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Osaka Day Trips: 10 Exciting Destinations
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Osaka is a gateway to some amazing experiences all around Japan's Kansai region. With easy transport, these 10 destinations are great to add as a side adventure to your Osaka itinerary or even to build a whole trip around!
Written by
Travel writer and assistant editor at MATCHA with extensive travel around the Osaka, Kyoto, and Wakayama areas. A Kansai insider who knows their Akashiyaki from their Takoyaki, Iain enjoys getting authentic stories from traditional craftspeople and interesting creators. Particularly fond of temples and shrines, Iain delves deep into the crossroads of tradition and modernity in his eight-plus years living and writing about Japan.
The Best Day Trip Destinations from Osaka
When you're right in the heart of one of the most vibrant regions in all of Japan, the possibilities for travel are endless. Osaka is a great home base to explore a range of experiences and destinations all around the Kansai area and even a little further afield.
From the dazzling musical shows of Takarazuka to the natural beauty of Awaji Island, Kansai is great for filling your itinerary with exciting day trips.
Top 10 Osaka Day Trips
1. Kobe
2. Takarazuka
3. Nara
4. Awaji Island
5. Tottori
6. Koyasan (Mount Koya)
7. Kumano Kodo
8. Mie: Nabana no Sato Illuminations
9. Amanohashidate and Ine
10. Naruto Whirlpools and Bizan Ropeway
Book the JR Pass for Whole Japan (7, 14, or 21 Days)
1. Kobe
Photo by Pixta
A sparkling port city with style and charm, Kobe is a great little side trip for anyone who is already exploring Osaka.
From the beautiful harbor views around the vibrant port tower to amazing shopping and dining options within the Sannomiya district, Kobe is packed with great things to do.
If you're looking to spend some time in nature why not try out the Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens with their vibrant seasonal flowers and events? You can also travel up the mountains that overlook Kobe via the ropeway that lets you enjoy the sparkling night views.
Book the Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens Ticket & Ropeway Ticket
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2. Takarazuka
Photo by Pixta
Where can you get your fill of hiking, natural beauty, and musical theatre all in one place? Why, the city of Takarazuka, of course!
Located to the northwest of Umeda and accessible via the Hankyu Line, Takarazuka is a great place to enjoy scenic hiking, excellent hot springs within reach, as well as its world-class all-female theatre troop! The Takarazuka Grand Theatre is a highlight of a town that combines a classic European charm with traditional Japanese temples.
Be sure to also visit the museum dedicated to Takarazuka-born manga creator Tezuka Osamu while you're in town as well.
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3. Nara
Photo by Pixta
Surround yourself with some of the most polite deer you'll ever see and take in the sights of one of Japan's premier capitals of traditional arts and crafts - Nara!
Home to a vast array of temples and shrines, Nara is well known for the feat of ancient engineering and artistry that is the Great Buddha statue of Todaiji Temple. And it isn't until you walk among the temple halls that you'll get a feel for the immense size of this marvel of ancient Japan.
While you're there, why not try your luck and squeeze through an opening supposedly as big as the Great Buddha statue's nostril and possibly win yourself sickness immunity for a whole year?
But the fun in Nara doesn't stop at temples; with great gardens and some of the cutest furry animal friends, the city is a great visit for those who enjoy wide vistas of green!
Book the Todaiji, Nara Park, & Kasuga Taisha Shrine Tour from Osaka
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4. Awaji Island
Photo by Pixta
A whirlwind tour that condenses the most photogenic spots on Awaji Island - what could be better?
This day tour to Awaji from Osaka is a chance to see some of the most beautiful seaside areas of the island including the awe-inspiring Akashi Kaiko Bridge connecting the Hyogo coast and Awaji Island.
Near the bridge is a popular photo spot that has been called the "Stairway of Happiness" but is actually known as the Awajishima Terrace. This beautiful alabaster staircase walks up to a doorway-shaped frame that makes for a really creative backdrop for visitors to memorialize their trip to Awaji Island.
As a bonus, this tour also includes an all-you-can-eat buffet that encompasses yakiniku (grilled dishes) as well as many of the seafood delights of Awaji.
Book the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge & Awajishima Terrace Day Tour from Osaka
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5. Tottori: Sand Dunes and the Sand Museum
Photo by Pixta
This particular day tour from Osaka to Tottori takes us all the way over to the Sea of Japan side of Honshu to see some striking coastal scenery along with art that is sculpted in a unique medium: sand.
The main draw of Tottori is the amazing sand dunes that visitors can explore on foot or even by taking a camel across the landscape.
Just nearby is the Sand Museum where renowned artists from both Japan and around the world use sand to sculpt beautiful statues. Usually, the museum houses exhibits created according to a certain theme. With themes that have encompassed things like Renaissance art to the wonders of ancient Egypt, the museum never fails to impress.
After wandering around the dunes, you can also enjoy the amazing Uratomi Coastline with its striking sea caves and eroded islands sculpted by the wind and the waves!
Book the Uratomi Coast Cruise, Tottori Sand Dunes & Sand Museum Day Tour from Osaka
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6. Koyasan (Mount Koya)
Photo by Pixta
Located deep in the forests of Wakayama lies a sacred site for Japanese Buddhism: Koyasan (Mount Koya). This is one of the best places to experience long trail hiking through some spectacular nature.
If you're looking for a somewhat unique experience why not try a traditional stay at one of the many temples on the mountain? Here you can enjoy vegetarian Buddhist cuisine known as Shojin Ryori.
Also, you can visit the famous Okunoin Temple which is where Shingon Buddhists believe their teacher's spirit still resides amidst a room full of eternally burning lamps.
Book the Koyasan and Wakayama Day Tour from Osaka
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7. Kumano Kodo
Photo by Pixta
Looking for a hiking trip that combines the scenic splendor of Wakayama's forests with the historic traditions of Japanese religion? The Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route might just be the trip for you.
Highlights of the trip include the striking scenery of Seigantoji Temple with its vermillion pagoda that rises above the mists of the Wakayama forests.
Right beside the temple is the spectacular Nachi Falls, which cascades majestically into the valley below. Historically the falls were used as a means of helping Buddhist monks develop discipline while they meditated underneath the raging waters.
One of the best things about this Kumano Kodo day tour is the fact visitors will get to explore the walking trails with their own personal guide!
Book the World Heritage Kumano Kodo Walking Tour
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8. Mt. Gozaisho and Nabana no Sato Illuminations in Mie
Photo by Pixta
This trip to Mie takes you a little bit out of Osaka by bus. Best experienced during autumn or winter, the trip takes visitors up to the beautiful Mt. Gozaisho, allowing them to ride the scenic ropeway up to see either a brilliant carpet of vibrant red leaves spread out before them or the stark beauty of snow-white peaks.
Mt. Gozaisho also has an amazing frozen waterfall that is worth visiting to see a formation that looks like a cathedral pipe organ made out of pure crystal.
After descending the mountain visitors can go and view the Nabana no Sato Illuminations that are a mainstay of the winter months in Mie. Named the "largest illumination in Japan" for three years running, the gardens boast an awe-inspiring scene of Mt. Fuji lit up in stunning neon colors that change across the seasons.
Book the Gozaisho Ropeway & Nabana no Sato One Day Tour from Osaka or Kyoto
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9. Amanohashidate and Ine
Photo by Pixta
This particular trip takes you to the northern edge of Kyoto Prefecture to visit a quaint spot by the sea that is beautiful in every season. Amanohashidate translates directly as the "bridge to heaven" and is seen as one of the most scenic locations in all of Japan along with Miyajima Island in Hiroshima and the pine-dotted isles of Matsushima in Miyagi.
The spot also comes with a very unique recommended viewing method which involves you bending down with your head between your legs to view the magnificent vista.
While you're up there visiting the spot why not stop by the fishing hamlet of Ine? There you can wander the quiet seaside streets and enjoy a slower pace of life lived in tranquility by the Sea of Japan. Who knows it may have you pining for a sea change in your own life!
Book the Amanohashidate & Ine Funaya One Day Tour from Osaka/Kyoto
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10. Naruto Whirlpools and Bizan Ropeway
Photo by Pixta
One of the most striking natural phenomena in Awaji is the great churning whirlpools that lie off the coast of Tokushima Prefecture. Just a little way from Awaji Island, these beautiful swirling currents let visitors see the raw power of nature right up close.
This one-day bus tour from Osaka allows visitors to take a boat out to see the Naruto Whirlpools up close and from above on a designated walkway.
Afterward, the tour takes visitors to see the spectacle of energetic Awa-Odori dances at the Awa-Odori Kaikan. This intricately performed group dance is a lively feature of summer festivals across Japan; the museum allows visitors to see the origins, history, and evolution of the dance right up close all year round.
Finally, cap off your visit by riding the Bizan Ropeway up to the mountain gazing out over the cityscape of Awaji and Tokushima.
Book the Naruto Whirlpools, Awa Odori Kaikan, & Awaji Island Tour from Osaka
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Osaka: Your Gateway to Fun!
One day you could be staring into the roiling maelstrom of the whirlpools near Awaji and the next you could be hiking through the scenic forests of Wakayama. Western Japan really does cater to a great number of awesome little day trips that are perfect to pack as part of a trip around Osaka or, for the more adventurous, to try as a jam-packed whirlwind itinerary all on its own!
Klook offers excellent tours and tickets for covering these destinations. With direct buses that take you from the heart of Osaka to some of the most inaccessible locations in western Japan, it has never been a more convenient time to try and visit these awesome destinations and see the historic and natural beauty of the Kansai region!
Travel writer and assistant editor at MATCHA with extensive travel around the Osaka, Kyoto, and Wakayama areas. A Kansai insider who knows their Akashiyaki from their Takoyaki, Iain enjoys getting authentic stories from traditional craftspeople and interesting creators. Particularly fond of temples and shrines, Iain delves deep into the crossroads of tradition and modernity in his eight-plus years living and writing about Japan.
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