People visiting Kyoto for the first time should have more than enough to keep them busy. But if you’re staying long enough and want to go beyond the city’s limits, then you’ll find many interesting destinations you can visit on a day trip from Kyoto.
For some, Osaka doesn’t warrant as long a stay but its central location and many transportation options make it an ideal base to explore the Kansai region and beyond.
Fukuoka may not have as many attractions as some of the more popular destinations in Japan but it is home to one of the busiest international airports in the country. This makes it a prime entryway into the island of Kyushu and a convenient base for day trips.
Entering the alleyway into Nagamachi District instantly took me to a different era. Everything looked different, even the light seemed to change. Walking into what felt like Edo-period Japan reminded me of why I was so enthusiastic to visit Kanazawa in the first place.
There’s always something going on in Tokyo, but if you’d like to go beyond the city’s limits, then there are many excellent destinations you can go to on day trips.
Peace Memorial Museum and the Atomic Bomb Dome are the city’s most famous attractions but as I would later learn, they’re hardly the only reasons you should visit Hiroshima.
I was on a press trip to the Chubu region a few years ago when one of our Japanese guides said “there’s nothing in Nagoya”. I understood what she meant, I had heard it before, though I didn’t agree with her.
Nagasaki is a strange city. It’s strange in the sense that in many ways, it feels very “un-Japanese”. For one, it doesn’t seem to have the quirks that make Japan the endearingly eccentric country that it is. Things like giant mechanized robots and oddball restaurant concepts are nowhere to be found here. There’s no hi-tech subway system or young people sporting off-the-wall fashion trends.
I didn’t know what to make of Fukuoka at first. It’s a bit sterile in feel and lacking in the cultural attractions you’d expect from old Japan. Compared to more popular cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, and even Osaka, it felt more like a stopover, an entry point into Kyushu en route to more interesting destinations within the region.
To be honest, Osaka isn’t as big or exciting as Tokyo. It isn’t as culturally rich as Kyoto but it has a unique appeal that will charm any first-time visitor, especially if you love Japanese food!