Minoh Falls can be reached after a roughly 40-minute walk through the rich greenery of Minoh Park’s waterfall track. The track is accessible on foot from Minoh Station on the Hankyu Railway, which is connected to Osaka/Umeda on a 30-minute train ride.

The roaring waterfall has a height of 33 meters and is said to resemble a farmer’s winnowing basket, which is the meaning behind its name. While faint, if you get up close, you can feel its refreshing spray on your skin.

The trail leading to Minoh Falls is lined with numerous shops selling local goods and souvenirs, including the famous “maple leaf tempura.” Yes, that’s right, you can literally eat maple leaves fried into tempura! And this is no touristy gimmick - the tradition is said to have started around 1,300 years ago when the famous monk En no Gyoja established the area as a place of ascetic practice, and served travelers fried maple leaves after noticing their beauty. They are available in summer, too, so definitely try one!

Kibune is reachable after a 30-minute walk from Kibuneguchi Station on the Eizan Electric Railway, which can be accessed after an hour’s train ride (with changeovers) from JR Kyoto Station. It is located in the north of Kyoto City, and is lovingly nicknamed the city’s “inner parlor.”

The Kibune River runs through the valley between Mt. Kibuneyama and Mt. Kurama, and between May and September each year, restaurants and ryokan set up outdoor terraces along the river where visitors can dine while listening to the sounds of water.

This area is around 5-10°C cooler than residential Kyoto City, offering a great place to relax when the heat of the city becomes too intense.

If you continue down the river lined by these restaurants, you’ll reach Kifune Shrine on the left side. This is the head shrine of about 450 Kifune shrines dotted about Japan, and it boasts over 1,300 years of history. It enshrines Takaokami-no-Kami, who rules over water, and visitors are free to drink from the sacred water that wells up from the shrine grounds, and have their fortune told through water.

Kiyotaki can be reached via a 15-minute bus ride from Arashiyama Station (Hankyu Railway). It once prospered as an inn town at the base of Mt. Atago for those making the pilgrimage to Atago Shrine, which venerates the god of protection from fire.

There is a walking trail along the Kiyotaki River, which is surrounded by verdant, invigorating greenery. It is also just 3 km from the popular tourist destination Arashiyama, and many choose to visit on a rental bike.

After following the Kiyotaki River upstream from the village for around 2 km, you’ll come across Kuya Falls. It is named after Buddhist monk Kuya, who is famous for spreading the “nembutsu” practice during the Heian period (794-1185), and is said to have trained himself at this waterfall.

In front of the waterfall stands a torii gate flanked by a statue of the deity Acala, weaving together a mystical atmosphere. The waterfall is also known for its stunning fall foliage, luring in lots of sightseers, but the summer remains fairly quiet, making it an excellent spot to enjoy some peace and quiet.

Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden can be accessed after a 3-minute ride on the bus or a 15-minute walk from Rokko Sancho Station on the Mt. Rokko Cable Car.

Mt. Rokko itself looms over the Kobe cityscape and can be reached in just around an hour from Sannomiya in the city center, making it a classic summertime destination for locals.

The garden sits at an altitude of 865 meters and is around 5°C cooler than Kobe City, said to have a similar climate to Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido. Utilizing this high altitude, around 1,500 species of alpine plants, cold climate plants, and wildflowers from across the globe are cultivated throughout.

Highlights within the approximately 50,000 m² grounds include the rock garden, where you’ll see alpine plants grown in their natural habitat, as well as the alpine grassland, which has around 50 different types of plants in the image of a highland flower field.

There is also the Edelweiss Cafe, modeled on a mountain hut surrounded by greenery. They will also be running a unique “hammock cafe,” where you can enjoy tea while swaying in a hammock on weekends until August 6 and between August 11-15.

After silver was first discovered in 1542, the mine long supported the finances of shogunate governments like Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. It continued to serve Japan as one of its largest mines until closing in 1973, reopening as a tourist destination in 1974.

To reach the Ikuno Silver Mine, take the Shinki Green Bus from JR Ikuno Station for 10 minutes, get off at “Ikuno Ginzan-Guchi,” and then walk for 10 minutes. Being only 50 minutes from Himeji, the home of Himeji Castle, it’s a great fit for a summer Kansai itinerary.

Inside the mine is a kilometer-long sightseeing tunnel which retains a brisk temperature of 13°C throughout the entire year. It takes around 40 minutes to walk between the Edo Period excavation zone to the modern mining site, with animatronic dioramas bringing to life the mine at its peak. There are also three museums on the premises displaying all sorts of historical materials and more.

While the hour it takes from Osaka to Yamato-Yagi Station and the additional 180-minute bus ride makes it a bit of a journey, the thrilling experience of crossing the Tanize Suspension Bridge in Nara’s southernmost village of Totsukawa is undoubtedly worthwhile!

At 297 meters, it is one of Japan’s longest iron wire suspension bridges, and below lies a daunting 54-meter drop. It straddles the pristine Totsukawa River, and crossing it will give you a thrill sure to dispel summer fatigue!

While initially built for locals, it now remains as a popular tourist attraction. Be aware that its max capacity is 20 people, and strong winds can rock it, so be careful. Locals say that couples who cross the bridge together will grow even closer, so put aside your fears and take the challenge!

Biwako Terrace is located in the Biwako Valley, which can be reached in about 20-30 minutes by bus and ropeway from JR Shiga Station, about 40-minutes from Kyoto City. Biwako Valley is made up of Mt. Uchimiyama (1,108 m) and Mt. Horai (1,174 m). From “The Main” terrace on Mt. Uchimiyama are jaw-dropping panoramas over Lake Biwa, making it feel like you’re standing above the clouds.

The lookout is around 7-10°C cooler than the mountain base, so they recommend bringing a jacket on windy days, even in summer. Also on the premises is the Terrace Cafe, where you can enjoy a meal and drink.

Visitors inclined to explore further can take an additional two lifts from Mt. Uchimiyama to a lookout on the summit of Mt. Horai. This arched wooden deck presents sweeping 360-degree panoramas encompassing the entire region, even stretching out to the cityscapes of Kyoto and Osaka, and as far as the 3,000-meter-tall Southern Alps on clear days.

The local tradition of canal rides is said to have started about 400 years ago when samurai ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi held a boat tea party modeled after the boat rides of the Imperial Court. These small boats are hand-paddled down the maze-like, reed-lined canals, giving passengers an elegant, refreshing experience.

Add a day of relaxation to your summertime Kansai trip with a boat ride through the scenic canals of Omihachiman, reachable after a 15-minute bus ride from Omihachiman Station. Omihachiman Station itself is about 40 minutes by train from Kyoto Station, making it doable as a Kyoto day trip.

There are four companies that run canal boat tours, each starting/finishing at a different location with varying schedules. However, they all generally take between 60-80 minutes.

Several different boats serving single passengers all the way to private boats are available, so pick one that suits your budget and group size.

Mt. Koya is the center of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism and was founded by the great monk Kukai 1,200 years ago. It can be reached in 90 minutes from Namba, Osaka, via Gokurakubashi Station on the Nankai Electric Railway, and then by taking the Koyasan Cable Car and bus for around 20 minutes.

This mountain basin is surrounded by peaks with 1,000-meter-plus altitudes, blessing it with a temperature that remains around 5-6°C cooler than Osaka City, attracting lots of visitors over the summer.

One of the most famous icons of Mt. Koya is Okunoin Temple, worshiped as the site where Kukai is said to have entered eternal meditation. Towering cedar trees line the temple path on both sides, and it houses the memorial tower of famous Sengoku Period general Oda Nobunaga, the mausoleum of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism founder Shinran, and more, granting it a mystical atmosphere.

The Kumano Kodo is a series of ancient pilgrimage routes used by worshippers seeking to pray at the Kumano Sanzan shrines of Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha, and Kumano Nachi Taisha/Seiganto-ji Temple, which became religious centers during Japan’s middle ages. Strolling a portion of it is a popular thing to do when visiting Wakayama.

One of the most popular routes is Daimon-zaka, which retains its old-world atmosphere, and can be reached via a 20-minute bus ride from JR Kii-Katsuura Station.

Daimon-zaka is a 640-meter-long stone path leading to Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine. It abounds with an ethereal charm, and is surrounded by magnificent cedar trees, many of which are over 800 years old. Combined with mossy stone steps, it renders a scene sure to soothe the soul. At the end of the route, you’ll be further rewarded by the sight of the 133-meter-tall Nachi Falls, a dynamic waterfall that will keep you feeling fresh and energized.

For travelers willing to go a little off the beaten track, there’s a huge list of spots in Kansai promising refuge from the intense summer heat. Using trains and buses, many of these can be reached on a day trip from Kyoto and Osaka, so if you’re feeling uncomfortable while traveling in Kansai this summer, don’t hesitate to venture out to one of the locations on this list to cool down while discovering something new!

*The information in this article is current as of July 2023. Please check official websites for the latest information.

Text by: Efeel