Best Off-the Beaten Path Day Trips from Kyoto & Osaka with Kids

Traveled in May 2026

We’ve visited Osaka and Kyoto a few times over the past 10 years. However, our biggest takeaway on our most recent trip was, “Wow, it feels so much more crowded than we remember!” Maybe it was because it was our first time visiting with our kid, so we noticed the crowds more than before. Either way, I was especially glad I’d planned several day trips outside the cities on our itinerary. These day trips ended up being some of our favorite days of the trip. The mix of nature, open space, and kid-friendly attractions was exactly what our family needed. Our preschooler had plenty of room to run around and explore, and we got a break from navigating busy sidewalks and packed train stations. If you’re looking for day trips from Kyoto and Osaka with kids, these off-the-beaten-path destinations are definitely worth adding to your itinerary.

1. Hikone

Hikone (not to be confused with HAkone) is a castle town on the shores of Lake Biwa. It’s less popular than Himeji, which is another castle town in the area. Most of the other tourists we saw in Hikone were local Japanese tourists. There are a couple other scenic towns to stop in on the same train line to Hikone, so it makes for a great day trip. Our plans to see those other towns were sadly scrapped because of a overtired kid meltdown, but I’m including them here anyway so at least someone can benefit from my research!

Eat Omi Beef

Hikone is famous for Omi Beef, which is a type of premium Japanese Wagyu beef. Food in Japan is amazing and I love trying regional specialties whenever I get a chance (regional specialities are one of my must eats in Japan!). In the US we have heard of Kobe beef, but the regional premium Wagyu beef like Omi beef and Hida beef are harder to find outside of Japan (and might be even tastier!).

We went to Omi Beef Noodles Mentakumi Chakapon for a more casual way to experience Omi beef (that our kid would actually eat). And it was delicious! They also have a counter in the front where you can order the Omi beef sushi to go if you don’t want a full meal. If you want a fancier steakhouse-like Omi beef experience, then make reservations at Omi Niku Sennaritei Kyara.

Hikone Castle

• Age Range: all ages, though kids might be bored and there are some steep steps
• Cost: different combos with the Genkyu-en Garden and Castle Museum
• How to Get There: 15 minute walk (or quick taxi ride) from Hikone Station
• Hours: 8:30am – 5pm, Castle Museum closed 12/25-12/31

Hikone Castle is a beautifully preserved castle and one of only a handful of castles designated as a National Treasure of Japan. Compared to more famous castles like Himeji Castle, it feels more under-the-radar, and when we visited it was surprisingly uncrowded. Apparently the castle grounds are also a really popular cherry blossom spot in spring.

Full transparency: we didn’t actually go inside the castle. There are quite a few stairs up to the entrance, and we didn’t want to carry a stroller up all those steps. We’ve also been inside a few Japanese castles before and honestly found that the main highlight for us was the exterior and castle grounds rather than the inside exhibits. The castle itself is just so pretty from the outside, especially perched up above the stone walls. If you do make it to the castle, they also have a castle museum that contains exhibits of the family’s treasures (like kimonos and swords) that seem more interesting.

There’s also supposedly a cute castle mascot that appears around the grounds at certain times, but we never saw it. Maybe we visited at the wrong time or maybe the mascot only works on weekends.

Genkyu-en Garden

• Age Range: all ages!
• Cost: 400 yen for adults, 150 yen for kids 6 and older, free for kids under 6 (combo tickets also available with the castle)
• How to Get There: 15 minute walk (or quick taxi ride) from Hikone Station
• Hours: 8:30am – 5pm

Rather than going into the castle, we opted to walk around the Genkyu-en Garden instead. It was so peaceful there, and I know I keep saying this, but so pleasantly uncrowded. There is a stunning view of Hikone Castle on the hilltop reflected in one of the ponds in the garden, with the many bridges criss-crossing in the background. There are so many pretty views here.

I feel that as far as tourist attractions go in Japan, gardens can be more engaging and less boring for younger kids than temples or shrines because it’s more open space for them to explore. Our kid had a lot of fun crossing all the bridges at Genkyu-en Garden. And because it’s a Japanese garden with more rock and water features than flowers, we didn’t have to worry as much about keeping him from accidentally trampling flowers.

Konki Park

If your kids need some play time there is a fantastic playground on the castle grounds about a 10 minute walk away from the Genkyu-en Garden. We were the only family here when we visited on a weekday. There are 2 large play structures, one for older kids and one for younger kids, and a really fun zipline. There is also a rope climbing structure. Our kid loved the zipline and we spent more time here than anticipated (until our kid fell and scraped his elbow and had a meltdown that we did not have an ice pack. Ah the joys of parenting). There is also a bathroom at this playground.

Lake Biwa

It seemed like a missed opportunity to go all the way to Lake Biwa and not see it, so we walked to the Hikone harbor. There is a sightseeing boat you can take around the lake from the harbor. Then we headed back to the main street and finished the day with some delicious hojicha soft serve ice cream.

Other Stops on the Way Back to Kyoto

Our kid was an overtired ticking time bomb at this point, so we had to scrap the rest of the itinerary I had planned for the way back to Kyoto. We have learned our lesson not to try to add “one more thing” when traveling with kids. Instead, I’ll include them here as a reminder to go in a future visit (especially during cherry blossom season because the pictures look gorgeous!). These cities are all on the same train line on the way back to Kyoto, so it’s easy to hop off and see the sights, then hop back on the train back to Kyoto.

• Omihachiman: nicely preserved old merchant town with a pretty canal. Beautiful during cherry blossom season. They also have a ropeway to the summit of Mount Hachiman with views of the town and Lake Biwa. Most of the sights are a 10 minute bus or taxi ride away from the station.
• Otsu: this town is only 10 minutes away from Kyoto on the train. They have a steamboat lake cruise (reminded me a little of Disneyland) and many famous temples and shrines (like Mii-dera and Ishiyamadera).

2. Ikoma

Our kid loves trains. We learned about Ikoma from a Youtube video about animal-themed trains in Japan. A trip to a hilltop amusement park that involves dog and cat cable cars? Say less. We are there.

Ikoma Sanjo Amusement Park

• Age Range: all ages
• Cost: entrance to the amusement park is free, but you have to pay per ride and each ride costs a different amount. You can purchase ride tickets at the ticket booth or from vending machines on site. If you are planning on riding many rides, then get the Ride Free Pass, which gives unlimited rides for the day (each guest must have their own pass). The best value for us was the 12 ride ticket book for 3600 yen. It gives you 12 tickets that you can use for any ride and can be shared among multiple guests.
• How to Get There: see above
• Hours: 10am – 5pm, closed on Thursdays, closed in the winter (early December – mid March)

The Ikoma Sanjo Amusement Park felt like an old school amusement park, almost like a county fair. It sits on top of a hill and has amazing views of the city below. They have a variety of rides and a couple old school arcades with those coin-operated moving vehicle rides they used to have in front of malls. Even smaller kids can go on the majority of the rides if they are accompanied by an adult.

Our kid absolutely loved it because he could go on almost everything and there were practically no lines. But funnily enough, his favorite part ended up being the stationary vehicles inside the arcade. He happily climbed in and played pretend without realizing until much later that they actually moved if you inserted coins. It was one of those travel moments that reminded us how easily entertained kids can be, and how often we overestimate how much entertainment they really need.

The Ikomayama View Restaurant inside the amusement park is a surprisingly solid choice for lunch. You order through a touch screen with an English menu. The kara-age was better than what we usually find in the US and the ramen was pretty good as well. Usually amusement park food is pretty mediocre and unhealthy in the US, but the standards just seem to be higher in Japan!

Hozanji Temple

Visiting Hozanji Temple ended up being one of those happy travel surprises that wasn’t even on our itinerary. We accidentally missed our transfer for the cable car at Hozanji Station, so instead of waiting around, we decided to exit the station and see what was nearby. Getting to the temple does involve climbing quite a few flights of stairs, but it was worth it! The path up is lined with beautiful stone lanterns, and everything felt so quiet and peaceful. It ended up being one of those slower travel moments that I probably would have skipped if everything had gone according to plan.

3. Minoh

Minoh is only a 30 minute train ride away from central Osaka, and such a scenic nature escape. The walk to the waterfall park is an easy, stroller-friendly (most of the time) walk on a paved path shaded with maple trees. Although it’s a bit of a walk to get from the train station to the waterfall, there are a couple worthwhile stops along the way to break up the walk. This park is filled with maple trees, so it is especially popular in the fall when the leaves turn a brilliant red.

When we visited, they were doing repair work on the upper portion of the paved path leading to the waterfall. This meant that this “stroller-friendly hike” turned into a NOT stroller-friendly detour through a mountain path involving many stone steps. Our kid was a trooper and hiked the whole thing, and my husband had to haul the stroller. Lesson learned: double check road conditions before visiting if you’re planning on using a stroller!

We stopped at the bakery right outside the station to pick up some bread in case we got hungry on the walk. The path up to the waterfall is lined with stores selling local tempura maple leaves and other snacks, but there was not too much substantial food.

Minoh Park Insectarium

• Age Range: all ages
• Cost: 280 yen for adults, free for kids
• How to Get There: 15 minute walk from Mino-o Station
• Hours: 10am – 5pm, closed on Tuesdays

The Minoh Park Insectarium is about a 15 minute walk from the station. They have a variety of insect exhibits and the highlight is the butterfly garden.

Ryuanji Temple

We were drawn to this temple because of the vibrant red bridge spanning the pathway. It’s just a little past the Insectarium and a scenic place to take another photo break. You can enter both temples and admire the artwork.

Minoh Falls

From Ryuanji Temple, it’s a 30 minute steep climb up to Minoh Falls. It ended up taking about double that time for us because we had to take the detour hike through the woods. But it was still worth it! Minoh Falls is such a peaceful place, surrounded by maple trees. There is a little snack stand right at the waterfall selling ice cream, drinks, and snacks (cash only), which was a lovely reward after a long hike.

4. Shirahama

If the city crowds are too overwhelming, escape to the beach time of Shirahama for some rest and relaxation. It’s a 2.5 hour train ride from Osaka, so it’s really best enjoyed with an overnight stay (see our post on how to spend a couple days in Shirahama with kids). But if you’re only going to the beach, it is doable as a day trip to leave early in the morning and come back late at night.

Shirahama Beach

Shirahama Beach in Wakayama is the sister beach of Waikiki Beach in Hawaii (there’s even a sign to prove it!). (Note that there is another Shirahama Beach in Shizuoka on the Izu Peninsula, closer to Tokyo.) This crescent white sand beach is beautiful, and the waters are really calm, which is perfect for kids. I’ve seen photos of it packed with people in the summer, but when we visited in mid-May it was not crowded at all. The water in mid-May still felt cool to me initially, so it’s not quite as warm as Hawaii beaches. Our kid still splashed in without hesitation and had a grand time.

If you have time in your itinerary, I highly recommend an overnight stay here instead to maximum relaxation. I loved that our hotel had direct beach access – it made it so easy to walk to the beach and get cleaned up after. And waking up to the beach views from our room was so luxurious. A beachfront stay here felt much more affordable than a beachfront room in Waikiki, thanks to the exchange rate and traveling off season.

Shirahamakaigan Park

If your kid gets tired of the beach, there is a playground right next to it! Our kid may actually have spent more time on this playground than on the beach itself! The playground has a boat play structure and an octopus play structure. The octopus was definitely the big hit with all the kids.

5. Lake Biwa

Biwako kodomo-no kuni is a large park with a giant outdoor playground and campsite right on the shores of Lake Biwa. They also have an indoor recreation center that has an indoor play area, climbing wall, trampoline, and hosts craft and cooking activities for kids. It’s a bit of a trek to get here on public transportation, which is why we skipped it. But for those with a car, it’s a great day out in nature. Especially if you’re continuing around Lake Biwa!

Kids Packing Essentials for Japan

Packing these essentials for your kids will make your trip to Japan with kids so much easier! We usually like to travel light. These are the items that we used most for our kid every day that made it worth the luggage space.

• Layers of clothing:
  • Light rain jacket: it’s helpful to keep a packable rain jacket that doesn’t take up too much space in your everyday bag. We didn’t want to bother with carrying multiple umbrellas so a rain jacket was clutch on the sprinkly days.
  • Comfortable walking shoes: everyone does a lot more walking in Japan than usual. Make sure kids have comfortable shoes that are easy on and off! The ones we love have grippy soles, wide toe boxes, and are super easy for kids to put on and take off on their own.
  • Sun hat: the sun in Japan can feel intense. We especially like the sun hats with neck protection because I always forget to apply sunscreen to the back of my kid’s neck.
  • Socks: part of Japanese culture is taking shoes off indoors, so you will find yourself removing your shoes much more than usual. Make sure to pack the good socks without holes!
  • Long sleeve rash guard and swim trunks: a long sleeve rash guard for maximum sun coverage is clutch because there is no shade on the beach here!
  • Kids swim goggles: these swim goggles for kids are easy to put on, keep water out, and are actually comfortable enough to wear that my kid keeps it on with no fuss!
• Snacks and hydration:
  • Favorite snacks: Japan is a snack paradise, so I’m sure your kiddo will eventually find something that they like at the convenience stores. But bring some favorite snacks from home to tide you over until you figure out which Japanese snacks your kids love. Don’t forget to bring snack containers! There are no public trash cans so using reusable snack containers will limit the trash you have to carry during the day.
  • Water bottle: tap water is generally safe to drink in Japan, so bring your own water bottle if you want to save money on buying water. However, keep in mind that mineral content in the water is different. So if you have a sensitive stomach then buying bottled water is the way to go.

• Entertainment options for downtime:
  • Screens will usually keep kids occupied, and while our kiddo gets a lot more screen time than usual when traveling, we don’t like to rely solely on screens for entertainment because there are usually more massive meltdowns when we try to turn it off. Make sure you pack kids headphones if using screens, because trains and public spaces are very quiet.
  • We bring one new book (search and find books or lift the flap books are great!), Water Wow coloring books, sticker books, and drawing pads for travel days.

• Kids supplies for daily living:
  • Sleep essentials: bring anything that your kid needs to sleep well to encourage good sleep while traveling. For us, that is a sound machine.
  • Medications: it goes without saying to pack any prescription medications your kid is taking. I also bring over-the-counter kids medications like Children’s Tylenol and Children’s Zyrtec, just in case. I’m okay with buying Japanese OTC meds for myself and winging it with the translation, but I prefer using the kids’ OTC meds we’re familiar with because I am sure about the dosing and ingredients.
  • Sunscreen: the sun is no joke in Japan in the summer. And since we were walking around all day, we put sunscreen on our kid every day. This sunscreen stick was a gamechanger for actually getting him to put sunscreen on his face.
  • If you forgot anything, look for these stores in Japan that sell all kinds of kids goods: Nishimatsuya, Babies “R” Us, Akachan Honpo
• Travel Stroller: If your kid is not used to walking a lot at home it can be helpful to bring a stroller. But keep in mind that Japan is not as stroller friendly as the US. There are many stairs in train stations and elevators are small and require a longer walk to find. Many restaurants and stores are small and can’t always accommodate a stroller. While we did use our stroller, we folded it up and carried it quite a bit during train transfers to avoid having to take the long way around. If you do bring a stroller, bringing a smaller travel stroller is key. We love our Yoyo. The Gb Pockit strollers also pack up amazingly small.
• Hip Seat Carrier: A better alternative to a stroller if your kid is still small enough to carry is a hip seat carrier. We loved using ours during our trip to Switzerland because it’s one less thing to carry through train stations. The hip seat is clutch because it’s more comfortable to sit in for longer periods. We loved our version that had straps and could be worn in the front or back. It’s especially helpful for crowded places like Japan where maneuvering a stroller can be tricky.
• Ride Safer Travel Vest: taxis in Japan don’t require car seats. But that can be nerve wracking for parents. And you don’t want to lug around a car seat for the one or two car rides you may take in Japan. That’s where the compact Ride Safer Travel Vest comes in to keep kids safe in cars without taking up too much luggage space.

Check out how we pieced together all of these day trips into a kid-friendly Japan itinerary here!