The Open Road Travel

As one of the top destinations for tourists visiting Japan, Osaka is packed with tons to see and do. However, when planning your trip to this part of the country, you might want to cast your attention outside of the city limits too.

Osaka is super conveniently located, surrounded by other popular destinations on all sides. Just a short car or train journey from cities like Kyoto and Kobe, Osaka is the perfect base for exploring out into the whole region. It also makes an ideal stopping point for any road-trip around southern Japan.

Today I’ll be taking you through some of the best places to visit from Osaka, including various cities and sights in the surrounding area. Whilst there’s plenty to keep you entertained within Osaka itself, I’ll show you what’s worth the effort of travelling just a little further afield.

The area around Osaka Bay is known to have been inhabited by humans for thousands of years. Remnants of ancient cultures in the area have been dated back as far as 300 BCE.

It’s little wonder that the area has spent the intervening millennia developing into a rich hub of cultural, economic, and political centres.

Osaka City has been a major port since around the 4th century, even spending a time as the imperial capital before the title was shifted to nearby Kyoto. Kyoto then reigned as the capital city for over a thousand years until the status was granted to Tokyo instead.

Along with being an economic and political centre, the region around Osaka is an agricultural powerhouse too. Particularly notable is the world-famous Kobe beef, which is raised in the neighbouring prefecture.

Like most of Japan, the landscape around Osaka is full of natural beauty, best appreciated during the colourful spring and autumn seasons. This is also when the climate is most favourable, without the sticky humidity of summer or damp chill of winter.

Many choose to plan their trip to Japan around the blooming of the cherry blossoms, which typically occurs in late March for the Osaka region, making this the best time to visit for many people.

Many of the historic sites in the area are best viewed when the trees are changing. The beauty of the traditional architecture of sites like Himeji Castle or Fushimi Inari Shrine is enhanced by the vibrant colours of Japan’s spring and autumn blooms.

Whether you just have an extra day to fill, are plotting places to stop along your road-trip or backpacking adventure, or will be in Osaka for a while and have time for an overnight stay, I’ll introduce you to the best places to turn your attention.

The area is home to some of the top attractions in all of Japan, so there’s plenty to tempt you out of the city.

One of the closest cities to Osaka bears a name that any foodie or avid carnivore will be familiar with, Kobe. Just 34 kilometres (21 miles) west around Osaka Bay, the journey from Osaka to Kobe is just a half hour’s drive or a 22-minute train ride from Osaka station.

If you really want to save time, you can take the bullet train from Shin-Osaka station, which will have you in Kobe in just 12-minutes, but it’s considerably more expensive.

Being so close and convenient to get to, Kobe is the perfect destination if you just have an extra day to spare and want a quick adventure outside of Osaka. It’s even close enough to pop over just for lunch or dinner; a popular option considering the city’s culinary connections.

Kobe is, of course, best known for its association with Kobe Beef. This premium breed of wagyu beef is only raised in the region around Kobe, making it a novelty for its rarity as well as its quality.

Restaurants throughout the city celebrate the world-renowned meat, offering diners an opportunity to sample some of the best beef in the world, prepared expertly just miles from where it was reared.

Whilst Kobe beef is definitely one of the main attractions of the city, it’s far from all Kobe has to offer. Even non-meat eaters can find plenty to love about Kobe.

The city is home to one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan. Ikuta Shrine, dedicated to the goddess Wakahiru-me, was founded back in the 3rd century. Embodying almost 2,000 years of history and culture, Ikuta alone is well worth the short journey from Osaka.

If you’re looking for more modern attractions, head along to Kobe Port Tower.

Standing at 108 metres (354 feet) tall, and lit up in neon orange lights, the tower is pretty impossible to miss. Located right by the waterfront, the view from the observation deck at the top is spectacular, providing a panorama across all of Kobe and Osaka Bay.

The port is especially striking at night when the illuminations really pop. Just across the water from the tower is the Mosaic Ferris Wheel, another fun attraction that provides both a vibrant display and impressive views.

The location of the Centurion allows it to boast arguably some of the best views in Kobe.

Situated out on Port Island, just across Kobe Bridge, many of the rooms face across the water towards the colourful skyline of Kobe Port. The views aren’t the only impressive feature of the Centurion.

The hotel has everything you could want to relax in style and luxury. Along with the plush and spacious rooms, there are plenty of communal areas to take advantage of. The coffee shop, restaurant, bar, and lounge areas provide plenty of space to relax.

The onsite bathhouse is particularly notable – a distinctly Japanese feature that is nonetheless quite uncommon in contemporary Japanese hotels. It pairs well with the hotel’s sauna and well-equipped fitness centre.

Just beyond Kobe we have Himeji. Around 90 kilometres (55 miles) west of Osaka, the journey only takes about an hour, either by car or train. Himeji is the perfect choice if you just want a quick trip to fill a spare day.

Himeji is a small city, with just over 500,000 residents, lending it a more local vibe than bustling Osaka. A trip to Himeji offers a glimpse into more typical, everyday life in Japan than bustling, urban Osaka.

The main attraction in Himeji is, of course, Himeji Castle. The original structure of Himeji Castle dates back to 1333, but it underwent significant remodelling in the following centuries.

The castle is in impeccable condition, especially considering its age. It’s well known as arguably the best-preserved castle of its era and architectural style, which is what makes it one of the top attractions in all of Japan.

The Himeji City Museum of Art is right next door to the castle, so you can easily fit both into a day trip. If you have a little extra time, Himeji is also home to some interesting niche museums. The Torino museum is a must visit for car enthusiasts.

The Azuki museum is a good one for foodies.

Along with exhibits on the cultivation and production of azuki beans – a common ingredient in Japanese sweets and desserts – the museum also offers cooking experiences and a restaurant where you can enjoy various meals, snacks, sweets, and beverages celebrating azuki beans.

As far as maximising your time in Himeji, you’d struggle to find a more convenient location than the Richmond Hotel. Located right by Himeji Station, you can drop off your bags and get exploring the city in no time. The 24-hour, automated check-in desks will save you even more time.

The hotel itself is the pinnacle of contemporary comfort. The rooms are bright and spacious, with modern en suites. Each room has a mini fridge and electric kettle, and a vending machine and microwave are available in the dining area.

The buffet breakfast comes highly recommended by previous guests.

East of Osaka is another famous town, Nara. Like most of the nearby cities, Nara has a long history stretching back to the 8th century. The town is packed with historic shrines and temples.

One of the most popular temples in Nara is Todai-ji, which dates back to the city’s founding and houses a massive bronze Buddha statue.

Nara’s main claim to fame though, is the population of semi-tame deer that roam Nara Park. Visitors can buy rice crackers from stalls around the park and the deer will eat them right out of your hand.

The most impressive spectacle is how the deer have learnt to bow to the tourists to request a cracker. If a deer approaches and ducks its head low, that means it’s asking for a treat. You can even nod your head and get an answering nod from the deer. Adorable.

Nara is just a mere 32 kilometres (20 miles) away from Osaka. The journey takes only half an hour by car, or a little over an hour by train. If your only goal is to feed the deer and maybe visit a historic, scenic temple or two, you can easily get there and back again in a day.

Hotel Naranohamori is located just a few minutes’ walk from Nara Park. Staying here means you can maximise your time spent greeting the deer and exploring the beautiful landscape.

The rooms are decorated in an elegant, contemporary style with traditional flourishes.

Western style bedding is the standard, but Japanese style rooms with futons and traditional tatami flooring are also available if you want to immerse yourself in local culture.

Air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, flat screen televisions, and en suite bathrooms are standard. Each room also has its own microwave and minifridge.

Any visitor to Japan should be familiar with its historic capital, Kyoto. Crammed with historic and cultural attractions, Kyoto is a top destination in its own right, with plenty to see and do to fill a whole vacation.

But at only 55 kilometres (34 miles) away, it also fits perfectly with a visit to Osaka. Taking just under an hour by train or car, and only 13 minutes by bullet train, hopping between these two major cities is hardly any effort at all.

If you’re only popping over to Kyoto for a day or two, you’ll really want to prioritise which attractions to squeeze in. The Fushimi Inari Shrine should definitely top your list.

Known for its tunnels of torii gates, Fushimi Inari is one of the most venerated shrines and most popular attractions in Japan.

A visit to Gion is also a must. Gion is probably the most famous neighbourhood in Kyoto. The historic high-end entertainment district of Kyoto, this is where to go to spot elaborately dressed Geisha wandering around streets lined with traditional buildings. It’s a charming time warp.

Whilst in Gion, you might as well swing by Yasaka Shrine. One of the oldest sites in the city, the temple’s many lanterns make it especially lovely after dusk.

There’s tons to see and do in Kyoto, depending on how much time you have to spare. Check out my recommendations for the top ten things to do in Kyoto, as well as the best areas to stay in Kyoto, if you plan to enjoy a longer trip in the city.

Best Hotel To Stay At In Kyoto – M's Hotel Kyoto Station Kasuga

Staying right at the heart of the city is paramount if you want to make the most of a short trip to Kyoto, and you’d struggle to find somewhere more central than M’s Hotel Kasuga.

The hotel is located just minutes from Kyoto Train Station, which not only makes getting to your accommodation a breeze, but also means you’ve got plenty of transport links on hand to whip around the sights.

Each room has a minifridge and electric kettle, whilst a microwave is available in the common area. Air-conditioning, a flatscreen TV, en suite bathrooms, and complimentary Wi-Fi are all standard.

Osaka has plenty of its own attractions to keep you busy for however long your stay is. However, if you do have the time and opportunity to get out and explore the surrounding region during your stay in Osaka, you should definitely take it.

With so many of Japan’s top attractions right on Osaka’s doorstep, you’ll kick yourself if you miss out on seeing them when they’re so close.

With the power of Japan’s famously reliable public transport, you should have no trouble exploring the area around Osaka as easily as the attractions within the city itself.