono Forest, cross the iconic Togetsukyo Bridge, and meet the monkeys at the park.

Arashiyama Bike Tour of Hidden gems: One of the most unique ways of exploring Arashiyama is on bike. The tour also starts nice and early at 8am to avoid the crowds. 

Arashiyama Rickshaw tour: For those who want an informative guided tour of Arashiyama without any effort! 

3) Uji – Matcha tea capital (30-60 minutes away)

When you think of Japan, your mind probably jumps to indulging in all the sushi and ramen you can get your hands on. But there’s one thing you absolutely shouldn’t skip—matcha. Not only is it delicious, but it’s also deeply woven into Japan’s history and culture.

Throughout Kyoto, we discovered countless incredible spots for matcha tea and desserts, but for the ultimate experience, head to Uji—home to some of the most sought-after (and priciest) matcha in the world. 

This was easily one of our favourite day trip from Osaka / Kyoto! We indulged in every imaginable form of matcha—think matcha parfaits, matcha soba noodles, and even matcha tempura. Plus, we got to enjoy the breathtaking cherry blossoms, take a scenic stroll along the Uji River, and explore Byōdō-in Temple, a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site with centuries of history.

Best Things to do in Uji

• Walk along the Uji river and admire the cherry blossoms (if you’re there during Sakura season)
• Try Uji matcha noodles, icecream, desserts, and more! This includes Matcha soft serve, matcha parfait, matcha dorayaki, matcha noodles, matcha tofu, matcha beer, matcha chocolates, and more!
• Visit Byōdō-in Temple
• See the Ukishima Jusanjunoto pagoda
• Daikichiyama Observation Deck
• For a more exclusive tea experience, can check out this Organic Tea Plantation and green tea tasting in Birthplace of Japanese Green tea
• and more!

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Uji Tours

Kyoto & Nara & Uji Tour: This tour combines many of the highlight sites in one day, including discovering Nara, Todaji Temple, Uji, and Fushimi Inari!  

Uji Green tea tour: Focused on Uji where you’ll discover the highest quality of local green tea, learn about the famous samurai warriors, and see the famous UNESCO sites of Uji. 

4) Fushimi Inari – Famous Red tori gates (10-30 mins away)

When visiting Japan, one of the must-do day trips is to Fushimi Inari to see the iconic staircases up Mt Inari lined with the red tori gates.

But did you know there’s a hidden, off-the-beaten-path way to explore them—without the crowds?

Thanks to a local friend, we discovered a lesser-known trail where we had the gates all to ourselves. Unlike the main route, this secluded path feels untouched, with torii gates covered in green moss, blending seamlessly into nature—a raw, unfiltered side of Fushimi Inari that most tourists never see. Being on this side really gave us a greater appreciation of the meaning behind the gates. 

📝 For detailed instructions on how to get to this off-the-beaten path side of Fushimi Inari, check out our Guide to the hidden side of Fushimi Inari.

Fushimi Inari Tour

Fushimi Inari Hidden Hiking Tour: Although we didn’t personally take this tour, we believe this guided hiking experience brings you to the same hidden route that we took to discover Fushimi Inari. 

This post is part of our series about Japan. If you want to learn more about Japan, planning your trip, and some of the best experiences there, check out the guides below:

10 Day Japan Travel Itinerary: First Timer’s Complete Guide

2 Days Kyoto Itinerary: Exploring off the Typical Tourist Trail

Best Things to do in Izu Peninsula, Japan (2024)

36 Essential Tips For Traveling in Japan: First-time Visitors Guide

28 Unique Things to do in Tokyo (2025)

One day in Osaka: Itinerary Guide (2025)

Day Trip to Nara, Japan: Ultimate Travel Guide (2024)

Izu Peninsula Itinerary: Planning & Tips for the Perfect Izu Peninsula Road Trip

30 Things To Do in Japan: Ultimate Bucketlist

5) Kobe – World’s most exquisite steak (30 mins away)

If you are an aficionado of steaks, then a day trip to Kobe is a must!

There you can try out the famous wagyu beef of Kobe, known to be one of the most delicious and expensive types of steak in the world! Wagyu is a specific breed of cattle, distinctive for it’s superior marbling, exceptional flavour, and tenderness.

We got to taste it on three separate occasions during our trip through Japan and the meat is so buttery tender that it almost melts in your mouth! You can find Wagyu beef in all the main cities but for the most authentic experience, we would recommend heading over to Kobe, one of the most famous regions for Wagyu.

Additionally, Kobe is a vibrant port city that offers a blend of modern attractions, historical sites, and nature! It’s the ideal place to explore on foot, helping you burn off all the delicious Kobe beef you’ll indulge in along the way!

Best Things to do in Kobe

• Indulge in the Kobe beef. There are countless restaurants that you can try but some of the top steakhouses include Kokubu Steak House, Kobe beef steak restaurant Royal Mouriya, and Kobe Meriken Wharf Motomachi.
• Visit the Kobe Harborland for shopping, dining, or even taking a cruise
• Take the cable car up Mount Rokko and visit the Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens
• Visit the Kobe Earthquake Memorial Museum to learn more about the 1995 Great Hanshin eartquake and how the city recovered
• Kobe Chinatown
• Kobe Animal Kingdom
• Sake tasting at the famous Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum or take a Sake tour
• and more!

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Kobe Tours

4 hour Kobe tour including genuine Kobe beef dinner: Full tour of Kobe and its highlights, and includes a delicious genuine Kobe beef dinner.

Sake Tasting Tour in Kobe: Discover multiple sake breweries and learn about the history and culture in Kobe

Private Kobe tour with hidden gems: Customized private tour, gain insight in the local history of Kobe, and visit areas including Kobe’s Chinatown, shopping on Motomachi Shopping Street, or visiting hidden temples and shrines that you might otherwise miss.

6) Kurashiki Bikan – like ancient Kyoto (1.5 hours away)

If you want to be taken back in time, surrounded by the traditional wooden architecture of Japan, then a day trip to Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter is a must!

Located around 1.5 hours from Osaka by Shinkansen, this district offers a glimpse into Japan’s Edo period with traditional white-walled storehouses (kura), narrow canals lined with weeping willows, and well-preserved merchant homes.

Our favourite experience there was donning the traditional Kimonos and doing a photoshoot surrounded by the historical buildings. It feels like Kyoto’s ancient Sannenzaka area but without the huge crowds. You can also pair this visit with a stop in Okayama, known for the Okayama castle and their famous white peaches (shirokashi).  

Best Things to do in Kurashiki Bikan

• Ohara museum of Art
• Vasara Kimono: That is where we rented our kimonos. The quality of kimonos here are amazing, with intricate designs and a whole variety of accessories to choose from. 
• Snoopy Chocolat: tons of Snoopy themed chocolates and desserts
• Imo Pippi’s for sweet potato dessert 
• Achi Shrine viewpoint
• Nakabashi bridge for an amazing view of the canal surrounded by the traditional buildings
• Kurashiki Denim street: Kurashiki is birthplace of Japan’s high quality denim

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Kurashiki Tour

Half day Kurashiki Private Tour: A 4 hour private tour where you’ll get to visit Ohara museum, Kurashiki’s textile denim street, walk the canals in Kurashiki Bikan, and more!  

7) Kyoto – Ancient history of Japan (25 minutes away)

It goes without saying that Kyoto is a must-do day trip from Osaka. Beyond the more typical touristic experiences like exploring Gion district for the geishas, exploring the ancient quarters of Sannenzaka and seeing the countless temples, we wanted to share some of our hidden gem experiences. 

First, in Kyoto, you’ll find our favourite matcha dessert place, Nana’s Green Tea! It’s so good that we went back at least 4 times!

Next, there is an amazing knife making workshop at a historic Kyoto Smith. You’ll get to craft your custom Japanese knife that you can then bring home as one of the most iconic Japanese souvenirs.

Finally, one of the famous artistic techniques of Japan is called Kintsugi, where you get to repair broken pottery with gold, silver, or platinum, creating a unique piece of art that highlights the beauty of imperfections and the passage of time. It’s a beautiful representation of the Japanese philosophy of embracing flaws and finding strength in them.

📝 Honestly, Kyoto is packed with amazing experiences, and you can discover more in our guide on how to make the most of a few days in Kyoto.

Best Things to do in Kyoto

• Legendary Knife making workshop at Historic Kyoto Smith
• Hidden Kyoto Bike tour
• Kintsugi Experience
• Kimono rental and Sannenzaka
• Day trips to Nara, Uji, Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama and more
• Nana’s green tea for dessert
• Walk through Gion to see the geishas
• Japanese tea ceremony
• Samurai Experience
• and more!

8) Himeji – Japan’s most spectacular castle (75 minutes away)

If you’re into ancient history and Japanese castles, then the town of Himeji is a must visit!

Located 75 minutes from Osaka by Shinkansen, Himeji is best known for Himeji castle, Japan’s most stunning and well-preserved feudal castle.

What makes it so unique is its elegant, full-white apperance, earning it the name “White Heron Castle”.

But beyond the castle, you can explore Koko-en garden, hike up Mount Shosha, and just do some souvenir shopping on Otemae street. The town of Himeji is particularly beautiful if you’re able to time it with the sakura season, when the gardens surrounding Himeji castle light up with pink cherry blossoms! 

Best Things to do in Himeji

• Explore Himeji Castle, a UNESCO world heritage site
• Wander through the beautiful Koko-en gardens
• Hike up Mount-shosha: cool fact, they actually shot some scenes in the film The Last Samurai at Engyo-ji temple at the top of Mount Shosha
• Discover Otemae street for local treats, souvenirs, and Himeji’s famous almond butter toast
• Relax in Himeji Central park where you can see lions, elephants, giraffes, and more!
• Try Himeji’s local specialty foods including Himeji oden (soy-based hot pot) and Anago-meshi (grilled conger eel over rice)

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Himeji Tours

Private customized tour in Himeji: Explore the best of Himeji on a 4-6 hour tour, with full freedom to customize it to your liking!

Half-day Himeji Biking tour: Explore the beautiful city of Himeji on bike! You’ll get to discover the Japanese gardens, Himeji castle, and an authentic tea ceremony!

Himeji Castle + Arima Hotspring + Mt Rokko Day tour from Osaka: See all the highlight stops in Himeji on this tour!

9) Hiroshima – Remembering the Atomic Bomb (90 mins away)

When traveling, we believe it’s essential to learn about a destination’s history and culture. When traveling through Vietnam, we were curious to gain a different perspective of the war between Vietnam and the US. When traveling through Turkey, we wanted to learn more about the underground cities and the civilizations that once lived there. So if you’re visiting Japan, a trip to Hiroshima is one of the most impactful experiences you can have. 

This city carries deep historical significance as the site where, in 1945, the first atomic bomb was dropped, ultimately leading to Japan’s surrender in World War II.

While this is a somber chapter of history, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial serves as a powerful symbol of hope, peace, and the urgent need for a world without nuclear weapons. Going through the memorial and museum is a  deeply moving experience, encouraging a future of global unity.

Hiroshima can be visited as a day trip from Osaka, but we highly recommend staying longer to fully appreciate its history, resilience, and vibrant culture beyond the memorial.

Best Things to do in Hiroshima

• Visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum to learn more about the atomic bomb and see Hiroshima’s message of peace
• Visit the Atomic Bomb Dome, one of the structures that survived the atomic bomb blast
• Children’s Peace memorial: commemorating the children who lost their lives 
• Hiroshima Castle
• Shukkei-en Garden: a beautiful traditional Japanese garden
• Okonomimura (Okonomiyaki Village): A multi-floor food court dedicated to Hiroshima’s famous Okonomiyaki, a delicious savoury pancake filled with toppings!
• Mitaki-dera Temple: if you’re looking for a temple immersed in the tranquil nature
• Mazda Museum
• and more!

Hiroshima Tours

Hiroshima and Miyajima Full-day Private tour: Explore the highlights of Hiroshima and then visit the famous Miyajima “floating” Tori gates.

History-focused tour of Hiroshima: Learn about the profound impact of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on this 2.5 hours guided tour! 

10) Naoshima Island – Contemporary art + culture (3 hours away)

Naoshima is a small island in the Seto Inland Sea, famous for its stunning blend of contemporary art, nature, and traditional Japanese charm.

It is home to world-class museums like the Chichu Art Museum and Benesse House, Naoshima features outdoor installations, avant-garde architecture by Tadao Ando, and the iconic Pumpkin sculpture by Yayoi Kusama. 

Naooshima is located 3 hours away so overall we would recommend doing this trip only if you’ll be spending a night there. In fact, one of the most unique experiences you can have in Naoshima is to spend a night in a Contemporary Art Ryokan Stay.

Here, your accommodation becomes a museum, where you can admire the local famous arts, savour delicately prepared kaiseki meals, and also soak in your own private onsen!

This is one of the most unique experiences you can find in Japan! 

11) Okayama – Black castle and famous peaches (1 hour away)

If you are doing a day trip to Kurashiki, you’ll be passing through Okayama so they can be combined into a single day trip. 

Okayama is best known for Korakuen Garden, one of Japan’s top three most beautiful gardens, and Okayama Castle, nicknamed the “Crow Castle” for its striking black exterior. This stands in a drastic contrast to the all-white castle in Himeji! 

The city is also famous for its connection to the Momotaro (Peach Boy) legend, a beloved Japanese folk tale.

Best Things to do in Okayama

• Explore Korakuen Garden, one of Japan’s top three landscape gardens
• Visit Okayama’s black castle
• Stroll along Kōraku-en and Asahi River
• Try Okayama’s famous white peaches
• Visit Kibitsu Shrine, famous for its 400-meter long covered walkway 
• Taste some of the local delicacies including Barazushi (scattered sushi) and Kibi dango (a famous sweet)
• and more!

Okayama Tours

Transportation for Your Day Trip from Osaka

In order to do a day trip from Osaka, you will most likely require a pass that covers the high-speed shinkansens.

This is necessary if you’ll be visiting, Kobe, Kurashiki, Okayama, Himeji, Naoshima, or Hiroshima. When we visited the region of Osaka and Kyoto (known as the Kansai region), we purchased the Klook Kansai Pass which included 4 attraction passes and we added on the JR Kansai Area Pass as a premium add-on which provided us access to the Shinkansens in the region. 

This was a great deal since combining the two provided significant savings on the activities! It also made it a lot easier for the planning since you can directly reserve your activities straight from their website, instead of needing to individually purchase each ticket.  

Our recommendation is to plan out your Japan itinerary so that you can optimize the longer distance day trips together, within the timeframe allowances of your JR Kansai Area pass. Then you can do the closer day trips like Nara, Kyoto, and Uji by simply paying with the SUICA/ICOCA card. 

If you didn’t already know, the SUICA/ICOCA are re-loadable cards to pay for most of the means of transportations in Japan including metro, trains, and buses (just not JR Shinkansens). An added bonus is that the credit in the card can also be used to pay at most convenience stores! 

Where to Stay in Osaka

Osaka is a very large city, but most of the attractions are centred around the Dotonbori area and a little north-east, around Osaka Castle.

Since we wanted a more local and quiet experience, we decided to stay in Kita Ward, located just slightly north of Osaka Castle. This was an ideal spot since it is close to the metro which connects you to the centre of Osaka within 20 minutes, while retaining a very local vibe!

Ideally, stay around Temmabashi metro station so that you can easily walk to Osaka Castle. 

Here are a couple of recommendations which are optimally located near Temmabashi metro station as well as Osaka Castle.

If you prefer to stay very central in Dotonbori, which is somewhat like the Time Square of Osaka, here are a few hotel recommendations:

Where else to explore in Japan?

Japan is filled with so many amazing experiences! If you need help getting an overall idea of how to travel through the country, check out our 10 days Japan travel Itinerary Guide! There we delve into some of the highlight spots of Japan including the hidden gems of Tokyo, best experiences in Kyoto, day trip to Nara, going off-the-beaten path road tripping through the Izu Peninsula and seeing some of the most amazing coastal views and having Ryokan experiences, and much more in-between!

Also, don’t forget to check out our essential travel tips in Japan so you can make sure your trip goes as smoothly as possible!

Using WISE card in Japan

When taking cash out of an ATM while abroad, you will most likely be charged both a foreign exchange fee and a foreign transaction fee by that country’s ATM. With my Canadian card, this can easily be 3-4$ + 2.75% + a markup on the exchange rate charged by my bank, and then another 3-5$ charged by the foreign ATM.

This can be really costly. For this reason, we recommend using WISE card which has only minimal fees and just about no foreign currency exchange markup. This helps me save at least 5-7$ every time I take out money from an ATM. If you want to see our full review of the card showing exactly how WISE can help you save, check out our WISE Travel card Review post.

Recap: Best Day Trip from Osaka

If we had to pick just one, our favorite day trip from Osaka would have to be Nara. It’s nearby, offers an insanely delicious uni toro bowl (possibly the best we had in Japan), and we stumbled upon our favourite matcha cake while soaking in the serene views of a Japanese zen garden. The whole experience was effortlessly relaxing.

For those craving more off-the-beaten-path adventures, we also highly recommend the Izu Peninsula—though it’s closer to Tokyo and not exactly a day trip. We spent five days road-tripping through its breathtaking coastal ryokan towns, taking in jaw-dropping views of Mount Fuji.

Japan is packed with incredible experiences waiting to be discovered, and we hope our list of the best day trips from Osaka helps you dive deeper into the beauty of the Kansai region!

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