Today’s question is: What is your favorite day trip from Kansai that no one seems to know about?
The typical Kansai itinerary covers three days in Kyoto, a day or two in Osak, a day in Nara, a visit to Himeji and Kobe, and perhaps stop at Koyasan. And for a good reason – those places cover historically important locations.
But for many people they seem crowded and a busy periods – overcrowded. You can of course go for hikes around Osaka, Kobe or Kyoto, or to sleepish towns and village in Kyotango area, but there are plenty of other destinations in the area.
So tell us what is your favorite day trip from Kansai that no one seems to know about.
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8 comments
Anything that involve Shiga prefecture. Hikone. Omi-Hachiman. Nagahama. Or even closer place like Ishiyama seems to be neglected.
Omi-Hachiman: multiple areas to visit – a historical canal district that’s closer to Kansai than Kurashiki, old merchant residences to visit, a surprising number of Meiji era buildings that blend Japanese and Western architecture, Mt. Hachiman with its shrines and hiking paths, cat island via ferry (Omishima).
Also considered:
* Iga-Ueno – actually well reconstructed castle, samurai children school and a ninja complex
* Mt. Hiei with Enryaku-ji – people forget about this hike and fairly spectacular temple
It’s not completely unknown, but Uji is my favourite place in Kyoto to escape the hoards of tourists. Check out the areas around Lake Biwa and Mt Hiei, too, cause the shrines and views there are just as nice as the things recommended to tourists, but with a lot more breathing room.
Yoshino in Nara prefecture is beautiful, but hardly anyone knows about it (they have limestone caves that you can take a tram through, which was really fun). I also prefer Okayama’s crow castle over Himeji’s herron, but that’s just personal preference. There are a lot less tour groups hanging around Okayama, tho, so it’s a good alternative if you’re tired of the beaten path.
For people into anime; Awajishima Anime Park is weirdly desserted of tourists. I know it’s not amazing or anything, but it’s a fairly quick train ride from Kobe so it’s worth checking out if you’re not pressed for time.
“No one” is probably a stretch as it does show up in itineraries here and there, but one of my favorite days in Kansai was hiking from Kibune to Kurama. Both of these are little villages and the hike between them is about 3-4 hours through nature.
Most people do it the other way around and start at Kurama Temple (which can be accessed via cable car), but what I did was go from Kibune via Kurama Temple to Kurama town and then visit the onsen there, which was pure bliss after the hike. They also have really good food in the hotel/ryokan adjacent to the onsen.
no one? arimasen!
But, not totally overrun, or maybe, often overlooked by the 2-5 day itineraries? Not saying you should consider them in the first few days, but…
– west-Kyoto (south of Arashiyama, VERY overlooked)
– Ohara (Northeast of Kyoto)
– Amanohashidate and
– Kinosaki
– Chikubu Island
– Shirahige Jinja + Sakamoto
– Hikone
I went to Ainokura and Shirakawago on my first trip to Japan and loved tatched roof villages. So when I went to Japan for the second time I wanted to go somewhere like that again, so I went to Miyama Kayabuki No Sato. I read that it’s actually quite famous with asian tourists. But there weren’t many people the day I went. It’s very quiet and peaceful. I went there early morning and end my day at Arashiyama late afternoon since it’s on same train line. It’s also very few people at Arashiyama around that time.
I won’t say no one know about it because I found out about it on blogs and there are tour buses to go there. However I do think it wasn’t widely known to others and usually people prioritize other main attractions in Kyoto.
South of Nara prefecture (ok, let’s say south of the urban area of Nara prefecture) ; Kashihara, Asuka, Sakurai, Uda, Gose. There is some great temples, hikes, traditional districts, historical locations…. and best of all, barely any foreign tourist.
South of Osaka prefecture ; Sakai, Tondabayashi (Jinnaimachi), there is likely more, just did not have time to do more.
People widely ignore south of these to prefectures appart from some really specific locations, like Mount Yoshino in Nara or crossing the whole South of Osaka to go to Mount Koya.
It’s not unknown but Kinosaki Onsen is a great side trip from Kyoto or Osaka. I think it’s best as a 1-2 night overnight but could be a (long) day trip.
– [Kansai Side Trip: Tattoo Friendly Kinosaki Onsen and Himeiji Castle](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/sna5au/kansai_side_trip_tattoo_friendly_kinosaki_onsen/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)
– You could also combine it with a trip to the [Amanohashidate Coast and Tottori Sand Dunes.](https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/1to3-days/tottori-kinosaki-amanohashidate-and-ine-2-day-sample-itinerary.html?amp)
Places that we didn’t make it to yet but are on our future visit list include:
– [Katsuo-ji](https://maps.app.goo.gl/BE8vNSPzESGPMxyN6?g_st=ic)
– [Japan’s Narrowest Train Station: Nakatsu Station](https://maps.app.goo.gl/RtYv8Tgz3LxiS8xT9?g_st=ic)
– [ROR Comedy Club](https://maps.app.goo.gl/y7etMjDxRKRs6UPNA?g_st=ic)
– [Day Trip to Kayabuki no Sato Thatch Roof Farmhouse Village](https://maps.app.goo.gl/JrFJm4mwQeJPdGFf9?g_st=ic)
– [Bloody Temple Ceilings of Kyoto (check recent Google Maps reviews though as when we were last in Kyoto a couple were closed for renovation)](https://www.japan-experience.com/all-about-japan/kyoto/temples-shrines/bloody-ceilings)
– [Gear Kyoto: A Must See Non-Verbal Performance](https://www.insidekyoto.com/gear-kyoto-a-must-see-non-verbal-performance)
– [Places in Kyoto Prefecture to see the ‘Sea of Clouds’](https://www.kyototourism.org/en/column/16952/)
– [Wazuka Green Tea Farms](https://Wazukahttps://maps.app.goo.gl/uLmFAwcTf2XNqEiP6?g_st=ic)
– [Murou Art Forest](https://maps.app.goo.gl/VW4mHwtUii4ZqcMH9?g_st=ic)