{"id":61409,"date":"2026-08-17T17:44:11","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T21:44:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/ive-traveled-beyond-japans-popular-tokyo-kyoto-osaka-route-there-are-4-cool-day-trips-id-actually-recommend\/17\/08\/2026\/"},"modified":"2026-08-17T17:44:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T21:44:11","slug":"ive-traveled-beyond-japans-popular-tokyo-kyoto-osaka-route-there-are-4-cool-day-trips-id-actually-recommend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/ive-traveled-beyond-japans-popular-tokyo-kyoto-osaka-route-there-are-4-cool-day-trips-id-actually-recommend\/17\/08\/2026\/","title":{"rendered":"I&#8217;ve traveled beyond Japan&#8217;s popular Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka route. There are 4 cool day trips I&#8217;d actually recommend."},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<ul class=\"col-body mb-4\">\n<li class=\"ml-4 safari:ml-6 list-disc\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">After <a data-ylk=\"slk:moving to Japan;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;evdesc:context_link_tap;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;moving to Japan&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yEventDescription&quot;:&quot;context_link_tap&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/moving-to-japan-not-what-we-expected-despite-planning-2026-3?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=yahoocom&amp;utm_medium=syndication&amp;utm_source=yahoo\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">moving to Japan<\/a>, I started taking day trips beyond the usual Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka travel circuit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 safari:ml-6 list-disc\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">Saitama was easy to get to from Tokyo, but felt like a completely different place.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 safari:ml-6 list-disc\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">Wakayama City, Kobe, and Nara are a few of my other favorite spots for food, scenery, and shopping.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">The <a data-ylk=\"slk:first time I visited Japan;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;evdesc:context_link_tap;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;first time I visited Japan&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yEventDescription&quot;:&quot;context_link_tap&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/first-trip-to-japan-mistakes-lessons-american-solo-traveler-2025-10?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=yahoocom&amp;utm_medium=syndication&amp;utm_source=yahoo\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">first time I visited Japan<\/a>, I followed the so-called Golden Route and visited three major tourist spots: Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">I immediately understood why these three cities were so popular. They all had delicious food, gorgeous temples, and seemingly endless things to see and do.<\/p>\n<div class=\"col-fullbleed mb-4 bg-marshmallow pb-5 dark:bg-ramones md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full items-center justify-center\" id=\"_R_249bmapklueknpf9mtbH1_\">\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><![CDATA[#_R_249bmapklueknpf9mtbH1_ { display: none; }\n@media screen and (max-width: 767.95px) {\n        #_R_249bmapklueknpf9mtbH1_ { display: flex; }\n        iframe { max-width: 100vw; }\n      }]]><\/style>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-body hidden dark:bg-ramones [&amp;:has(iframe[height='0'])]:mb-0 [&amp;:has(iframe[height='0'])]:pb-0 md:block\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\">\n<div class=\"flex hidden w-full items-center justify-center\" id=\"_R_449bmapklueknpf9mtbH1_\">\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><![CDATA[#_R_449bmapklueknpf9mtbH1_ { display: none; }\n@media screen and (min-width: 768px) {\n        #_R_449bmapklueknpf9mtbH1_ { display: flex; }\n        iframe { max-width: 100vw; }\n      }]]><\/style>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">Since moving here last year, though, I&#8217;ve been making a point to venture beyond the usual stops, hoping to see another side of Japan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">There are four day trips \u2014 all located within an hour or two of Japan&#8217;s <a data-ylk=\"slk:biggest cities;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;evdesc:context_link_tap;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;biggest cities&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yEventDescription&quot;:&quot;context_link_tap&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/biggest-cities-world-population-ranked-2023-8?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=yahoocom&amp;utm_medium=syndication&amp;utm_source=yahoo\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">biggest cities<\/a> \u2014 that I&#8217;d genuinely recommend.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"heading-mb col-body heading-text-style font-bold charcoal-color\" id=\"61d083e0-6cdc-4720-b999-69f48dab57a3\"><strong>Saitama felt more relaxed than Tokyo, but just as interesting to explore<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"relative col-body mb-2.5\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;expand&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;image-lightbox&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;lightbox-open&quot;}\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-modal=\"true\" aria-label=\"Image Lightbox\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-[4] size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-[0.875rem]\/[1.25rem] mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div><span class=\"[&amp;_p]:inline\"><\/p>\n<p>I loved visiting historic sites like Kawagoe Castle.tang90246\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">Saitama made it easy to see a relaxed, everyday side of Japan, just outside Tokyo. While there, I split my time between Omiya and Kawagoe, both of which were worth the visit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">Known as &#8220;Little Edo,&#8221; Kawagoe is famous for its historic buildings, now home to shops, sweets, and slower-paced sightseeing. I browsed shopping malls, vintage stores (including BIG TIME), and hobby shops with cool anime merch.<\/p>\n<div class=\"col-fullbleed mb-4 bg-marshmallow pb-5 dark:bg-ramones md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\">\n<div class=\"flex\" id=\"_R_2b9bmapklueknpf9mtbH1_\">\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><![CDATA[#_R_2b9bmapklueknpf9mtbH1_ { display: none; }\n@media screen and (max-width: 767.95px) {\n        #_R_2b9bmapklueknpf9mtbH1_ { display: flex; }\n        iframe { max-width: 100vw; }\n      }]]><\/style>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">In Kawagoe Old Town, many vendors sell Japanese sweet potato, a local specialty. I tried some homemade sweet-potato chips with flavored butter dips, which made for a delicious, crispy snack.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">I also visited Toki no Kane bell tower, Kawagoe Castle, and Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. Behind the shrine is the Shingashi River, lined with <a data-ylk=\"slk:cherry-blossom trees;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;evdesc:context_link_tap;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;cherry-blossom trees&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yEventDescription&quot;:&quot;context_link_tap&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/cherry-blossoms-around-the-world-photos-2025-3?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=yahoocom&amp;utm_medium=syndication&amp;utm_source=yahoo\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">cherry-blossom trees<\/a> that flowered in the spring.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">Before heading home, I grabbed ramen in Omiya and browsed Book Off Super Bazaar, a massive secondhand store packed with clothes, home goods, games, and <a data-ylk=\"slk:luxury items;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;evdesc:context_link_tap;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;luxury items&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yEventDescription&quot;:&quot;context_link_tap&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/luxury-goods-smart-investments-secondhand-birkin-rolex-louis-vuitton-realreal-2025-9?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=yahoocom&amp;utm_medium=syndication&amp;utm_source=yahoo\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">luxury items<\/a>. I found that pairing Kawagoe with Omiya rounded out the day perfectly.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"heading-mb col-body heading-text-style font-bold charcoal-color\" id=\"15a03394-eaa1-4292-b8a7-c4eb4d9ad378\"><strong>I found Kobe to be an easy, walkable day trip<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"relative col-body mb-2.5\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Buildings and businesses in downtown Kobe, Japan.\" width=\"976\" height=\"766\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/445df3dc43e6ccc3fc5893174f5a8172ede1ff0401faee31443e561ca8870a2a\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w976%3Bquality_80%3Bformat_webp\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fbusiness_insider_consolidated_articles_886%2Ff50f16634cddcf60d4070acfe0926ca0.jpg\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;expand&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;image-lightbox&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;lightbox-open&quot;}\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-modal=\"true\" aria-label=\"Image Lightbox\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-[4] size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-[0.875rem]\/[1.25rem] mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div><span class=\"[&amp;_p]:inline\"><\/p>\n<p>Kobe had delicious food, waterfront shopping, and mountain views.Alessa Hickman<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">Under an hour from Osaka by train, Kobe is one of my favorite Japanese cities.<\/p>\n<div class=\"col-fullbleed mb-4 bg-marshmallow pb-5 dark:bg-ramones md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\">\n<div class=\"flex\" id=\"_R_2i9bmapklueknpf9mtbH1_\">\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><![CDATA[#_R_2i9bmapklueknpf9mtbH1_ { display: none; }\n@media screen and (max-width: 767.95px) {\n        #_R_2i9bmapklueknpf9mtbH1_ { display: flex; }\n        iframe { max-width: 100vw; }\n      }]]><\/style>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">Riding the ropeway up Mount Rokko to Nunobiki Herb Gardens was unforgettable: The 10-minute cable-car ride offered stunning views of Kobe, the sea, and the surrounding mountains.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">At the top, I explored different viewpoints and gardens before hiking down to the city. Along the way, I stopped in the greenhouse filled with tropical plants and relaxed in the hammocks overlooking the landscape.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">Back in the city, I visited the historic Ikuta Shrine before heading to Kobe&#8217;s Chinatown. The streets were packed with people and food vendors selling everything from pork buns and beef skewers to incredible ramen.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">Kobe is a <a data-ylk=\"slk:must-stop for foodies;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;evdesc:context_link_tap;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;must-stop for foodies&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yEventDescription&quot;:&quot;context_link_tap&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/worlds-best-trips-for-foodies-2015-8?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=yahoocom&amp;utm_medium=syndication&amp;utm_source=yahoo\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">must-stop for foodies<\/a>, and I&#8217;m already planning another trip just to eat there again.<\/p>\n<div class=\"col-fullbleed mb-4 bg-marshmallow pb-5 dark:bg-ramones md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\">\n<div class=\"flex\" id=\"_R_2n9bmapklueknpf9mtbH1_\">\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><![CDATA[#_R_2n9bmapklueknpf9mtbH1_ { display: none; }\n@media screen and (max-width: 767.95px) {\n        #_R_2n9bmapklueknpf9mtbH1_ { display: flex; }\n        iframe { max-width: 100vw; }\n      }]]><\/style>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">I ended the night around Kobe Port Tower and Harborland, where the waterfront shopping and entertainment areas light up beautifully after dark.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"heading-mb col-body heading-text-style font-bold charcoal-color\" id=\"29bfd951-f750-427a-910d-f6d5a22af9f6\"><strong>Nara was my first day trip in Japan \u2014 and I&#8217;d still recommend it<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"relative col-body mb-2.5\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The writer feeding a deer in Nara.\" width=\"976\" height=\"707\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/f55a9e48f16d2921de3152bac71df87979adf8bf4d9da5ff3ce7f4e50cc07f0f\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w976%3Bquality_80%3Bformat_webp\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fbusiness_insider_consolidated_articles_886%2Ff24c06b2b60180ca9fc07fb1398ed246.jpg\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;expand&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;image-lightbox&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;lightbox-open&quot;}\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-modal=\"true\" aria-label=\"Image Lightbox\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-[4] size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-[0.875rem]\/[1.25rem] mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div><span class=\"[&amp;_p]:inline\"><\/p>\n<p>I loved feeding the deer in Nara.Alessa Hickman<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">I&#8217;ve happily returned to Nara multiple times. It&#8217;s around a 45-minute train ride from Osaka or Kyoto, making it a fairly quick trip.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">Stepping out of Kintetsu-Nara Station, you&#8217;ll find yourself surrounded by busy shops and restaurants. Walk along Higashimuki Shopping Street to reach Nakatanidou, a famous mochi shop known for its live mochi-pounding.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">From there, the city opens into Nara Park, where deer roam freely through the streets and temple grounds. At one point, a deer even stood beside me at the crosswalk, waiting as if she knew exactly when to cross the street.<\/p>\n<div class=\"col-fullbleed mb-4 bg-marshmallow pb-5 dark:bg-ramones md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\">\n<div class=\"flex\" id=\"_R_2u9bmapklueknpf9mtbH1_\">\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><![CDATA[#_R_2u9bmapklueknpf9mtbH1_ { display: none; }\n@media screen and (max-width: 767.95px) {\n        #_R_2u9bmapklueknpf9mtbH1_ { display: flex; }\n        iframe { max-width: 100vw; }\n      }]]><\/style>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">Several vendors sell crackers for the deer, but you&#8217;ll quickly learn to stash them away immediately \u2014 the deer <em>always <\/em>know who has snacks. Watching the animals bow before you feed them is a classic experience, though, and it&#8217;s super fun to see in person.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">The park has gardens, ponds, museums, walking trails, and temples, including the iconic Todai-ji Temple. Although the main areas can get busy, walking farther into the park leads to peaceful spaces tucked away from the crowds.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"heading-mb col-body heading-text-style font-bold charcoal-color\" id=\"e76c7602-bff5-4eac-9611-db5a1f692471\"><strong>Wakayama had great ramen and a cool, historic castle<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"relative col-body mb-2.5\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The writer buying pastries in Wakayama.\" width=\"976\" height=\"702\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/a736d9104269ab2f8167798c414e23e5d99aac647452ea2fc4957d354dde8df8\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w976%3Bquality_80%3Bformat_webp\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fbusiness_insider_consolidated_articles_886%2F4067618ccbae248e603292d5ecfed416.jpg\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;expand&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;image-lightbox&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;lightbox-open&quot;}\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-modal=\"true\" aria-label=\"Image Lightbox\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-[4] size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-[0.875rem]\/[1.25rem] mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div><span class=\"[&amp;_p]:inline\"><\/p>\n<p>Wakayama had a quieter vibe than some of the other cities I&#8217;ve visited.Alessa Hickman<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">Wakayama was my furthest day trip; it took me about 90 minutes to get there from Osaka. The train ride was lovely, and the city has a quiet, residential feel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">I found Wakayama to be more spread out than cities like Nara and Kobe, so although I managed to walk everywhere, some visitors might prefer taking a bus for longer stretches. With good planning, I think Wakayama is totally doable in a day.<\/p>\n<div class=\"col-fullbleed mb-4 bg-marshmallow pb-5 dark:bg-ramones md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\">\n<div class=\"flex\" id=\"_R_359bmapklueknpf9mtbH1_\">\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><![CDATA[#_R_359bmapklueknpf9mtbH1_ { display: none; }\n@media screen and (max-width: 767.95px) {\n        #_R_359bmapklueknpf9mtbH1_ { display: flex; }\n        iframe { max-width: 100vw; }\n      }]]><\/style>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">I started off at the free Fusion Museum, dedicated to knitting heritage and technology. For a small fee, visitors can design souvenirs using bike-powered knitting machines.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">I learned the hard way that spots fill up quickly, so even though wandering through the exhibits was fun, plan to arrive early if you want to make something yourself.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">Wakayama Castle was another highlight of my trip. The grounds include gardens, ponds, and seasonal trees, and exhibits inside showcase historical artifacts. From the castle tower, there are 360-degree views of the city, mountains, and ocean. It was easily <a data-ylk=\"slk:my favorite view;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;evdesc:context_link_tap;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;my favorite view&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yEventDescription&quot;:&quot;context_link_tap&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/most-beautiful-amtrak-train-routes-from-frequent-passenger-2026-3?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=yahoocom&amp;utm_medium=syndication&amp;utm_source=yahoo\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">my favorite view<\/a> in Japan so far.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">After exploring, I stopped for ramen at Ramen Bakumatsu&#8217;s castle branch and enjoyed one of the best bowls I&#8217;ve had since moving here.<\/p>\n<div class=\"col-fullbleed mb-4 bg-marshmallow pb-5 dark:bg-ramones md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\">\n<div class=\"flex\" id=\"_R_3a9bmapklueknpf9mtbH1_\">\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><![CDATA[#_R_3a9bmapklueknpf9mtbH1_ { display: none; }\n@media screen and (max-width: 767.95px) {\n        #_R_3a9bmapklueknpf9mtbH1_ { display: flex; }\n        iframe { max-width: 100vw; }\n      }]]><\/style>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">Later, I headed to Wakayama Marina City, a resort island in Wakaura Bay. While there, I stopped by Kuroshio Market, which is known for its fresh seafood.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">The long walk along the coastline, where I passed quiet parks and shrines, was just as memorable as the destination itself.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\"><em>This story was originally published on March 20, 2026, and most recently updated on August 17, 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">If you enjoyed this story, be sure to follow <a data-ylk=\"slk:Business Insider;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;evdesc:context_link_tap;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Business Insider&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yEventDescription&quot;:&quot;context_link_tap&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/profiles.yahoo.com\/brands\/business-insider\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Business Insider<\/a> on Yahoo.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/travel.yahoo.com\/guides\/japan\/articles\/ive-traveled-beyond-japans-popular-204457090.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After moving to Japan, I started taking day trips beyond the usual Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka travel circuit. Saitama was easy to get to from<br \/><button class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/ive-traveled-beyond-japans-popular-tokyo-kyoto-osaka-route-there-are-4-cool-day-trips-id-actually-recommend\/17\/08\/2026\/\">Read More &rsaquo;<\/a><\/button><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":61410,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-61409","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/41b47159a4d1369bb68e21b183c04aefc4a2b658047eb0130547f6751c317278\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w1200%3Bquality_80%3Bformat_jpg\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fbusiness_insider_consolidated_articles_886%2Fa1bc41ca4a3758ab90294986b56ae3c3.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61409","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61409"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61409\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/61410"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61409"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61409"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=61409"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}