Best Day Trips from Tokyo | Explore Beyond the Big City

If you’re spending more than 3 days in Tokyo, and want to see beyond the big city, it may be worth considering going on a day trip! By going on a day trip, you’ll be able to see Japan beyond it’s big lights and busy streets and dive deeper into Japan.

These best day trips from Tokyo, all under 2.5 hours of commute, allow you to visit everything from Mount Fuji, to other UNESCO World Heritage Sites, smaller towns, and more.

Keep reading to discover which of these day trips is perfect for your Japan travels!😍👇

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Best Day Trips from Tokyo

I’m excited to share that I collaborated with fellow travel bloggers who’ve been to Japan, so we could bring you a curated and in-depth list of the best day trips from Tokyo!

As you’ll quickly see, this list includes everything from small towns, to coastal cities, other big cities, UNESCO World Heritage sites and more.

Each travel blogger, myself included, shared their own experiences on their day trip, the highlights, how they traveled, and so forth.

Without further ado, here are the best day trips from Tokyo!😍👇

Fujikawaguchiko

When in Tokyo, a quick day trip to Mount Fuji is simply a must!

Fujikawaguchiko, also referred to as Kawaguchiko, is a beautiful, quaint town that sits at the feet of Mount Fuji. Only 2-ish hours from Tokyo, you get to experience such a different side of Japan.

There are many amazing things to do in Kawaguchiko, one being Lake Kawaguchiko! This is the second largest of the Fuji Five Lakes, and the easiest one to access. From here you’ll get mesmerizing views of Mount Fuji and breathtaking nature. You can bike around the whole lake, or walk it, and explore all of its attractions.

Depending on the season, you can witness the most beautiful flower blooms or vibrant foliage. In the Spring time, you’ll enjoy the cherry blossoms and be able to attend the mesmerizing Fuji Shibazakura Festival. In the Fall time, you’ll enjoy the Momiji Autumn Leaves Festival and the Momiji Corridor.

Kawaguchiko is also a great place to enjoy a relaxing onsen. If you want to stay the night, these are the best hotels with onsens: Togawaso and Konansou.

One restaurant you must visit is Shaw’s Sushi Bar & Dining. Shaw’s is gluten free friendly and personally, one of the best restaurants I’ve been to in Japan. I CANNOT recommend the Tuna set and tempura, enough!😍

There are different great ways to get to Kawaguchiko from Tokyo. I took the Highway Bus, departing from Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal, which was wonderful and only cost 2100 yen ($13.25)! Whichever method, you’ll get to Kawaguchiko in 2.5 hours or below.

Contributed by Me, Laura, from Laura Dolci Travels 😊

Kanazawa City

If you are looking to dive deeper into Japan’s culture, Samurai history, and visit the country’s most beautiful garden – Kanazawa City is a must visit!

Capital of the Kaga Domain, Kanazawa is where the Maeda Clan ruled from during the Edo period. The Maeda Clan was a wealthy Samurai family of high-ranking officials, and who is responsible for Kanazawas wonders.

Some of the best things to do in Kanazawa are visiting the Kenroku-en Garden, the Kanazawa Castle, Omicho Market, and the Higashi Chaya District.

The Kenroku-en, “garden of the six sublimities“, has all the six features that make a Japanese garden perfect. This was created by the Maeda family as an outer garden to the Kanazawa Castle, their residence. This garden is perfect during all seasons, and only costs 320 yen to enter.

The Omicho Market, often known as “Kanazawa’s Kitchen”, is the largest food market in Kanazawa since the Edo period. Here you’ll find over 180 stalls selling everything from fresh seafood to Japanese sweets, street food, home goods, and more. Visiting this 300+ year old market allows you to immerse yourself in the local’s daily life and enjoy delicious food.

The Higashi Chaya District is Kanazawa’s largest teahouse and Geisha district. When you walk through this district, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in the Samurai times. Here you can find great Chayas, “teahouses”, restaurants, artisan shops, museums, and more. Two places to check out are the Ochaya Shima and Kaikaro.

While it’s best to spend at least 2 days in Kanazawa, a day trip is definitely worth it if you don’t have enough time! To reach Kanazawa from Tokyo, grab the Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo Station for the fastest commute. This should cost almost 14,600 yen, roughly $100.

Make the most of your time in Kanazawa with this highly-rated, private guided tour!

Contributed by Me, Laura, from Laura Dolci Travels 😊

Fujiyoshida

If you’re hoping for that Mount Fuji Fix we highly recommend a day trip to Fujiyoshida. This beautiful town sits at the foot of Mount Fuji.

One of the most popular and pretty spots in Fujiyoshida is the iconic Arakurayama Sengen Park where you can get that iconic Mount Fuji Pagoda view. It is free to enter the park and viewpoint – just walk up the hill to find the Chureito Pagoda. Be prepared for a sea of self-sticks and shoulder to shoulder crowds (especially in blossom season!) Apart from the intensity – this really is a stunning spot, if possible try to find a quiet place away from the crowds and take a real moment here.

You can also take a scenic cable car ride up to Kawaguchiko Tenjoyama Park (600 yen one way and 1,000 yen for a round trip). From the top you can get panoramic unobstructed views of Fuji – genuinely a very impressive spot!

If you have time, head over to the north side of Lake Kawaguchiko to get a stunning view of Fuji over the lake. If you’re looking for a unique and relaxing experience we also recommend a dip at the Fuji-sensui Onsen. This lovely onsen has outdoor unisex baths where you can gaze at Mount Fuji as you bathe!

Fujiyoshida is approximately 100km west of Tokyo and you can take Chuo Line from Shinjuku Station (around 2,500 yen each way). This is not part of the JR network so you can’t use your JR pass for this one. Prepare for a long and yet very epic day!

Contributed by Pete from The Back Packing Family.

Yokohama

Japan’s second largest city, Yokohama is hands down one of the best day trips from Tokyo. 

A quick 30-minute train ride from Haneda Airport, Yokohama is a huge city with an abundance of attractions and great places to eat. If you love museums, Chinatown, and walkable cities, then Yokohama is the perfect day trip.

Yokohama is easily accessible from Haneda airport, hop on the local train and just a few stops you will find yourself in one of Japan’s greatest cities. If in Tokyo, head to Tokyo Station, and take the JR Tokaido Main Line from Tokyo Station for about 25-30 minutes.

Yokohama is famous for its unique museums. I highly recommend visiting the Ramen Museum, Cup Noodle Museum, and the Japan Coast Guard Museum. The Japan Coast Guard Museum was surprisingly one of the most interesting museums I’ve been to in Japan.

When visiting Yokohama, no trip is complete without walking around and eating food at Chinatown. Yokohama’s Chinatown is the largest in Japan. It’s recommended to try the dumplings that are found at almost every stall.

For a one-day trip from Tokyo, I recommend visiting at least two museums in Yokohama and grabbing food at Chinatown. If there is any extra time, take the Yokohama Air Cabin to Unga Park Station and walk to the Red Brick Warehouse area for views of the ocean, more dining options, and do some shopping.

Contributed by Brandon from Zimmin Around the World.

Kawagoe

Kawagoe is a fun destination to visit from Tokyo. 

Located in the Saitama Prefecture, Kawagoe is a cute area with preserved historical wooden buildings, tons of shopping, and shrines and pagodas. 

I recommend walking through Kurazukari main shopping street to browse through souvenir shops. If you’re a tea drinker, there is a shop selling locally grown loose-leaf teas such sencha, gyokuro, and hojicha. I bought a few bags as souvenirs and the teas were delicious.

Another main highlight of the shopping street is the wooden Bell Tower (Toki no Kane). 

If you like temples and shrines, Kitain Temple and Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine are recommended. I prefer the shrine as it’s more picturesque with windmills and lanterns. You can “fish” for a fortune, but the fortune is in Japanese. 

Kawagoe is known for sweet potatoes, so you’ll see sweet potato bread, baguettes, and snacks for sale. 

Grilled eel (unagi) is also another popular food to eat here. There are a few restaurants that are 100+ years old! I recommend Ogakiku as the unagi is absolutely delicious with the umami sauce. 

It’s easy to get here by train. Since I stayed in the Shinjuku area, I took the JR line from Shinjuku to Ikebukuro Station and transferred to the Tobu Tojo line from Ikebukuro to Kawagoe Station. It took 40 minutes. 

I recommend getting the Tobu Railway Kawagoe Discount Pass. You get a cheaper train ride and discounts on certain stores. The pass is an adorable lantern that can be kept as a souvenir afterward. 

Contributed by Jackie from Life Of Doing.

Nikko

An easy day trip from Tokyo, the beautiful Nikko area is a welcome departure from the hustle and bustle of the big Japanese cities.

Nikko is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Listed 500 year old Toshogu Shrine as well as a huge amount of national parkland and the stunning Shinkyo Bridge.

Getting to Nikko from Tokyo is best done from Shinjuku Station, where there is a limited express train running to Tobu-Nikko station. The journey will take around two hours one-way and cost 4090 JPY on a reserved seat train. It is worth noting that this rail journey is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass, so you will need to buy a ticket for the trip. 

When you arrive at Tobu-Nikko station, you can decide whether you’d like to walk the 45 minutes to the Toshogu Shrine and see some of the other scenery or whether you’d like to get the shuttle bus from the station. Either is fine, but I definitely recommend the walk if you have time as the scenery is beautiful.

When you get to the shrine, spend ample time admiring the vibrantly painted carvings and keep an eye out for the three wise monkeys carved on the temple.

Once you’ve enjoyed the temple and grounds, you can choose to walk about 12 minutes to visit the lovely Shinkyo bridge, a vermillon-coloured arched bridge over a picturesque Japanese stream.

Nikko is also a wonderful area for natural hot springs, so I recommend spending the afternoon warming up soaking in the steaming waters of one of the region’s many onsen.

Contributed by Emma from Emma Jane Explores.

Kamakura

One of the best day trips from Tokyo is to the historical and beautiful city of Kamakura.

Located just 50 kilometers south of Tokyo, Kamakura is easily accessible by train, with the journey taking around one hour on the JR Yokosuka Line or the JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line, both of which use the JR Pass.

Kamakura can get quite crowded, especially on weekends. Ideally, make your day trip during the week to avoid the crowds. Arrive early to beat the crowds.

Once in Kamakura, start your day at the iconic Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kamakura Daibutsu). This colossal bronze statue, standing at 13 meters tall, is a symbol of the city’s historical significance and offers a serene atmosphere for reflection. It will literally take your breath away as pictures do not do it justice.

Another impressive temple is the Hasedara Temple. You’ll find an eleven-headed statue of the goddess of mercy, Kannon. Go to the observation deck for stunning views of Kamaukura’s coastline.

For lunch, refuel at Komachi Ichibangai, located near Kamakura Station. It offers a delightful selection of traditional Japanese dishes.

Start your afternoon at the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. Built in 1603, the Shinto shrine is dedicated to Hachiman, the god of warriors. It is a powerful testament to Kamakura’s samurai heritage.

Finally, check out the bamboo groves at Hokokuji Temple. Strolling through the bamboo forest is pretty relaxing. You can grab a cup of matcha tea at the cute little tea house there. It’ll add some tranquility to the end of your day.

With its rich history and natural beauty, Kamakura promises a great day trip from Tokyo.

Contributed by Pamela from the The Directionally Challenged Traveler.

Shimoda

Shimoda is the perfect getaway from the busy streets of Tokyo. You can easily hop on a train for a quick two-hour ride from Tokyo Station to the southern shores of the Izu Peninsula. And if you are feeling extra fancy, try the Saphir Odoriko for a luxury ride.

Once you are in town, you can easily rent a bike or call a taxi to head to any of the amazing stops around town.

We personally rented bikes from the train station for 1,100 JPY ($7) per bike for 4 hours. This was a great option to get to Perry Road to see some of the historical sites. You can also ride along the water to see some of the gorgeous cliffsides meet the clear blue water. Don’t miss the tiny shrine island at Bishako Island!

If you want to get epic views, head up the Shimoda Ropeway. This cable car runs every 30 minutes or so and takes you up to some stunning views over the town and sea. It’s just across the street from the train station so you won’t even need any transportation.

But, of course, the main reason to visit Shimoda is to cool off and hop in the water! We rode our bikes over to Sotoura Beach. It was only a 30-minute bike ride and even though the hills were steep, we rented e-bikes so we survived! Just a big tip, do NOT follow the bike directions on Google Maps. Just follow the driving directions!

As for food, we highly recommend trying some of the local seafood! We ate at the tiny little restaurant Gorosaya near the train station and the food was divine!! Top it off with a cold Asahi and you are in business for a perfect day trip from Tokyo!

Contributed by Alicia Walter from The Passport Couple.

Day Tours from Tokyo | Hassle-Free, Guided Experiences

Do you want to go on a day trip to Tokyo, but want to do so worry free? Then check out these best day tours from Tokyo!

By going on a day tour, you won’t need to worry about figuring out transportation, booking tickets, and all the “fun” logistics. Furthermore, you will be able to learn in depth about the place your visiting and the attractions, as well as discover the more local side of things.

The only con of guided day tours from Tokyo is that you cannot go on your own pace, unless you’re on a private tour. Besides that, these are all amazing experiences.

Without further ado, here are the best and highest-rated day tours from Tokyo!

FAQs on Day Trips from Tokyo

Can you do Kyoto in a day from Tokyo?

Thanks to the highspeed of the Shinkansen bullet trains, you can reach Kyoto from Tokyo in only about two hours. You can certainly do Kyoto as a day trip from Tokyo, but it’s not necessarily recommend.

Kyoto is a destination that needs a few days to be explored. If you don’t have enough time and really want to visit, then definitely go on the day trip. But if you have time and are trying to figure out where to allot your time, I wouldn’t suggest treating Kyoto as a day trip.

How many days in Tokyo is enough?

Tokyo has 23 wards and 26 cities – meaning, no amount of time will ever be enough.

The absolute minimum of days to spend in Tokyo are, in my opinion, 3 full days. With 3 full days, you’ll be able to see 3-4 wards or cities, such as Shibuya or Asakusa, and get a proper “appetizer”.

Is Hakone a day trip from Tokyo?

Hakone can be an amazing day trip from Tokyo!

Hakone is a beautiful town in Fujiyoshida, by Mount Fuji, that is famous for it’s iconic Chureito Pagoda and views of Mount Fuji.

Here are 4 best ways to reach the Mount Fuji area, and how to spend the best 2 days in Lake Kawaguchiko – should you want to spend the night near Hakone!

Can you rent a car in Japan as a foreigner?

You most certainly can! If you want to rent a car in Japan, check out Klook’s amazing deals.👇

Do you have everything you Need? Use my FREE e-Checklist!

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Read more on Japan

• 23 ESSENTIAL Tips + Things to Know Before Visiting Japan
• Do’s and Don’ts in Japan: Etiquette Guide for New Visitors
• The Ultimate 5 Day Tokyo Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
• Do I really need a JR Pass in? Here’s Everything You Need to Know!
• The Best Tokyo Street Food Tours | Foodie Heaven in Japan
• Discover the Best Area to Stay in Tokyo Japan
• The 8 Best Day Trips from Kyoto Under 2 Hours
• Is Kanazawa Worth Visiting? 14 Reasons Why it Is!

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