Day Trips Inside of Japan Osaka Seishun 18 Tickets Travel Tips

With JR Special Pass, 2 Best Day Trips from OSAKA

With Seishun 18 Kippu, how far can we travel from Osaka?  This Pass is valid only for three limited durations of time (Winter, Spring, and Summer, explained in this post), but if you happen to be in Japan during these periods, no travelers, domestic or international, should miss this wonderful opportunity to cut down their travel expenses.  

Explained in our previous post, you COULD use this Pass for a long journey, literally from Tokyo to Hiroshima (16 hours).  However, Tune In Nagoya recommends that the Pass should be used in its combination with the major travels, such as ones between major cities, by Shinkansen (English: Bullet Train).

Photo by Messala Ciulla used under CC

This means that this Pass is good for one- or two-day trip from your base City, Osaka.  After short trips to the neighboring city/cities in Osaka metropolitan area, you can move to another destination by other transportation means, such as  Shinkansen (Bullet Train).  This way is the most effective in terms of both time and money.

Here are TWO recommended day trips from OSAKA.  

1) One day trip to Himeji (and Kobe) from Osaka

Himeji Castle

First, visit Himeji City and then Kobe City on the way back to Osaka.  You surely experience two contrasting cities.  One shows ancient Japanese history and architectures in Himeji, and the other features a modern Port City of Kobe.  

If you run short of time for Kobe, after spending much time exploring in Himeji (we bet you might), you COULD skip or save for later days sightseeing in Kobe, but eating Kobe Beef, or the world-famous marbled beef, should not be missed.  Among a variety of restaurants which serve the Beef, from very up-scale to reasonable ones, you can pick one right for you! 

Himeji City is in Hyogo Prefecture, to the west of Osaka, is famous for one of the most beautiful castles in Japan, Himeji Castle.  Whether you are into Japanese castles or not, Himeji Castle is surely a MUST place (as briefly explained below).  Also, Shoshayzan (Shosha Mountain), which stands in the north-west of the City, has Shoshazan Engyo-ji  Temple, where you can enjoy a soul-healing hike in the woods, visiting old wooden temples and buildings.  

Kobe City lies between Himeji and Osaka.  It is a second largest port city after Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, and has many places to visit, along with the harbor, hot spring resorts, and houses and buildings influenced by western architectures when Japan opened its door to the world in Kobe 150 years ago.   

NOTE: time for the train ride indicated in the map does not show actual time with the Seasonal/ Promotional Pass

How to get to Himeji (and Kobe) from Osaka

With Seishun 18 Kippu (the Pass), take a JR train from Osaka Station to Himeji Station.  This is a about 1-hour direct train ride to Himeji Station.  The regular train ride costs 1490 yen one way.  If this one day trip includes a short stop at Kobe, the trip with this Pass gets your 'money's worth.  However, you could skip Kobe and take your time exploring Himeji thoroughly, such as Himeji Castle,  Shoshazan Engyoji Temple and others (explained below).  The excursion only in Himeji would definitely satisfy you!

For the travel back to Kobe and Osaka, you can get off at Kobe Station and at Osaka Station, respectively, with this Pass.  From Himeji to Kobe, it takes about 40 minutes and from Kobe to Osaka, about 30 minutes. 

Three MUST sites in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture

Himeji Castle with old and new vehicles

• Himeji Castle
• Kokoen Garden
• Shoshazan Engyoji Temple

Do you know that Himeji Castle is one of the most beautiful castles in Japan?  Yes, it is another World Heritage site AND the first as a World Heritage Site in Japan (designated in 1993)!  The castle is nicknamed "Shirasagi-jyo (English: White Heron Castle) because of its snowy exterior as if the white bird were taking off to the blue sky. 

When you get off at JR Himeji Station,  just look north, and you will see a brilliant white castle welcoming you at the end of the straight street.  While approaching the Beauty, count the number of pictures you take.  You would surely be surprised at the number: countless.  There are many picture-taking points before and beyond its entrance. 

Kokoen Garden is adjacent to Himeji Castle.  Beautiful Japanese gardens fascinate you there.  Himeji Lord's house and his Samurai houses also welcome you!  You can experience Matcha (English: Green Tea) in Soju-an Tea Room.

The Lord's 'Summer' Garden

Another garden

A Useful Tip for the entrance: You should buy the combination Pass for Himeji Castle and Kokoen Garden for 1080 yen (The entrance fee only for Himeji Castle is 1000 yen).  

Shoshazan Engyoji Temple (where the movie "Last Samurai" was shot)

The hike visiting its beautiful wooden temples and buildings (designated as national treasures) in its sanctuary soothes your exhausted body and soul for sure.  This place is also a popular location for movie-shooting: Japanese Samurai movies and The Last Samurai (2003) were shot.  You may have heard the Last Samurai, where Tom Cruise starred, right?  The movie fascinated a lot of foreigners by introducing Japanese Samurai spirit and culture to the world. 
  

You can stay in one of the temples and/or try Shujyun Ryori (English: Buddhist Cuisine), which is vegetarian or began, by reservation.  

The Dinning Room (left) and the Lecture Room
A shooting location for the Last Samurai 

Mani Hall taken to show its structure

A useful transportation tip to reach Shoshazan Temple:

Take the No.8 bus from JR Himeji Station (north entrance: 北口) OR Himeji Castle Otemon Mae (Castle Otemon Gate: 大手門前) to Shoshazan Cableway Bus Stop (書写山ロープーウェイ)(about 25 minutes), where you can go by cableway to the mountain top(about 5 minutes).  The return bus rides cost 900 yen, but we would buy the combination Pass for the bus and cableway for 1300 yen at Himeji Station before start exploring Himeji Castle. 

Here is the bus schedule for the bus ride from Himeji Castle Otemon Mae Bus Stop. 

2) One day trip to Miyajima and Hiroshima and from Osaka

Miyaima Vermillion Gate at low tide

First of all, with Seishun 18 Kippu (the Pass), it is a pretty long train ride with 4 times of changing trains.  One way is about 7 hours in total.  Another transportation option could be Shinkansen (English: Bullet Train), but YES, it is very possible to make ONE-day trip from Osaka to Hiroshima with the Pass: You can still have 5 hours left to explore in Miyajima and Hiroshima.  

Check the way to get to Hiroshima (below) to make possible this cost-effective but super-fulfilling trip.  (Return tickets for the regular rides cost 11240 yen, not 2370 yen with this Pass.)  

Also, you can use the Pass for JR West Miyajima Ferry to cross the Sea to Miyajima, an island in Seto Nai Kai (English: Seto Inland Sea) which lies between Honshu (the main island) and Shikoku (the fourth largest island).  

How to get to Hiroshima from Osaka

With Seishun 18 Kippu (the Pass), take a JR train from Osaka Station to Hiroshima Station.  As our model plan (below) suggests, taking the first train (leaving Osaka Station before 06:00) is the best.  This long train ride is 6 hours 15 minutes in total with 3 stops (stops where you change trains), namely Himeji Station (姫路), Okayama Station (岡山), and Itozaki Station (糸崎).  

IF you would also like to visit Miyajima (see below), you should go there first and come back to Hiroshima.  The Pass will do as long as you take the earliest possible train in the morning at Osaka Station and come back before midnight of your trip date.   Also, your return ride is only 5 hours 25 minutes with only 2 stops (where you have to change trains), namely at Okayama Station and Himeji Station.

To reach Miyajima, keep riding on the train, instead of getting off at Hiroshima Station until Miyajima Guchi Station (宮島口).  It is extra 30 minutes from Hiroshima Station.  At the Miyajima Guchi Station, you can easily find the Ferry stop for Miyajima Island.  The Ferry takes you to Itsukushima Shrine, passing near the famous vermilion gate standing in the Sea. 

What to see in Miyajima and Hiroshima

• Itsukushima Shrine AND Miyajima 
• Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
• Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
• Honkawa Elementary School Peace Museum 

Itsukushima Shrine is called "the Floating Shrine on the Sea" because it literally looks as if it were floating on the sea.  At full tide, the sea level rises to the shrine floor.  When you stand on its East Corridor long enough, you can have this "floating" experience.  (Make sure that you wear comfortable shoes to walk around the Corridor and be aware of the tides not to wet your shoes.)  At low tide, you can walk up to and though the vermilion gate in the Sea.  Of course, this Shrine is one of the World Heritage Sites in Japan.

Itsukushima Shrine at low tide

The five-story Pagoda

On Miyajima Island, you should visit the vermilion 5-story pagoda (五重塔) and Itsukushima Shrine Treasure Hall (宝物館), which houses national treasures, such as swords and hanging scrolls of the Heike Clan.

• Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

The MUST spot you should visit in Hiroshima is Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.  From Hiroshima Station, you can take a tram (or streetcar) called 'Romen Densha' in Japanese and get off at the Genbaku Dome.

On getting off, what first comes into your sight is the Dome, despite your wish not to see it before reaching the Memorial Park.  The ruins of the former modern Exhibition Hall surely captures your heart.  It was largely destroyed by the Atomic bomb dropped during the World War II, but it is one of the few buildings which remain standing on the riverbank. All the heart-tearing stories told by living evidences are instantly remembered at the site.

Crossing the Motoyasu River, you step into the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, which has the Peace Bell, Children's Peace Monument, Flame of Peace. Cenotaph for Atomic Bomb Victims, Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall.  

The Genbaku Dome

Then, take your time in seeing exhibits at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.  It has two wings, the Main Wing and the East Wing, both of which are connected indoors. To carefully look at the exhibits, you probably need 2 hours.  Some exhibits are pretty shocking that you understand why Japan is so enthusiastic about World Peace.

• Honkawa Elementary School Peace Museum 

This School Museum is less known, but it is worth visiting, especially for those who want to know more about the devastation Hiroshma experienced.  This was the school closest to the epicenter.  The victims are, as easily imagined, elementary school students. who LITERALLY evaporated into the air when the bomb was dropped.    Survivors came to school and left their messages on the walls of the school buildings. for possible surviving family members , relatives and friends.   It is a walking distance from the Peace Memorial Park.  Check this out at its address: 1-5-39 Honkawa-machi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima-shi.  It is not open on weekends.  

Someting you should eat in Hiroshima

Oyster, raw and grilled oyster and other oyster dishes, and Okonomiyaki (a type of Japanese pancake) with egg noodles.

Since oyster farmed in Seto Inland Sea is really fresh, you can eat it raw wit lemon juice.  Grilled oyster and oyster bowl (steamed oyster over the rice) are also popular and delicious.  Okonomiyaki with egg noodles called Hiroshima Style Okonomiyaki originated in Hiroshima and are unique and pretty filling.   

A Grilled-Oyster Dish

Okonomiyaki with egg noodles

A Model Trip from Osaka to Hiroshima

Here is info about train schedule given to get some sense of the train ride.    

Outbound:

1) Osaka Station: 大阪(05:58) on July 20th (by JR Kobe Line bound for Himeji: 姫路)
2) Himeji Station: 姫路(07:30)
AND

2) Himeji Station: 姫路(07:31) (by JR Sanyo Line bound for Niimi:新見)
3) Okayama Station: 岡山 (09:08)

AND

3) Okayama Station: 岡山(09:11) (by JR Sanyo Line bound for Mihara:三原)

4) Itozaki Station: 糸崎(10:45)

AND
4) Itozaki Station: 糸崎(10:53)
5) Hiroshima Station: 広島(12:13) (by JR Sanyo Line bound for Iwakuni: 岩国)

Inbound:

1) Hiroshima Station: 広島(18:13) (by JR Sanyo Line bound for Okayama: 岡山)

2) Okayama Station: 岡山 (21:04)

AND

2) Okayama Station: 岡山 (21:09) (by JR Sanyo Line bound for Himeji: 姫路)

3) Himeji Station: 姫路(10:33) 

AND

3) Himeji Station: 姫路(10:35) (by JR kyobe Line bound for Nozu: 野州)

4) Osaka Station: 大阪(11:38)

For more detailed train schedule, check this interactive timetable.