20 best day trip plan from Osaka: DIY day trip planner for the first timer to the advanced traveler

While staying in Osaka, why don’t you try to visit outside Osaka? But traveling with luggage may be a hassle for you, especially if you travel with senior(s) or small child(ren). If you want to minimize traveling with a luggage, just stay in one place and make day trip(s). That may be a solution for you.

There are many places where you can go as day trips from Osaka. You may know that you can visit Kyoto, Kobe and Nara. But we can go not only these places but also many more places.

In this post, I will pick 20 places where you can reach from Osaka by a public transportation. Some of the plans I will show you may not be the place to visit as a day trip, but I’d like to share them with you as an idea. I will tell you a suggested deal for a day trip. If you intend using JR Pass or other deals, I also tell you how much you can use it to make a day trip.

1. Kyoto

Kyoto is easy and very popular day trip destinations from Osaka. There are so many tourist places in Kyoto. It is impossible to cover all places in one day. I picked only “Big Names” and make one day trip sample itinerary.

Suggested itinerary

2. Nara

It is also easy place to visit as a day trip from Osaka. Nara is much easier than Kyoto. Because Nara is much smaller than Kyoto and most places can be accessed on foot from Nara station. You can get to Nara by either JR or Kintetsu Railway. But Kintetsu railway Nara station is much more convenient. Unless you use JR Pass or other JR deals, take Kintetsu railway to get there.

Suggested itinerary

Actuall you can do the trip to Nara in a half day. You can combine Nara and other place.

Southern part of Kyoto such as Uji, Fushimi Inari, are located on the way to Kyoto station. It is very easy to combine these and a trip to Nara

Kobe can also be combined with a trip to nara. It is totally opposite direction of Nara. But many Kintetsu Railway train continue to operate Kobe-Sannomiya station of Hanshin Railway. For example, in the sample itinerary above, Kintetsu Railway Rapid Express depart at 16:07 from Nara and arrive in Namba at 16:44. If you do not get off this train at Osaka-Namba and continue to travel, you will get to Kobe-Sannomiya station at 17:28.

Please find more information about a trip to Nara from the post below:

Nara access guide from Osaka, Kyoto, Kansai airport and Kobe by JR, Kintetsu Railway and Airport bus

Nara is one of popular places in Kansai area. This post explains you how to get Nara from several places in Kansai area.

jprail.com

2012.10.03

3. Kobe, Rokko and/or Arima Onsen

Kobe is an easy day trip destination along with Kyoto and Nara. Arima Onsen is located at the north of Kobe. It is one of the oldest hot springs in Japan. You can enjoy an onsen for a day trip if you like. Mt. Rokko is between Arima and Kobe. You can go up Mt. Rokko and see the spectaculer view of Kobe. You might see snow on top of Mt. Rokko in ther winter time.

I show you the sample itinerary which covers Kobe, Rokko and Arima Onsen. But you can remove Rokko, Arima and make it as a half day trip. You can combine Kobe and Nara. Himeji can also be combined with Kobe. I will explain you about Himeji after the trip to Kobe.

Suggested itinerary

Please find more information in the following post:

Guide to take trains in Kobe. How to choose the best route by train to get the major spots?

Kobe is one of popular places in Kansai region. This post explains you about the transportation in Kobe and access to Kobe.

jprail.com

2015.07.10

4. Himeji

It is well know as the place of World Heritage Site Himeji castle. I believe it is one of the spectactular castles in Japan.

I will give you a sample itinerary which covers Himeji castle, Kokoen garden and Mount Shosha. But you can visit only Himeji castle and visit Kobe in same day. Kobe is located on the way to Himeji.

Suggested itinerary

If you visit Kobe and Himeji in same day, please refer the link below:

How to access to Himeji and Kobe from Osaka

This post will explain you how to access to Himeji by trains. And you also can find the way to combine trip to HImeji with Kobe.

jprail.com

2014.07.26

5. Koyasan (Mt. Koya)

Koyasan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside Himeji Castle, and is known as the head temple of Zen Buddhism.

Only Nankai Railway is the way to get to Koyasan. JR pass and other JR deals do not help you to travel.

Suggested itinerary

Please find my trip report in the post below. I believe it helps you to create your trip plan:

Two days trip to Koyasan (Mt. Koya) and Wakayama from Osaka, Part 1 - Namba to Koyasan

I visited Koyasan and Wakayama in October, 2017. I wrote the beginning part of the trip from Osaka, Namba to Koyasan station in this post.

jprail.com

2017.11.15

6. Miyama

Miyama retains abundant nature and the oscenery of Japanese agricultural and mountain villages. It is very similar to Shirakawago, but it is more accessible and just about an hour from Kyoto, and has recently become known as an easily accessible place to see the scenery of the village.

Suggested itinerary

7. Hikone and Omi-Hachiman

Hikone Castle is one of the twelve castles which the original tower remains, and is also known as one of the five castles designated as a national treasure of Japan.

Omihachiman is known for an impressive scenery of the old townscape at Hachimanbori and superb view from Mt. Hachiman.

You can visit these places by JR trains

Suggested itinerary

8. Hieizan (Mt. Hiei) and Lake Biwa

Enryaku-ji temple in Mount Hiei is the head temple of the Tendai sect opened by Saicho. It is called the place of origin of Japanese Buddhism.

Koyasan is more popular as the tourist destination. But in the history of Japanese Buddhism, the importance of Enryakuji Temple in Hieizan is comparable to Koyasan.

Lake Biwa is the largest lake in Japan. You can enjoy the view of the lake from Mt. Hiei. And also Hamaotsu is located by the lake. It is a nice spot to take a break. You can take a cruise on the lake from Hamaotsu if you want.

Suggested itinerary

9. Wakayama

Kumano Sanzan and Shirahama are well known in Wakayama, but these places are a little far away and I recommend Wakayama city where you can easily enjoy.

Suggested itinerary

I got on these two railways in a day before. Please find my trip report in the link below:

Two days trip to Koyasan (Mt. Koya) and Wakayama from Osaka, Part 4 - small trip by lovely trains of Wakayama Dentetsu

I visit Koyasan and Wakayama in October, 2017. This post is the fourth part of my trip report which tells you the trip to take Wakayama Dentetsu Tama train to see the cat station master.

jprail.com

2017.12.07

10. Biwako Valley

Biwako Valley is a mountain resort located on Mt. Horai overlooking Lake Biwa. You can enjoy various outdoor activities in the summer time and snow mountain resort in the winter.

Suggested itinerary

11. Kinosaki Onsen

Kinosaki Onsen is one of the most famous hot springs in Japan. This year is 1300 years since Kinosaki opened.

Suggested itinerary

12. Amanohashidate and Ine

It is a plan to visit Amanohashidate which is one of the “Three Views of Japan”, and Ine, which is sometimes called “Venice in Japan”, in one day.

Suggested itinerary

13. Tottori Sand Dune

Suggested itinerary

14. Okayama, Kurashiki and/or Bitchu Takahashi

Okayama is only one hour away from Osaka by the Shinkansen. Kurashiki is located next to Okayama. You can get there by a local train in 10 minutes.

Binchu Takahashi is another 30 minutes away from Kurashiki. It is a small town with old townscapes and is also known for Matsuyama Castle, one of the 12 castles that still have the original castle tower. I believe it is wotrth visiting. But if you feel too much, you can cut off Bitchu Takahashi and make Okayama Kurashiki one day trip. It is much easier.

Suggested itinerary

15. Naoshima

Naoshima, which has been popular as an artistic island in recent years, is also a destination where you can make a day trip.

Suggested itinerary

16. Hiroshima and Miyajima

A day trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima seems to be too much. But it may be much easier than your thought.

Suggested itinerary

I have the other post which tells you about this day trip. You can find more information in the link below:

Sample itinerary of day trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima from Osaka/Kyoto

You can visit Hiroshima and Miyajima from Osaka or Kyoto as day trip. It seems to be far but it is feasible. This post explains you how to manage day trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima from Osaka.

jprail.com

2014.11.03

17. Takayama (or Kanazawa) and Shirakawago

Two very popular sites in Hida area are squeezed into a day trip plan. It is also possible to visit as a day trip from Osaka.

Suggested itinerary

You can combine Kanazawa and Shirakawago too. Please find the post below to get more information about this day trip.

Sample itinerary of day trip to Kanazawa and Shirakawago from Osaka or Kyoto

You can visit Kanazawa and Shirakawago as day trip from Osaka or Kyoto. This post explains you how to manage this day trip.

jprail.com

2015.08.30

18. Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

It is the world class mountain sightseeing route. It is quite difficult to get from Osaka to the Alpine Route, but a day trip is not impossible. It’s a pretty tight schedule, but see it as a reference.

This plan can be used for a day trip from Nagoya.

Suggested itinerary

19. Kurobe Gorge and Toyama

Catch the earliest Shinkansen train to get Kurobe-Unzakionsen statin. Change to a local train going into the Kurobe valley. Enjoy the stunning view from the open air carriage.

Suggested itinerary

20. Beppu and Yufuin

This plan is not recommended for everyone. It is a very tight schedule, and it takes a long time to travel, but please see it as the plan that you can fo so far in one day.

Suggested itinerary

Last word

When I was writing this post, more than 30 trip plans came up in my brain. It was very difficult to choose 20 plans. I understand you don’t agree with some or many of my choices, but I hope you find an idea to create your trip plan.