Day Trip

Just 45 minutes from Kyoto and about an hour from Osaka, Nara is one of the most popular — and easiest — day trips in the Kansai region. It was Japan’s capital before Kyoto, which means the city is packed with historic temples and shrines, but most visitors come first for one thing: the hundreds of free-roaming deer that wander through Nara Park. Why Nara Is Worth the Trip Japan’s oldest capital city (710–784 AD), with UNESCO World Heritage temples still standing Nara Park is home to over a thousand wild sika deer, considered messengers of the gods in local Shinto belief Compact sightseeing area — most major sights are within walking distance of each other Easily combined with Kyoto or Osaka as a half-day or full-day trip Todai-ji Temple and the Great Buddha Todai-ji is Nara’s headline sight and one of the largest wooden buildings in the world. Inside sits the Daibutsu, a bronze Buddha statue over 15 meters tall, cast in the 8th century. ...

Tokyo could fill your whole trip — but spending one or two days exploring nearby towns gives you temples, hot springs, nature, and Mt. Fuji views without changing hotels. Here are the best day trips from Tokyo for first-time visitors, all reachable by train. Hakone — Hot Springs & Mt. Fuji Views About 1.5 hours from Tokyo, Hakone is the classic onsen (hot spring) escape. Soak in an onsen with mountain views Ride the Hakone Ropeway over volcanic valleys On clear days, see Mt. Fuji across Lake Ashi Tip: the Hakone Free Pass covers most local transport Kamakura — Temples & the Great Buddha About 1 hour away, Kamakura is a seaside town full of history. ...