Day trips · Kyoto · Japan
5 best day trips from Kyoto
Where to go when you want a day away from Kyoto, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: PlusMinus, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Kyoto is Nara (About 45 minutes by train). The closest option is Kurama and Kibune, about 12 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 5
- Closest
- Kurama and Kibune (12 km)
- Most popular
- Nara
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nara | 42 km | About 45 minutes by train | Kintetsu limited express or JR Nara line from Kyoto Station | Families, First-timers, Culture |
| Uji | 15 km | About 20–30 minutes by train | JR Nara line or Keihan Uji line | Culture, Food lovers, Couples |
| Kurama and Kibune | 12 km | About 30 minutes by train | Eizan line from Demachiyanagi | Couples, Quiet stays, Culture |
| Osaka | 45 km | About 15–45 minutes by train | Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka, JR special rapid, or Hankyu and Keihan lines | Food lovers, Nightlife, Families |
| Himeji Castle | 130 km | About 1 hour by shinkansen | Shinkansen from Kyoto to Himeji | First-timers, Culture, Families |
The day trips
42 km · About 45 minutes by train
1.Nara
Japan's first permanent capital has Todai-ji with its giant bronze Buddha in one of the world's largest wooden buildings, Kasuga Taisha's lantern-lined paths and Nara Park, where more than a thousand deer roam.
- Getting there
- Kintetsu limited express or JR Nara line from Kyoto Station
- Best for
- Families, First-timers, Culture
15 km · About 20–30 minutes by train
2.Uji
Uji's Byodo-in, the Phoenix Hall pictured on the ten-yen coin, sits by the Uji River among shops selling some of Japan's most prized green tea. Try matcha sweets along Byodo-in Omotesando.
- Getting there
- JR Nara line or Keihan Uji line
- Best for
- Culture, Food lovers, Couples
12 km · About 30 minutes by train
3.Kurama and Kibune
Two mountain villages north of the city are linked by a forest trail of about 1.5 hours over the ridge from Kurama-dera to Kibune Shrine, with its lantern-lined steps. In summer, Kibune's restaurants serve meals on platforms over the stream.
- Getting there
- Eizan line from Demachiyanagi
- Best for
- Couples, Quiet stays, Culture
45 km · About 15–45 minutes by train
4.Osaka
Kyoto's brash neighbour is a food city of street stalls in Dotonbori, with Osaka Castle, the Kuromon market and Universal Studios Japan. Many travellers split their stay between the two.
- Getting there
- Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka, JR special rapid, or Hankyu and Keihan lines
- Best for
- Food lovers, Nightlife, Families
130 km · About 1 hour by shinkansen
5.Himeji Castle
Japan's finest original castle, a white UNESCO-listed keep from the early 17th century, stands a 15-minute walk from Himeji Station. Next door, Koko-en is a set of walled Edo-style gardens.
- Getting there
- Shinkansen from Kyoto to Himeji
- Best for
- First-timers, Culture, Families
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Buses to Kiyomizu-dera and Kinkaku-ji fill up; take the train to the nearest station and walk, or travel early.
- JR lines run to Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama and Nara; the Keihan line follows the east bank via Gion and Fushimi; the Hankyu line links downtown with Osaka and Arashiyama.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Kyoto?
Nara. Japan's first permanent capital has Todai-ji with its giant bronze Buddha in one of the world's largest wooden buildings, Kasuga Taisha's lantern-lined paths and Nara Park, where more than a thousand deer roam.
+How long does it take to get from Kyoto to Nara?
About 45 minutes by train — Kintetsu limited express or JR Nara line from Kyoto Station, about 42 km.
+How long does it take to get from Kyoto to Uji?
About 20–30 minutes by train — JR Nara line or Keihan Uji line, about 15 km.