Day trips

The 9 Best Day Trips from Ōtsu

Drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan for every place worth the trip.

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There are 9 good day trips from Ōtsu, Japan, led by Osaka, Nagoya, Kobe. The closest is Hirakata, about 45 min by car, and 2 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.

Day trips from Ōtsu at a glance

Destination	Distance	Drive time	Best as
Osaka	48 km SW	55 min	Half-day trip
Nagoya	97 km E	1 hr 30 min	Full-day trip
Kobe	71 km SW	1 hr 20 min	Full-day trip
Himeji	108 km W	1 hr 40 min	Full-day trip
Toyota	117 km E	1 hr 50 min	Full-day trip
Hirakata	29 km SW	45 min	Half-day trip
Gifu	94 km NE	1 hr 30 min	Full-day trip
Okazaki	119 km E	1 hr 50 min	Full-day trip
Toyohashi	141 km E	2 hr 10 min	Full-day trip

Drive times are estimates from the distance. Check live traffic before you leave.

The best day trips from Ōtsu

1
Osaka, Japan
Half-day trip
About 55 min by car48 km south-west of Ōtsu1 hr 50 min round trip
Known for キッズプラザ大阪.
Also nearby: Higashiosaka, Nishinomiya, Amagasaki, Toyonaka, Suita.
2
Nagoya, Japan
Full-day trip
About 1 hr 30 min by car97 km east of Ōtsu3 hr round trip
Known for Nana-chan Mannequin.
Also nearby: Ichinomiya.
3
Kobe, Japan
Full-day trip
About 1 hr 20 min by car71 km south-west of Ōtsu2 hr 40 min round trip
Known for BE KOBE.
4
Himeji, Japan
Full-day trip
About 1 hr 40 min by car108 km west of Ōtsu3 hr 20 min round trip
5
Toyota, Japan
Full-day trip
About 1 hr 50 min by car117 km east of Ōtsu3 hr 40 min round trip
6
Hirakata, Japan
Half-day trip
About 45 min by car29 km south-west of Ōtsu1 hr 30 min round trip
7
Gifu, Japan
Full-day trip
About 1 hr 30 min by car94 km north-east of Ōtsu3 hr round trip
8
Okazaki, Japan
Full-day trip
About 1 hr 50 min by car119 km east of Ōtsu3 hr 40 min round trip
9
Toyohashi, Japan
Full-day trip
About 2 hr 10 min by car141 km east of Ōtsu4 hr 20 min round trip

A sample day trip: Ōtsu to Osaka

A realistic pace for Osaka, 48 km from Ōtsu. Packy AI builds this for any place on the list, with a route, opening hours and timings you can edit.

08:30Leave Ōtsu
09:25Arrive in Osaka (55 min drive)
09:40キッズプラザ大阪
11:40Lunch
12:55Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Osaka
15:25Head back to Ōtsu
16:20Home in Ōtsu

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What are the best day trips from Ōtsu?: The best day trips from Ōtsu are Osaka, Nagoya, Kobe, Himeji, Toyota. The closest is Hirakata, about 45 min away by car.
What is the closest day trip from Ōtsu?: Hirakata is the closest, 29 km south-west of Ōtsu, roughly 45 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
Where can I go within an hour of Ōtsu?: 2 places are within about an hour's drive of Ōtsu: Hirakata (45 min), Osaka (55 min).
What is the biggest city near Ōtsu for a day out?: Osaka is the largest city in day-trip range, 48 km south-west of Ōtsu and about 55 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
How far is too far for a day trip from Ōtsu?: Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Toyohashi at 141 km, around 2 hr 10 min by car.

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