Weekend & Day Trips from Osaka, Japan

Appearing in recorded history as long ago as 631 A.D., Arima Onsen Town is one of the oldest and most famous hot spring resort towns in Japan. There are several public baths to choose from, but all the bathhouses in town get their water from the same two sources: The mineral-rich Gold Spring and the clear but slightly radioactive Silver Spring, both of which are believed to have health benefits. The town also hosts many festivals throughout the year, and if you're lucky enough to be here while one is happening, you'll likely get to see a geisha performance.

Arima Onsen Town, Kita-ku, Kita, Kobe 651-1401, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, Phone: +81-78-9-04-07-08

Sitting in the Seto Inland Sea off the coast of Shikoku, Awaji Island is connected to the city of Kobe by a suspension bridge. Legend has it that it was the first Japanese island to be formed, and regardless of whether or not this is true, it's certainly a beautiful place that embodies many of the best things about Japan.

It's long been an important agricultural center, and it's still known for being a foodie's paradise and for its colorful flowers that bloom year-round. Other attractions include the many hot springs, the beautiful beaches, and the massive vortex off its coast. Awaji Island

Traditional Japanese washi paper has been an important part of the country's culture for more than 1,500 years, and Echizen Washi Village is widely regarded as the tradition's spiritual home. The town's fascinating Paper and Culture Museum introduces visitors to the history of washi paper, while the Paper and Craft museum features a reconstructed papermaker's house from the Edo era, which is the only place in Japan where you can see the entire traditional process from start to finish. If you want a more hands-on experience, you can also visit the Papyrus House to make your own washi paper to bring home.

Echizen Washi Village, 8-44 Shinzaike, Echizen City Fukui 9150232 Japan, Phone: +81-77-8-42-13-63

Fukui is one of the least-visited cities in Japan, but those who make the effort to come here will be pleasantly surprised to find that it's a true hidden gem. Located on Honshu Island, it's surrounded by wonderful attractions like the ancient Maruoka Castle, the unique and breathtaking Tojinbo Cliffs, and the Eiheiji temple complex, an important center of Zen Buddhism. The area is also known for the incredible number of dinosaur fossils that have been found here, and if you're interested in this aspect of its history, the Dinosaur Museum is a must-see as well. Fukui

Also known as the White Heron Castle, Himeji Castle is an elegant castle complex perched on top of a hill in the city of Himeji. The complex consists of more than 80 buildings connected by a network of meandering paths, and after paying the admission fee, visitors are welcome to climb up to the top of the six-story main keep, look out from the viewpoints on the top floor, and admire the beautiful Edo period-style gardens. The grounds are also a wonderful place to see cherry blossoms in early April, but be aware that there are often long line-ups during this time.

Himeji Castle, 68 Honmachi, Himeji, Hyogo 670-0012, Japan

Hiroshima is known worldwide as the target of a tragic atomic bomb during World War II, and although it's not possible to visit the city without taking some time to reflect on its heartbreaking past, there are plenty of other things for visitors to see and do as well. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park certainly deserves a spot on your itinerary, but you can also visit the historic landscape garden Shukkei-en, stop by Hiroshima Castle, or marvel at the artwork in the Hiroshima Museum of Art. If you have some extra time, it's also worth heading out to Miyajima Island to see the Itsukushima Shrine.

Created in 2004 by merging Ueno City with a few of the surrounding towns, the city of Iga is most famous for being one of the two major areas where ninjas were trained during the feudal area. Today, the biggest tourist attraction in Iga is the Ninja Museum, which features both informative exhibits and live demonstrations.

Other attractions worth seeing include the beautifully reconstructed Ueno Castle, the birthplace of the famous poet Matsuo Basho, and the Sukodo Former School, where the children of samurai were educated until the building was badly damaged by an earthquake until 1854.

Dating all the way back to the 3rd century, the Ise Grand Shrine is the most sacred Shinto Shrine in the country. Dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu, it consists of two principal parts: The Naiku Inner Shrine and the Geku Outer Shrine. The architectural style of the buildings resembles the style used to construct ancient rice granaries, but both the inner and outer shrines are fairly new, as Shinto tradition requires that they be rebuilt from scratch every 20 years. Visitors are welcome on the grounds between sunrise and sunset, and small English guidebooks are available free of charge.

Ise Grand Shrine, 1 Ujitachicho, Ise, Mie 516-0023, Japan, Phone: +81-59-6-24-11-11

Fondly known as "Little Kyoto", the charming city of Kanazawa is known for its well-preserved Edo-era districts, its colorful silk and pottery, and its superb art museums. The Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art is one of the best places to see beautiful regional handicrafts, while the historic Eastern Chaya district, also known as the teahouse district, was one of the most popular places for wealthy lords to watch geisha performances during the Edo Period. However, the best-known attraction in the city is the spectacular Kenroku-en, a 25-acre landscape garden dotted with fountains, bridges, and blooming flowers. Kanazawa

If you're looking for a wonderfully relaxing way to spend the day, consider making a trip to Kinosaki Onsen, another one of Japan's best hot spring towns. The best thing to do here is simply soak in the therapeutic water, and there are seven public bathhouses to choose from, some of which feature special touches like steam rooms, hot and cold saunas, and outdoor baths with waterfalls. Aside from the bathhouses, other popular activities include trying to spot the endangered Oriental White Storks in the area, cycling alongside the beautiful Maruyama River, and taking a traditional calligraphy class.

Kinosaki Onsen , Kinosakicho Yushima, Toyooka, Hyogo 669-6101, Japan