Day Trips & Excursions in Kansai

Find an oasis of peace amid the hustle and bustle of Osaka. Escape the busy crowds on an intimate small group tour of Osaka's oldest and most famous shrines and temples. After making your offerings, enjoy sake and appetizers with your new friends. Then see Osaka from above at the Tsutenkakku tower. This all inclusive tour lets you relax while your guide does the navigating.

Discover the historic environs of Nara, ancient capital of Japan, as you explore Buddhist temples, shrines and the famous Nara deer park on this 5.5-hour excursion from Kyoto. Visit Todaji Temple, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan and home to the country's largest Buddha statue, before seeing Kasuga Shrine, which features over 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns. Then stop by Nara Park, a 1,250-acre reserve that's home to more than 1,000 free-roaming deer. Your Nara excursion also includes pickup from select Kyoto hotels, a guide and all entrance fees.

Tea ceremony, temple spotting and transport by train: do all three on this tour of historic Uji from Kyoto. After traveling to the city by train, walk to iconic Ujibashi Bridge with a guide, passing through Nakanoshima Park, and stop at a Taihoan teahouse to enjoy the important business of taking tea. Before your return to Kyoto, visit Byōdō-in, Uji's striking Buddhist temple, which dates to the Heian period, and hear about its history from your guide.

Discover the historic environs of Nara, a UNESCO World Heritage site, as you explore its temples, shrines and famous deer park on this 6.5-hour excursion from Osaka. Visit Todaji Temple, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan, before seeing Kasuga Shrine, which features over 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns. Then stop by Nara Park, a 1,250-acre reserve that's home to more than 1,000 free-roaming deer. Your Nara excursion also includes pickup from select Osaka hotels, rail tickets between Osaka and Nara, a guide and all entrance fees.

Explore Kyoto and Nara with a photographer guide, and have your photos taken by a pro as you learn about the cities. With all the key shrines and temples included in the itinerary, you're sure to have a selection of beautiful backdrops to your photos. Strike a pose by the Golden Pavilion or opt for casual in-action shots at the gates of Fushimi Inari Shrine. All photos are delivered in JPEG format a few days after the tour.

Tofu came from China during the Nara Period (710 - 794) and was used in vegetarian dishes served at the temple. It became a common food for the general public during the Muromachi Period (1336 - 1573), and a writing from that time shows that yudofu had become a Nanzenji specialty by Edo Period (1603 - 1868) to a point where all travelers would try yudofu.Junsei serves tofu that has rich flavors which come from being made using soybeans produced in Japan with a special sauce. Please savor the natural sweetness of the tofu itself and the hint of bitterness of soybeans in its aftertaste.

Explore picturesque Nara on a private and personalised experience. Your Local Host will show you Nara's highlights like the Todai-ji Temple as well as revealing hidden gems and the most beautiful spots in the city. Visit stunning Shinto shrines, sacred Buddhist sites and stroll through peaceful gardens and along forest paths, as well as enjoying authentic Kansai cuisine. A day in Nara will feel like a holiday from your holiday!

If you've got limited time in Hiroshima, ensure you tick off all of the city's top attractions on a private 8-hour tour, which includes hotel pickup and drop-off. In a small group limited to six people, you'll visit the UNESCO-listed Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island, and Kintaikyo Bridge. Opt to take a ropeway to Miyajima's highest mountain (own expense) and spend time reflecting at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.

Get to know Kobe on a day-long walking tour, and discover its passion for street culture and sake. Led by a knowledgeable guide, the tour includes round-trip train transport between Osaka and Kobe, plus walks around the city's historical quarters and waterside parks. Sit down for a buffet lunch of both Western and Japanese treats, and then the best part: sample sake at Kobe's Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum.

Discover the wonders of Osaka during a full-day walking tour with an experienced guide. Travel from Kyoto on the JR train, then visit top sights including Osaka Castle and the Floating Garden Observatory - located 40 stories high in the Umeda Sky Building. After taking in the sweeping views, have lunch then join a 1-hour river cruise on the Okawa River that glides by the Twin Towers and City Hall of Nakanoshima lsle. Your tour includes lunch, entrance fees and round-trip transportation by train.

Make your day about sake and sightseeing with this Kobe excursion from Kyoto. After a train ride to the port town, take a guided walk through Kobe's Kitano quarters to see the historic 'Ijinkan,' or foreign mansions, that line the streets. Tuck into a buffet lunch, and then visit the waterside Meriken Park. Finish with a walk around Hakutsuru Sake Brewery to learn about the rice wine's history, production and place in Japanese customs.

Design the perfect multi-city day trip to visit Osaka, Kyoto, or Nara thanks to this customizable, 8-hour or 10-hour private tour. Enjoy access to a private vehicle and English-speaking driver as you create the ultimate day-long excursion, picking among top-tier highlights like Kyoto's Kinkaku-ji Temple and Nara's Great Buddha statue.

1. Visit the World Heritage Sites of Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima and Hiroshima's Atomic Bomb Dome on this leisurely tour. 2. Look forward to seeing wild deer in the untouched abundant nature of Miyajima.

See all of Kyoto and Nara's spectacular sights on a full-day sightseeing tour of the cities from Osaka. Accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, gain fascinating insight into the rich historical heritage of the region's legendary landmarks. Begin your cultural excursion with a guided tour of the ancient Nijo Castle, and then absorb the aesthetic majesty of both Kyoto Imperial Palace and Kinkaku-ji Temple. Revitalize with a traditional Japanese lunch then explore nearby Nara, home to majestic monuments like the Great Buddha of Tadoi-ji Temple and Kasuga Shrine.

Depart from Kyoto by train for a full-day walking tour of Himeji in Hyogo prefecture, starting at its top attraction: the exquisite Himeji Castle. Then sit down for a Japanese lunch. Afterward, travel to the Maiko Marine Promenade, a walkway that lines the Kobe side of Akashi Kaikyo Bridge - the longest suspension bridge in the world. Travel with your guide by train and on foot for an in-depth experience of these Japanese gems.

Travel round-trip from Kyoto by high-speed bullet train to take in Hiroshima's historic sites, including exhibits about the 1945 atomic bomb that devastated the city. Start your visit on a lighter note, traveling by boat to Miyajima, a famously beautiful island that is home to the revered Itsukushima Shrine. Have lunch there, then return to the city to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum. Your expert guide shares important details about Hiroshima's heartbreaking history and remarkable recovery throughout this unforgettable 12-hour tour.

Depart Kyoto to see UNESCO World Heritage Sites or other top attractions in either Kyoto, Nara, or Osaka during this private tour with the flexibility to customize your itinerary to your own preferences. Depending on your group size, you'll ride comfortably in a climate-controlled mid-sized passenger car or a mini-van equipped with convenient Wi-Fi.

Spend a day exploring historic neighborhoods, visiting temples, and shopping on a full-day tour from Osaka to Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe. You'll see the Arashiyama district, tour the the Kinkaku-ji and Nara Todaiji Temples, and take in the stores at Kobe MOSAIC. This full-day tour includes entrance fees, as well as pickup and drop-off at Umeda or Namba, a buffet or torisuki lunch, and an all-you-can-eat shabu shabu dinner.

This day bus trip from Osaka to Kyoto and Nara, is the perfect option for travelers with limited time in Japan. Save hours planning your route, and waiting for public transport, and instead enjoy a well planned itinerary. Choose from multiple convenient pickup points, and visit top highlights in Kyoto such as Arashiyama, and Todai-ji Temple. Nature lovers will adore meeting the wild deer in Nara Park.

Depart from Osaka by train for a full-day walking tour that visits Himeji in Hyogo prefecture. Visit its top attraction, Himeji Castle, then enjoy a lunch buffet that features both Japanese and Western cuisines. Afterward, continue to Akashi Kaikyo Bridge - the longest suspension bridge in the world. Walk along Maiko Marine Promenade, a passageway underneath the bridge's roadway on the Kobe side. Experience an in-depth introduction to these Japanese treasures as travel with your expert guide on foot and by train.