Kyoto Day Trips with Kids: Our Family’s Favorite Spots
Last Updated on October 9, 2026 by Kay
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Kyoto is one of the most popular places to visit in Japan, and although there is already so much to see and do in the city, there are also lots of great places nearby that you can visit as a day trip.
I live in Osaka and have traveled around the Kansai region quite a bit with my daughter, so in this article, I’ll be sharing my personal recommendations for family-friendly day trips from Kyoto with kids. These range from places extremely close to Kyoto, like Shiga and Nara, to destinations you might not immediately think of as a day trip.
I’ve personally visited every place in this article with my daughter. So instead of a huge list of places you could visit, I’ll share where we actually went and enjoyed.
Easy Day Trips from Kyoto with Kids
If you’re traveling with a toddler or younger child and don’t want to spend a huge chunk of the day sitting on a train, I would start with one of these.
Shiga and Lake Biwa
Travel time: Otsu is less than 10 minutes by train from Kyoto Station. Hikone is about an hour.
If you want the best nearby escape from Kyoto’s crowds, go to Shiga. It’s right next door, it’s rarely busy (even on weekends), and my daughter has loved it since she was little. Her favorite part is spotting “duckies” in Lake Biwa.
In Otsu, we like taking the Michigan Cruise on the lake. It’s about an hour long, which was just right for her. Temple lovers should go to Ishiyamadera, tucked into an ancient forest. It felt like a Ghibli movie, and my daughter was enthralled by the carp and the statue of Murasaki Shikibu. (I thought it was so cute when she asked me whether the statue comes alive at night.)
If you’re up for a longer trip, Hikone Castle is incredibly beautiful, and it’s home to the cat mascot Hikonyan, which is a huge hit with kiddos (especially my cat-obsessed child). Just be aware that the stairs inside are steep and narrow, and during cherry blossom season it’s crazy crowded. (We couldn’t even buy tickets to go inside the castle one year!)
If you want to know more, read my guide to visiting Shiga with kids.
Osaka
Travel time: About 30 minutes by train
I live here, so I’m a little biased, but Osaka really is one of the most kid-friendly cities in Japan, and it’s an easy day trip from Kyoto.
Universal Studios Japan needs an entire day. For something less intense, Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is incredibly famous, and it’s cheap for little ones (although it can be crowded). Kids Plaza Osaka is an educational museum that teaches through play, and it’s just one stop from Osaka Station. If it’s raining, there are indoor playgrounds in Umeda. The whole family can also spend the day exploring Osaka’s famous Dotonbori district.
If you want to know more about everything there is to do in the city, read my article on Osaka with kids.
Nara
Travel time: A little under 1 hour on the Nara Line
My daughter has been going to Nara since she was two, and she always has a great time when we visit. Who wouldn’t love bowing to deer who bow back?
There is a lot of beautiful culture and nature to experience in Nara. However, I recommend not going during the summer (my daughter nearly got heatstroke one year in June), and visit on a weekday if you can. Mid-May was perfect for us.
For more on what to do, read my article on exploring Nara with kids.
Kobe
Travel time: A little less than an 1 hour by train
Kobe is packed with things for kids. The Kobe Anpanman Children’s Museum & Mall is a 10-minute walk from Kobe Station and is great for babies and toddlers. (It’s also where my daughter got her first haircut!) Kobe Animal Kingdom is one of the best zoos I’ve been to in Japan, with plenty of space for the animals, and my daughter got to feed giant tortoises on her fourth birthday. And kids will have an absolute blast at KidZania Koshien.
I have more recommendations in my article about visiting Kobe with kids.
Arima Onsen
Travel time: A little over 1 hour by bus from Kyoto Station, or about 2 hours by train
Arima Onsen is tucked into Mount Rokko in Kobe and is one of my favorite places in Kansai. If you’re coming from Kyoto, I recommend the bus, which is much easier with kids than the train transfers.
The town is small and walkable, and it’s perfect for tabearuki (walking and eating). We love tansan senbei, gelato, and steamed manju. The Arima Toys & Automata Museum kept my daughter happy for an hour, and she was thrilled to catch (and eat!) three trout at Arima Masu Ike.
If you don’t want to stay overnight, you can do an onsen day trip. Our family has had great experiences at Ginsuiso Choraku, which also serves a lovely seasonal lunch.
Read my article on Arima Onsen with kids to learn more.
Nagoya
Travel time: About 35 minutes by Shinkansen from Kyoto Station
I wasn’t impressed by Nagoya when I visited with my husband in our twenties. As parents, though? We loved it, and so did our daughter!
LEGOLAND Japan was the main reason we went, but note that it’s a full-day activity. Right next door is the SCMAGLEV and Railway Park, where my daughter got to be a train conductor and try a Shinkansen driving simulator. (It’s closed on Tuesdays, so plan around that.) The FUJI Nagoya City Science Museum is another great place to take kids, especially on a weekday, when it’s less crowded.
To be honest, I spent three days in Nagoya, and I think you’ll want to choose carefully for a day trip. LEGOLAND alone is a full day. The aquarium is a bit of a mission to reach by public transport, so theoretically, although you could pair it with the SCMAGLEV and Railway Park, your family might end up a bit exhausted.
If you’re interested in visiting, read my article on Nagoya with kids.
Kurashiki
Travel time: About 1.5 to 2 hours via the Sanyo Line or Hakubi Line plus Shinkansen.
If you and your kids are looking for a more slow-paced day, Kurashiki in Okayama Prefecture is a lovely escape. Apparently it’s considered the Venice of Japan, although my husband said he has never heard of this despite his hometown being located nearby.
Although my husband and I have been to Kurashiki many times, we took our daughter there for the first time when she was four years old, and we spent the day wandering the Bikan Historical Quarter, with its white-walled buildings and willow-lined canal. (We visited during the New Year holidays, so the canal boats were closed, but my friend’s family took them later and loved the ride.)
Find out more about what it’s like to visit Kurashiki with kids.
Hiroshima
Travel time: About 1 hour 45 minutes by Shinkansen.
Hiroshima holds a special place in my heart since my husband’s family is from here, and we visit several times a year so our daughter can spend time with her grandparents. A day trip is doable, but I recommend two days if you can, so you can add Miyajima Island, which is one of the Three Views of Japan.
The Peace Memorial Park is beautiful and educational, but it’s not a “fun” place, so you’ll need to explain what happened to your child. Although my daughter is seven years old now, we still haven’t taken her to the Peace Memorial Museum because of its graphic displays, but that’s a personal call for every family.
Instead, we take her to the free Children’s Cultural Science Museum, which my daughter loves. Hiroshima Castle is another great place to visit, where my daughter had the chance to hold a real katana. And of course, you can’t leave without trying Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki!
To find out more of my family’s recommendations, read my article on visiting Hiroshima with kids.
Amanohashidate
Travel time: About 2 hours on the JR Hashidate Line
Amanohashidate is a sandbar covered in around 8,000 pine trees, and it’s considered one of the three greatest views in Japan. I had no idea it existed until my husband suggested it, and it’s surprisingly child-friendly.
At Amanohashidate Viewland, you take a cable car up and do the famous matanozoki, bending over to look at the view between your legs, so the sandbar looks like a dragon flying through the sky. (My daughter thought this was hilarious.) There’s also a small amusement park at the top with a merry-go-round and a Ferris wheel.
We only spent half a day here and wished we’d had more time. If you stay overnight, I recommend pairing it with Ine, a quiet and lovely little fishing town.
To learn about what it’s like in more detail, read my article on Amanohashidate with kids.
FAQ
What’s the easiest day trip from Kyoto with kids?
Shiga, Nara, and Osaka are the easiest. Otsu in Shiga is less than 10 minutes by train from Kyoto Station, and Nara is a little under an hour, and Osaka takes only 30 minutes.
Is Nara or Osaka better for a family day trip from Kyoto?
They’re completely different experiences.
Nara is much more about outdoor sightseeing, temples, and seeing the deer, while Osaka is a city that has more dedicated attractions for kids.
If you’ve already spent several days visiting temples and traditional sights in Kyoto, your children might enjoy having a completely different kind of day in Osaka.
Do I need a car for these day trips?
Not for most of them, since Nara, Kobe, and Hiroshima are easy by train. A car helps in Shiga, but it’s not a must if you’re doing a relaxed day trip.
If you’re interested in driving in Japan with your family, make sure to read my article about what to know before you get on the road.
Staying in Kyoto? Read my Kyoto with kids guide and my picks for family hotels in Kyoto.