Top 5 Day Trips from Kyoto

Kyoto city is home to some of the most beautiful temples, shrines, and most famous places in Japan. But we know how every tourist flocks to Kyoto in high season, and sightseeing spots can get rather crowded, leaving you gasping for some fresh air.  

If you’re already in Japan’s eastern area (known as Kansai), you should take advantage of its convenient location and grab the opportunity to venture further to discover places with fewer people on a day tour or a half day tour.  

Kyoto Station is well-connected to charming places and neighbouring prefectures by both local and bullet trains. Here, we’ll take a look at some of the best options to visit on a day trip. At the end, we’ll also explore the best ways to get around, and some potential tours to consider for your Japan trip.  

To the Coast: Ine Day Trip from Kyoto  

You may not realise this, but Kyoto is actually both the name of the city and the wider prefecture that stretches all the way out to the sea. 

Within the wider Kyoto prefecture, there are plenty of interesting towns and areas full of their own unique culture. One such place is the coastal town of Ine. The area is about 3-4 hours by public transport from Kyoto city, or two hours by car. 

One of the most iconic aspects of Ine is the funaya houses. This literally means “boat houses” and refers to the homes right on the waterfront that traditionally housed boats on the lower floor. 

There are over 200 of these homes still around today, and a few of them now work as accommodation, allowing a unique insight into the fishing town’s way of life. 

It’s perhaps not surprising to know that there are a lot of boat tours and activities in Ine, but the peaceful area also makes for a lovely place to go for a cycle or walking tour. Visitors can enjoy a scenic canal boat ride on the Ine Bay Cruise Ferry to explore the waterfront and its traditional boat houses. The area is home to many shrines and natural sights, as well as some seasonal cultural festivals, too. 

Given the distance and unique accommodation options, you may find that an overnight trip would be more suited to your travel style, though! 

For Tea and Temples: Uji Day Trip from Kyoto  

If you want as little travelling as possible while still getting away from most of the crowds of Kyoto, Uji is another beautiful area still within Kyoto prefecture. And yet, it’s just over 15 minutes from Kyoto Station! 

Uji is an important place for Japanese green tea, as it was here that a Japanese monk was said to have brought back tea from China centuries ago. What was then cultivated in the area became known as Uji tea, a type of Japanese tea with a long history that is still famous to this day. 

Because of that, the area is now filled with tea houses and restaurants serving all sorts of unique matcha dishes. You’ll find matcha ice cream and green tea noodles, but a local favourite is cha dango (sweet green tea rice dumplings). 

As well as the amazing matcha options everywhere you look, there are also some incredible sightseeing spots, and the area is lovely to walk around. Uji is home to several famous places such as Byodoin Temple and Ujikami Shrine, making it a must-visit for anyone exploring Kyoto.  

The most famous attraction is the bright red Byodoin Temple, but there are other shrines and temples in the area, too, like Kōshō-ji Temple and Ujikami Shrine. These are both across the picturesque Uji River, amid a hiking area and observation deck.  

For the Deer: Nara Day Trip from Kyoto  

You’ve probably heard of the famous deer park in Japan, where everyone is feeding deer on the park grounds. That is mostly in the beautiful Nara Park and Todai-ji Temple grounds. 

Nara is the first day trip, or half day trip suggestion on our list outside of Kyoto prefecture and is another place name that refers to both the city and the wider Nara prefecture. To get to the park and temple, it is about an hour on public transport from Kyoto Station via the Nara Line, which offers a direct and regular service, with the closest train station being Nara Kintetsu. From there, you can walk or take the bus to the park grounds. 

Once in Nara Park, you can buy special shika-senbei, “deer crackers” from carts at the park to give to the deer. If you bow to them, they may even bow back to ask for the treat. But be careful… Some are a bit more aggressive than others and may try to take the whole pack from you! 

The deer also wander further from the temples, shines, and park grounds. While these ones usually prefer not to be approached, they can also make for some great pictures further from the crowd, such as on the walking trails of Mt. Wakakusa, or around Kasuga Taisha shrine. 

The further you venture from central Nara, the more natural and cultural sights there are to see! 

For the Beef: Kobe Day Trip from Kyoto  

If you’ve only heard of one type of wagyu beef in Japan, it’s probably Kobe beef! And with the city of Kobe just an hour’s train ride from Kyoto, it makes for a great day trip, or a good stopover on your way to your next location. 

Kobe is located in Kyoto’s neighbouring Hyogo prefecture. That is where the famous cattle are bred, and the meat must pass high standards of fat marbling to earn the Kobe beef name. 

If you want to try some Kobe beef for yourself, there is even an official website for registered Kobe beef establishments! 

But of course, Kobe isn’t just about the beef. There are a lot of interesting sightseeing spots too. One of the most well-known is Kobe Port, and the bright red Kobe Port tower. The port area is a lovely place to stroll and explore, particularly at night when the city lights reflect on the water. Near Kobe Port, you will also find Japan's second biggest China Town. Walking around Kitano-cho and Mt. Rokko - easily reachable by ropeway - are also lovely ways to spend the day.  

All in all, Kobe offers all the delicacies and sights, from the Kobe beef to the Chinese flavours, and from the bustling port area of Kobe Port and the European architecture of Kitano to the scenic views from Mt. Rokko. 

For the Lake Views: Lake Biwa Day Trip from Kyoto  

Despite being in the neighbouring prefecture of Shiga, Lake Biwa is actually our closest day trip from Kyoto city – Otsu Station is just 10 minutes from Kyoto Station! 

From there, there are lots of different ways to make the most of the lake, such as cycling around the lake, going on a sightseeing cruise, or finding a pretty viewpoint for some pictures on a clear day. Visitors can enjoy a leisurely boat ride to take in the picturesque views of Lake Biwa. As there is a circuit that goes around the entire lake, it’s a popular cycling route with a number of bike rental options nearby. 

One of the main points of interest near Otsu Station, other than the lake itself, is Enryaku-ji Temple, with a history spanning back 1,200 years.  

If you have more time, head out to Shirahige Shrine and Biwako Terrace, which is about a 40-minute drive away or 2 hours by public transport. Biwako Terrace is a beautiful hilltop viewing area with its own ropeway, an “infinity lounge”, and a welcoming restaurant. 

Getting to Your Destination from Kyoto 

Kyoto Station is a major transportation hub in Kyoto, offering various options to reach your desired destination for a day trip. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate: 

For any of these Kyoto day trips, you should make sure to plan your day in advance, as time can quickly get away from you when you don’t feel like you’ve gone too far! 

Travelers can take a direct train from Kyoto to nearby destinations such as Nara Station, which is conveniently located near many of Nara's key attractions.  

Public transportation is great from Central Kyoto, but in some cases the distance means having to change a lot of times or get on a bus, which may or may not have any English support. For further away spots, it may be best to rent a car or to book a day trip tour from Kyoto. 

Renting a car will require that you have an international driving license, which for residents of some countries is very simple to get. With that, you can pre-book a car online. 

Booking Tours from Kyoto in Advance  

Otherwise, a pre-booked tour might be the way to go! This way you know that all the transport and itinerary has been handled, leaving you with the only job of enjoying yourself.  

At Japanspecialist, we can help you with adding an excursion to your itinerary, like our Kyoto and Nara in a Day tour, or our Kyoto Uji Tour. Get in touch about creating a tailor-made itinerary with us to incorporate any of the day trip locations we’ve covered here.  

However you choose to explore, make the most of your time in Kyoto by visiting its neighbours, too.