Osaka is the heart of Kansai and it’s a great base for exploring the region. The best daytrips are Kyoto (14 minutes by shinkansen), Nara (30 minutes by express train) Hiroshima (1.5 hours by shinkansen) and Kobe (14 minutes by shinkansen).
Kinkakuji Temple in Kyoto
Best Day Trips from Osaka Summary
- Kyoto is the capital of traditional Japan. It’s home to the country’s most beautiful neighborhoods, temples, shrines and gardens.
- Nara is a smaller and more manageable version of Kyoto and home to the stunning Daibutsu (Great Buddha).
- Kobe is a small cosmopolitan seaside city less within 30 minutes of Osaka.
- Hiroshima is a monument to the horrors of war and the power of the human spirit.
Osaka Holiday Essentials
- Where To Stay In Osaka: See our guide to the best areas and the best hotels to stay in Osaka.
- Things To Do In Osaka: Check this overview of Osaka activities with links to all the key information.
- Flights To Osaka: Find the cheapest flights to Osaka and flight times from scores of airlines with Skyscanner.
- Osaka Packing List: Don’t forget to take any of the essentials with our comprehensive Packing List For Japan.
- Travel Insurance: World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Claim online anywhere in the world.
Best Day Trips Details
Kyoto
About 41km/25m northeast of Osaka, Kyoto is the cultural capital of Japan and it is a must-see destination. The temples, shrines, gardens, traditional neighborhoods and museums are the best in Japan. It would be crazy to come to Japan and not visit Kyoto! While you should try to spend as long as possible in Kyoto, if you have limited time, you can easily visit Kyoto as a day trip from Osaka. This is easy to do, since Kyoto is only 14 minutes from Shin-Osaka Station by shinkansen (good for Japan Rail Pass holders). For more details on transport, see my Osaka-Kyoto Transport Page. For more details on Kyoto, see InsideKyoto.com, my dedicated website about Kyoto, for full details.
- Travel time/cost from Osaka by shinkansen: 14 minutes, Y1420
- Travel time/cost from Osaka by private rail (Hankyu Line from Umeda to Kawaramachi): 43 minutes, Y400
- How to get there: JR or private rail lines
- Best time to go: All year round
- Highlights: Temples, shrines, gardens, traditional neighborhoods, museums, hiking and shops.
Nara
About 30km/18m east of Osaka, Nara is a more manageable version of Kyoto. It’s home to some of the most impressive sights in the entire country, including the awesome Daibutsu (Great Buddha), the mysterious Kasuga-Taisha Shrine and the wandering deer of Nara-koen Park. And, the city is less than one hour from Osaka by comfortable train. Thus, you can easily visit Nara as a day trip from Osaka. For more details on Nara, see our full Nara Travel Guide.
- Travel time/cost from Osaka: 50 minutes, Y800
- How to get there: JR Yamatoji Line from JR Osaka Station to JR Nara Station
- Best time to go: All year round
- Highlights: Daibutsu (Great Buddha) at Todai-ji Temple, Issui-en Garden, Kasuga-Taisha Shrine, Nara-koen Park, Nara National Museum, traditional neighborhoods and shops.
Kobe
About 35km/21m west of Osaka, Kobe almost feels like a part of Osaka – the upscale seaside part. It’s actually a very pleasant small city in its own right, with a nice collection of sights, including the pleasant hillside district of Kitano, the bustling Chinatown and the Kobe City Museum. Of course, the appeal of Kobe is not its specific sights, but the experience of wandering the city and soaking up its cosmopolitan atmosphere. If you’ve got a Japan Rail Pass, you can zip from Shin-Osaka to Shin-Kobe in 14 minutes. And, if you don’t, the private Hankyu Line will take you from downtown Osaka (Umeda) to downtown Kobe (Sannomiya) in just 30 minutes.
- Travel time/cost from Osaka by shinkansen: 14 minutes, Y1500
- Travel time/cost from Osaka by private rail (Hankyu Line from Umeda to Sannomiya): 30 minutes, Y320
- How to get there: Shinkansen (bullet train) from Shin-Osaka to Shin-Kobe or Hankyu Line from Umeda Station to Sannomiya
- Best time to go: All year round
- Highlights: Kitano district, Chinatown, Kobe City Museum, great international food and shopping.
Hiroshima
About 285km/177m west of Osaka, Hiroshima is an essential trip for those who want to learn about Japan’s experience of the horrors of war. Less than an hour and a half from Shin-Osaka Station by shinkansen (great for Japan Rail Pass holders), you can definitely visit Hiroshima as a day trip from Osaka. You’ll have enough time to visit the Hiroshima Peace Park and the Peace Memorial Museum, with a lunch near the Peace Park. You canbe back in Osaka in time for dinner. Of course, if you want to slow down, you could visit Hiroshima as an overnight trip from Osaka. If you choose this option, consider spending the night on nearby Miyajima. For more details on Hiroshima and Miyajima, see our full Hiroshima/Miyajima Travel Guide.
- Travel time/cost from Osaka by shinkansen: 1 hour 26 minutes, Y9710
- How to get there: Shinkansen (bullet train) from Shin-Osaka Station
- Best time to go: All year round
- Highlights: Hiroshima Peace Park, Peace Memorial Museum, vibrant modern city, friendly people and Miyajima Island.
Other Great Daytrips from Osaka
In addition to the cities listed here, there are plenty of other great daytrips from Osaka. Some are in Osaka Prefecture itself, others are a bit further afield. Here are our top picks:
- Expo City/Banpaku Park: This museum, shopping and entertainment complex is about half an hour from central Osaka.
- It’s great for people with kids. See our Northern Osaka District Page for full details.
- As well as the Universal Studios Japan theme park in the Osaka Bay Area, there is Legoland Japan and the SCMAGLEV and Railway Park a short train ride away in Nagoya.
- Himeji: Home to Japan’s most famous and beautiful castle, Himeji-jo, Himeji is only 29 minutes from Shin-Osaka Station by shinkansen.
- Ise: Home to Japan’s most sacred shrine (Ise-jingu), the small city of Ise is 1 hour and 44 minutes from Uehonmachi Station in Osaka. It would be a pretty long day, but it can indeed be visited as a daytrip from Osaka if you’re willing to pay for a Limited Express on the Kintetsu Line.
Where Are These Places Located?
See these places on the Inside Osaka Google map:- Open the Osaka map
- You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
- Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
- Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels / Ryokan / Guesthouses | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | GREEN: Shops | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
- If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.
Osaka Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Osaka guide
- Check Osaka accommodation availability and pricing on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Osaka
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Osaka, Osaka to Kyoto and Osaka to Tokyo
- You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Tokyo's Narita or Haneda Airports or Kansai International Airport. You can also rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- View my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- Compare flight prices and timings to find the best Japan flight deals
- If you're visiting more than one city, you might save money with a Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
