3. The Pacific Port City of Nagoya
An easy 1.5-hour commute by train east of Kyoto, the busy port of Nagoya is well worth taking the time to explore. Thanks to its large natural harbor, Nagoya has long been an important manufacturing city. It’s particularly famous for its ceramic industry, which can trace its roots back as far as the 12th century. Many tourists, in fact, are drawn here specifically for the city’s fascinating workshops and factory tours.
4. Peace City: Hiroshima
Although a lengthier trip – it’s three hours due west of Kyoto by high-speed train – a day trip to Hiroshima is well worth the time. It’s hard to believe, given its beautiful setting, that this fine city, forever remembered for the dropping of the first atomic bomb on August 6th, 1945, was ever a military target.
