Day Trips & Excursions in Kansai

Visit the best parts of Takayama & Shirakawago with a private English speaking guide. You will be taken to the Sanmachi Street in Takayama, where you'll see the old castle town which has many restaurants, souvenir shops. Walk along the traditional local food street where Mitarashi Dango (rice dumpling in a sweet soy sauce) is the local specialty. The tour will also go to Shirakawago to see Japanese traditional buildings. You will learn the history of Shirakawago, how people have remained those life style. Take a photos of the well-preserved Shirakawago, then your tour will end at Kanazawa.

Travel round-trip from Kyoto by high-speed bullet train to take in Hiroshima's historic sites, including exhibits about the 1945 atomic bomb that devastated the city. Start your visit on a lighter note, traveling by boat to Miyajima, a famously beautiful island that is home to the revered Itsukushima Shrine. Have lunch there, then return to the city to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum. Your expert guide shares important details about Hiroshima's heartbreaking history and remarkable recovery throughout this unforgettable 12-hour tour.

Discover the historic environs of Nara, ancient capital of Japan, as you explore Buddhist temples, shrines and the famous Nara deer park on this 5.5-hour excursion from Kyoto. Visit Todaji Temple, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan and home to the country's largest Buddha statue, before seeing Kasuga Shrine, which features over 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns. Then stop by Nara Park, a 1,250-acre reserve that's home to more than 1,000 free-roaming deer. Your Nara excursion also includes pickup from select Kyoto hotels, a guide and all entrance fees.

Experience the top cultural highlights in the ancient city of Kyoto during this 6-hour tour departing by train from Osaka. Head out with a local guide to explore two UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites, including Nijo Castle and Kinkaku-Ji (also known as the Golden Pavilion). Then spend additional time visiting Kyoto's regal Imperial Palace before browsing for authentic souvenirs at the Kyoto Handicraft Center. This guided excursion of Kyoto also includes pickup from select hotels in Osaka, round-trip JR rail ticket from Osaka to Kyoto and all admission fees.

See the historical highlights of Hiroshima on a comprehensive full-day tour from Osaka, led by a knowledgeable guide. Ride on the super-speed bullet train to Hiroshima then board a boat to the idyllic Miyajima Island, home to the splendid Itsukishima Shrine. Return to Hiroshima to feel emotionally stirred by the magnificent Hirsohima Peace Memorial Park and Museum, in which intriguing exhibitions speak eloquently of the atomic bomb dropped on the city in 1945. Fully immerse yourself in Japan's fascinating culture during this enriching excursion. Enjoy convenient transportation from a central Osaka location on this tour.