Nara: The first permanent capital of Japan before Kyoto, Nara (website: www.pref.nara.jp/nara_e/) is located just 45 minutes away and has a wealth of cultural riches, including a large number of old temples, shrines and artworks. It boasts the world's largest wooden building at Todaiji Temple, which houses a famous bronze Buddha of gigantic proportions, as well as the world's oldest wooden structure at Horyuji Temple. Both have status as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites and are among the most important temples in Japan. The city has many other interesting temples in addition to some beautiful parkland and plenty of arts and crafts and souvenir shops.

Osaka: For an antidote to the history-drenched temples-and-shrines ambience of Kyoto and Nara, step onboard a shinkansen and you will be in Osaka (website: www.tourism.city.osaka.jp/en) in half an hour. Traditionally the commercial centre of Japan, Osaka is a bustling city with lots of ultramodern neon-lit cityscapes and futuristic buildings. In the north is the business district of Kita, with its many skyscrapers, while Minami in the south encompasses the city's main shopping and entertainment centres, including the famous area around Dōtonbori Bridge, where the streets are lined with hundreds of restaurants. A busy, lively city, Osaka is home to Japan's best aquarium, the Kaiyukan; the incredible open air Umeda Floating Garden Observatory on top of two skyscrapers; the impressive Osaka Castle; and not least a wealth of excellent restaurants (Osaka is the gourmet food capital of Japan). For more information on the city, check out the Columbus City Guide to Osaka.