6 Best Day Tours and Trips from Tokyo (Guided & Private)

Traveling to Tokyo and considering a guided tour from, or within, the city? You’re in the right place! As someone who’s planned her own Japan travels, I know exactly how overwhelming it can be — the options are endless, the research is exhausting, and Tokyo alone feels like its own country with how immense it is.😅

That’s why I created this curated list of the best-rated, best-selling guided tours and day trips from Tokyo. These are experiences I’ve thoroughly researched — comparing reviews, prices, what’s included, and how beginner-friendly they are. I would happily book for myself on my next visit (hopefully soon 🥹).

One thing I can never stress enough for first time visitors: Tokyo isn’t just a “big city”. It’s a massive metropolitan prefecture made up of 23 wards and 26 cities. It can get overwhelming quite quickly, especially if you have limited time and are trying to see it all.

Looking back at my first Japan trip, I wish I had booked more guided tours and experiences. This would have helped me feel less overwhelmed and truly enjoy my trip. It also it would have helped me optimize my time and travel deeper into Tokyo and the other destinations I visited!

So, whether you’re looking for a full-day escape to Mount Fuji, a cultural deep-dive into nearby towns, or a private tour tailored to your pace and preferences — this guide has something for every kind of traveler.

Keep reading to find the perfect guided day trip or tour for your Japan travels!👇

Disclaimer: This post has affiliate links that can help me earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. If you click through and buy with these links, thank you in advance for the extra support.💖😊

Top-Rated Guided Day Trips & Sightseeing Tours from Tokyo

Best day tours from Tokyo

Tokyo: Mt. Fuji, Hakone Ropeway, Lake Ashi, and a Geothermal Valley

  • 🕰️ Duration: 10 Hours
  •  Cancellation Policy: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
  • 🗺️ Language: Live tour guide in English, Chinese, Japanese

When in Tokyo, saying a quick “Hello” to Mount Fuji is simply a must!

This best-selling day tour from Tokyo brings you to Hakone, a picturesque and famous town known for its views of Mount Fuji and also its hot springs. Chances are that when you search up Mount Fuji, you see an iconic picture from Hakone’s Pagoda.

When you arrive, you’ll get to visit the historic Hakone Shrine, which dates back to the 8th century, and also the beautiful red Torii gate that stands in Lake Ashi. With this tour you have the option to add-in a pirate ship cruise adventure on Lake Ashi.

This tour includes the Hakone Ropeway, which offers spectacular views of Mount Fuji and the lake. After this adventure, you’ll head to Owakudani, a famous geothermal valley that’s roughly 4,000 years old — it was created during a volcanic eruption of Mount Hakone. This valley has a local delicacy, black eggs; regular eggs boiled in volcanic spring water.

Lastly, you’ll get to visit one of the Fuji Five Lakes, Lake Yamanaka, and also Oshino Hakkai. Oshino is a small town, and Oshino Hakkai is one of its main attractions — here you will find eight pools of crystal-clear water, most of which are filled by Mount Fuji’s melted snow.

This tour is ideal if you’re looking for a budget-friendly tour that allows you to admire Mount Fuji and visit some of the most popular spots, including Hakone, Lake Ashi, and Lake Yamanaka. I’d personally love to book this one on my next trip — especially for Oshino Hakkai and Owakudani.😍

Book your tickets before they sell out!👇

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From Tokyo: Mt. Fuji Full-Day Sightseeing Trip

  • 🕰️ Duration: 10 Hours
  •  Cancellation Policy: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
  • 🗺️ Language: Live tour guide in English

If you’re someone who loves content creation and want to spend a full-day taking pictures in some of the most picturesque spots near Mount Fuji — this best-rated guided tour from Tokyo is for you!

Honestly, this guided tour could be nicknamed a “guided photography tour” because that’s exactly what it is. Leaving from Tokyo, you’ll head towards the Mount Fuji area and visit 6 different spots.

Some places you’ll visit are Oshino Hakkai, Lake Yamanaka, the beautiful Oishi Park with (my favorite) Lake Kawaguchiko, and the viral Lawson convenience store. This day tour from Tokyo to Mount Fuji is perfect for those who want to soak in the natural beauty of Japan, and also want all the photo ops.

Note: If you go on this tour, PLEASE remember that you are visiting real places with real people and culture. Be on your best “house-guest behavior” and treat each destination with the utmost care and be respectful to locals. This might be a photo-shoot guided tour, but it is not a theme park!

This tour is not my cup of tea, but I share it because I know there are content creators and photographers who would love this type of tour. It’s even a great opportunity for any solo travelers.

Book your tickets before they sell out! 👇

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Private, Customizable Mt Fuji Day Trip with Personal Driver from Tokyo

  • 🕰️ Duration: 10-12 Hours
  •  Cancellation Policy: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
  • 🗺️ Language: Live tour guide in English, Arabic, Hindi, Japanese, Russian

If you want to take a hassle-free day trip that let’s you see it all, this best-rated private tour is perfect for you!

On this private day trip from Tokyo, you will be paired up with an English-speaking guide and driver that will bring you to Mount Fuji and it’s neighboring must-sees. Some of the attractions included in the tour are Lake Kawaguchiko, Oshino Hakkai, and the Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Jinja Shrine.

What’s really nice about this tour is that it is customizable, it includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Tokyo, and the guided will teach you about the places you visit. Furthermore, the price of the activity is per group to 5 people, making this an affordable experience for families and groups!

The only thing to note is that entry tickets and meals are not included.

Book your private, customizable guided tour from Tokyo before it sells out!👇

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Tokyo: Onsen, Arts, and Nature Day Trip to Fuji and Hakone

  • 🕰️ Duration: 10 Hours
  •  Cancellation Policy: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
  • 🗺️ Language: English, French, and Japanese

If you’re looking to say “hi” to Mount Fuji, dive deep into Hakone, and enjoy a traditional onsen experience — this private day trip if perfect for you!

What’s nice about this private tour is that it completely focuses on Hakone, a famous small town famous for its onsen “natural hot springs”. On this private day trip, you’ll have time to properly explore Hakone, it’s beautiful gardens and architectural spaces, and most importantly — an onsen experience!

An even cooler aspect is that, if you have tattoos or are traveling with someone who does, this guided tour takes away the guess-game and brings you to tattoo-friendly onsens! Most traditional onsens do not allow people with tattoos, so this is a great feature.

If you have specific requests, the private guide will tailor every detail of the itinerary to your preferences. Onsens are usually public, if you’re uncomfortable with nudity you can pay extra for, and request, a private onsen (subject to availability).

Besides the onsen, you will get to enjoy beautiful views of Mount Fuji, visit Lake Ashi, the Hakone Shrine, and enjoy an authentic Japanese meal at Tenzan Onsen.

Book your private tour here!👇

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Private Custom Tour of Tokyo with Government-Licensed Guide

  • 🕰️ Duration: 8 Hours
  •  Cancellation Policy: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
  • 🗺️ Language: English, and Japanese

As you may recall from my list of 23 Things to Know Before Visiting Japan, Tokyo is HUMONGOUS and not just a “city”. Tokyo is a metropolitan prefecture with 23 wards, 26 cities, and more.

With that said, this private custom tour is the PERFECT way to discover Tokyo, see what interests you, and travel hassle-free. During this 6 hour private tour, you can choose to visit places like the Imperial Palace, the Tsukiji Outer Market, Shibuya Crossing, traditional Japanese gardens, and so much more!

Tokyo can be very overwhelming, which in a way is part of the experience. If you want to focus only on enjoying your time, and be time-efficient, this best-rated private custom tour is perfect for you!

What’s great about this trip is that you will be with a government-licensed guide who will share with you local insider tips, and things to know about Tokyo.

Book your private tour here and start planning your perfect Tokyo day trip!👇

Tokyo Full Day Sightseeing Bus Tour

  • 🕰️ Duration: 10 Hours
  •  Cancellation Policy: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
  • 🗺️ Language: English. Audio Guide in Italian, Spanish, German, and more.

If you want to see as many of Tokyo’s landmarks as possible, then this best-rated 1-Day Tokyo bus tour is for you!

As I’ve already mentioned, Tokyo is an immense metropolitan prefecture, not just a “big city”. Most of it’s main attractions are all spread around. Tokyo can get overwhelming quite quickly, especially if you have a long list of things you want to do and see.

This is the perfect tour for anyone who has limited time in Tokyo and wants to experience the best of the city, stress-free. It brings you to 18 Tokyo must-visit places and activities with the comfort of a deluxe coach bus.

Some places you’ll visit are Tokyo Sky Tree, Asakusa, Meiji Shrine, and the Imperial Palace. What’s great about this well-rounded tour is that it includes everything from the main attractions’ entry tickets, as well as Matcha snack, to wifi on the bus, and an Izakaya lunch (if option is selected).

If this sounds like the perfect tour for you, book your spot before it sells out!👇

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Book the Best Stay for your Tokyo Travels

For first time visitors, the overall best areas to stay are in Shinjuku and Shibuya — which are the most popular districts.

Read my guide to the best areas to stay in Tokyo for tourists, and understand which is the perfect area for YOU to stay in!

Tokyo Day Trip FAQ

How many days in Tokyo is enough?

Tokyo needs weeks to be seen in its full glory. If you don’t have much time for your Japan travels, I recommend spending at least 3 full days in Tokyo, preferably 5 days.

Can you do Kyoto in a day from Tokyo?

You sure can! Kyoto, with the Shinkansen bullet train is about 2.25 hours away from Tokyo. With that said, Kyoto is a large city that also needs days to be visited properly. Taking a day trip to Kyoto from Tokyo is only worth it if you don’t have extra time!

How do I go from Tokyo to Mount Fuji?

Getting to Fuji Mountain from Tokyo is fairly easy! I personally opted for the Highway Bus, as I was planning to stay spend two days in Lake Kawaguchiko. It was an affordable, comfortable, and super easy travel experience.

Depending on your personal preferences, here are the 4 best ways to get to Mount Fuji from Tokyo and what you should know!

Which is the best day trip from Tokyo?

If you’re short on time and only have time for one day trip, it should definitely be to either Lake Kawaguchiko (my favorite) or the iconic Hakone, or both! These two destinations are right near Mount Fuji, offering some of the most spectacular views.

Hakone is very famous for it’s viral photo opportunity with the Chureito Pagoda, I personally haven’t been yet but I’ve only heard great things. Besides the viral photo most people seek, Hakone is actually a small town famous for its onsen, “natural hot springs” and beautiful nature.

Fuji Kawaguchiko is perfect if you’re looking for the most serene atmosphere and breathtaking nature, year round. This is where I went, instead of Hakone, and I couldn’t have loved it more!🥹 Here you’ll find the Oishi Park, the Nagasaki Park, Lake Kawaguchiko, and even the seasonal Fuji Shibazakura Festival.

Are guided day tours worth it in Tokyo?

Guided tours in Tokyo can certainly be worth it, especially if you’re a first time visitor who has limited time or want to prioritize stress-free, guided experiences.

Can you visit Mount Fuji and Hakone in one day from Tokyo?

Yes, you can definitely visit Mount Fuji and Hakone in one day from Tokyo – it’s one of the most popular day trips for tourists!

If you’re looking for the most popular guided day tour from Tokyo, that includes Hakone and Mount Fuji and other popular spots, this best-selling day tour from Tokyo is for you!

If you want to dive deeper into Hakone and have a traditional onsen experience, this private day trip is perfect!

Do Tokyo day tours include transportation and hotel pickup?

Whether a Tokyo day tour includes transportation and hotel pickup depends on the activity you pick. The tours I share in this post all include transportation, and the private tours include hotel pickup as well.

This best-rated 1-Day Tokyo bus tour includes transportation, but does not offer hotel pickup do its “bus” nature.

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I have to ask…

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