Kansai suggestions, day trips

Hi,
I will be 8 days in Kyoto and it is my second time. I'm in search of nice 1-day trips with time travel not more than 1,5h one way (and Ialso except Osaka and Nara which I already visited last time).

I'm thinking going to
1. Kobe (see the harbor, the lift)
2. Hikone or Nagahama? or any other small old vilage/town?
3. Uji

Any other suggestions?

Hi,

It is your second time. Where have you been in your first time?

In Kobe, the cable car to the top of the mountain is nice. Do not know any lift though.

Himeji Castle is nice.

Uji is very nice, pleasant walks.

Koya san, Ise, Katsura are all very nature and scenic places.

Miyama is good for small village life.

There are many places you could visit, some already given above.
You mention time though, not cost, and you could get pretty far by bullet train if you like.
One place off the top is Hikone Castle - it's often overlooked but also one of the original surviving castles (not a reconstruction).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCp5HCc6rYQ
Koyasan would be good too but would take over 2 hours and not 90 minutes to reach.
If you haven't seen them yet, Kibune, Kurama and Takao in Kyoto makes a great escape from the summer heat. For Nara, Asuka is another place you could see, although it has a lot of older sights, more recent places may be more impressive.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4175.html

Okayama is certainly possible too. Aside from its castle, there is Korakuen, which is one of Japan's Top 3 traditional gardens.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zAI3_N7NEM
Also nearby is Handayama, and while the cherry blossom season is best, it still has a lot of natural beauty most of the year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGQ8o7k9GbA

Kurashiki is nearby also, and makes a good outing.
And while just a little over 90 minutes with a good connection, you can easily see Hiroshima as well. Using a JR Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass, you can easily get your money's worth in just one day.

Biwako/Otsu/Ishiyama/Sakamoto
Hikone/Nagahama
Shirahama
Kobe
Himeji
Okayama
Koyasan
Kurama/Kifune areas
Asakura area/Hasedera
Wakayama

Both Hikone and Nagahama are small towns - if you allow half a day for each, then they can be visited on the same day. If you want to take a cruise on Lake Biwa, Chikubushima is accessible from Nagahama Port.

http://en.biwako-visitors.jp/gobiwako/explore/chikubu-island-chikubush...

https://www.biwakokisen.co.jp/en/chikubushima.html

Thanks, Chikubushima seems to look a nice option.