Kyoto Day Trips

Japan’s third largest city is home to Osaka castle, bustling Tenjimbashi-Suji, a popular street for shopping, and the country’s most popular aquarium.

This historic city was Japan’s capital before Kyoto. Many flock here to visit the 1,200-year-old Todaiji temple, which contains Japan’s largest Buddha. Others take picnics in Nara Park and watch the deer wander by.

One of the few Japanese buildings to survive the ravages of war and natural disasters, Himeji castle is justifiably lauded as a national treasure. Visit during Spring’s cherry blossom season to see over 1,000 trees explode in bloom.

On a mountain basin 3,280-feet above sea level lies Japan’s holiest site. Over 100 beautiful Buddhist temples are still run by monks; fifty of them offer rooms to weary travelers.

Famous for its fatty, marbled beef (which fetches eye-popping prices throughout Japan) this city is also known for having survived a devastating 1995 earthquake. Today, having been almost completely rebuilt, it again thrives.

Perched on the very outskirts of Kyoto, the city of Uji attracts visitors with its numerous sights, particularly Byodo-in temple, which is engraved on the back of every ten yen coin.