Best Day Trips from Tokyo

Day Trips from Tokyo at a Glance

Within about two hours of Tokyo by train you can stand under the Great Buddha in Kamakura, walk through Nikko's UNESCO-listed shrines, wander the Edo-era streets of Kawagoe, hike the sacred slopes of Mt Takao, eat your way through Yokohama's Chinatown or soak in the onsen towns of Izu, and the train fare for most of them is under ¥3,000 each way. Mt Fuji and Hakone are the two big mountain days, and this site covers both in depth. If it is your first trip and you have one free day, start with Kamakura; if you want the mountain, go to Fuji.

What to Know First

• Easy single days: Kamakura, Yokohama, Kawagoe, Enoshima, Mt Takao, the shrine district of Nikko, Narita, Nokogiriyama, Karuizawa and Atami all fit comfortably into one day. Kusatsu Onsen and the far side of the Izu Peninsula (Shimoda, Dogashima) are better as overnight trips.
• Transfers matter more than distance. Yokohama (25 to 30 minutes) and Kawagoe (30 minutes) feel almost suburban. Nikko and Nokogiriyama take about 2 hours and involve buses or a ferry at the far end, and Kusatsu is about 4 hours by direct bus.
• Passes pay off only sometimes. Tobu's Nikko passes, Odakyu's Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass and Keio's Mt Takao ticket save money when you will use local buses, trains or cable cars at the destination. For a simple there-and-back trip (Yokohama, Kawagoe, Kamakura only) a Suica or Pasmo IC card is cheaper.
• One closure to know about: Nikko's Akechidaira Ropeway is closed for a major renewal from January 16, 2026 until at least August 31, 2027, with reopening planned for September 2027.

Mt Fuji and Hakone

Mt Fuji and the Fuji Five Lakes. The mountain is about 100 km southwest of Tokyo, and Lake Kawaguchiko, the easiest base, is about two hours away by direct train or highway bus. The Fuji Excursion limited express from Shinjuku costs ¥4,200 one way. Most visitors come for the views of the peak from the lakeshore, the Chureito Pagoda and Oshino Hakkai, and the clearest mornings are from November to February. A coach tour such as the Mt Fuji, Chureito Pagoda & Oishi Park day tour (from $49, 4.82★ from 5,335 reviews) does all three in a day. For doing it yourself, start with our Lake Kawaguchiko guide, the Tokyo to Mt Fuji transport guide and the Mt Fuji day trip itinerary.

Hakone. The hot-spring town in the mountains southwest of Tokyo pairs the steaming Owakudani valley and its ropeway with a pirate-ship cruise on Lake Ashi, and on a clear day Fuji rises behind the lake. Odakyu trains run from Shinjuku, and the Hakone Freepass (4.3★ from 187 reviews) costs ¥7,100 for two days from Shinjuku and covers the trains, buses, ropeway and boat. A guided Mt Fuji and Hakone day tour with the ropeway and Lake Ashi (4.63★ from 8,290 reviews) combines both mountains in one long day. Our Hakone day trip itinerary has the loop in order, and Kawaguchiko vs Hakone helps if you only have time for one.

Day Trips from Tokyo Compared

Fares are approximate and change with the type of train. JR East revised its fares on March 14, 2026, so the JR figures here are rounded; check the operator's site before you travel. Mt Fuji and Hakone are covered above and in their own guides.

History and Culture

Nikko (Tochigi): UNESCO Shrines, Waterfalls and Lake Chuzenji

Nikko is known for the lavishly decorated Toshogu Shrine, the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, along with Rinnoji Temple and the vermilion Shinkyo Bridge. Higher up, in Oku-Nikko, are Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji.

• Getting there: most people take the Tobu Railway from Asakusa. The SPACIA X, Kegon and Revaty limited expresses reach Tobu-Nikko in about 1 hour 50 minutes, for about ¥3,300 one way; slower rapid and local trains take about 2 hours 10 minutes for about ¥1,400. Japan Rail Pass holders take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Utsunomiya and then the JR Nikko Line, about 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours.
• Cost: roughly ¥3,000 to ¥7,000 round trip, depending on the train, plus shrine admissions (around ¥1,600 at Toshogu).
• Day trip or overnight: the shrine district makes a comfortable day trip. Adding Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji makes a very long day, and is better with a night there.
• Best season: autumn. The leaves in Oku-Nikko peak in mid to late October, and in the town and at Shinkyo Bridge in early to mid-November.

Kamakura (Kanagawa): The Great Buddha, Zen Temples and Beaches

Kamakura has the Great Buddha at Kotoku-in, Hasedera, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, the Zen temples of Kita-Kamakura, the Komachi-dori shopping street and Yuigahama beach. It is the easiest all-round first day trip: about an hour by direct JR train, with history, a beach, hydrangeas and an easy hop to Enoshima in one compact, walkable town.

• Getting there: the JR Yokosuka Line runs direct from Tokyo Station in about 57 to 60 minutes, and the JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line from Shinjuku and Shibuya. The fare is about ¥1,000 one way since JR East's March 2026 fare revision.
• Cost: a day commonly runs ¥3,000 to ¥12,000 including the train, temple admissions (¥300 to ¥400 at the Great Buddha), Enoden rides and food.
• Day trip or overnight: an ideal single day.
• Best season: hydrangeas in early to mid-June (Meigetsuin, Hasedera), autumn leaves at the Zen temples, and summer for the beaches.
• With a guide: the Kamakura and Enoshima 1-day bus tour (from $58, 4.6★ from 1,733 reviews) does both by coach. If you would rather ride the trains, the Kamakura and Enoshima trip with a train ride (4.6★ from 506 reviews) travels with a guide by rail.

Kawagoe (Saitama): "Little Edo"

Kawagoe keeps a street of clay-walled kurazukuri warehouses, the Toki-no-Kane Bell Tower, Kashiya Yokocho ("Candy Alley") and Kita-in Temple, and it is famous for sweet-potato treats. In spring the Shingashi River behind Hikawa Shrine is lined with cherry trees, which people often confuse with the Fuji area; our Mt Fuji cherry blossom guide explains the difference.

• Getting there: the Tobu Tojo Line from Ikebukuro takes about 30 minutes for around ¥470; the Seibu Shinjuku Line to Hon-Kawagoe about 45 minutes; and the JR Kawagoe Line from Shinjuku via Omiya about an hour, covered by the JR Pass.
• Cost: low, around ¥470 to ¥770 one way, and the town is walkable and mostly free.
• Day trip or overnight: an easy half or full day. Shops close around 5 to 6 p.m.
• Best season: year-round, prettiest in spring and autumn, with the Kawagoe Festival on the third weekend of October.

Narita (Chiba): Naritasan Shinshoji Temple

A vast Buddhist temple complex founded in 940 (Tengyo 3) by Kancho Daisojo, by imperial command of Emperor Suzaku, to help put down the rebellion of Taira no Masakado. It holds daily goma fire rituals and has a garden full of pagodas (Naritasan Park), and the Omotesando approach street is famous for grilled eel (unagi).

• Getting there: Keisei trains to Keisei-Narita (about 45 to 50 minutes by Skyliner, about 55 minutes by Access Express) or JR from Tokyo Station. From Narita Airport it is only about 10 minutes, which makes it ideal for a layover.
• Cost: modest. The temple grounds are free, with a small fee for part of the Naritasan Park garden.
• Day trip or overnight: a comfortable half day, good before a flight.
• Best season: year-round. New Year is spectacular but extremely crowded: over 3 million people are said to come for the first temple visit of the year alone, making Naritasan Shinshoji the second most-visited temple in Japan after Meiji Shrine. Setsubun in February is also very busy.

Nature and Mountains

Mt Takao (Tokyo): The Sacred Hiking Mountain

A 599 m mountain inside metropolitan Tokyo, with numbered trails, Yakuoin Temple, a monkey park, a cable car and chairlift, and Mt Fuji views on clear days.

• Getting there: the Keio Line runs direct from Shinjuku to Takaosanguchi in about 50 minutes for ¥430 one way. JR Pass holders take the JR Chuo Line to Takao and then one Keio stop.
• Cost: very cheap. Hiking is free, and the cable car or chairlift costs roughly ¥490 one way or about ¥950 round trip.
• Day trip or overnight: an easy half or full day, and you can be back in the city for the evening.
• Best season: autumn leaves in November and cherry blossoms in spring; very crowded on weekends and holidays.
• With a guide: a guided Mt Takao hike with ramen and a hot spring is rated 4.98★ from 113 reviews.

Nokogiriyama (Chiba): "Saw Mountain," the Great Buddha and the Hell Lookout

A 329 m quarried peak on the Boso Peninsula with Nihonji Temple and a seated Yakushi Buddha 31.05 m (101.9 ft) tall, the largest pre-modern stone-carved Daibutsu in Japan, carved here over three years from 1780. The vertigo-inducing Jigoku Nozoki ("Hell Lookout") cliff and more than 1,500 rakan statues are on the same mountain.

• Getting there: by train, JR to Chiba and then the JR Uchibo Line to Hama-Kanaya (about 2 hours), or the JR Sazanami limited express to Kimitsu and then the Uchibo Line. The scenic way is the Keikyu Line to Kurihama, a bus to the port and the Tokyo Bay Ferry, a crossing of about 40 minutes.
• Cost: around ¥2,000 to ¥3,000 each way by train, or about ¥1,000 one way on the ferry. The ropeway is about ¥650 one way or ¥1,200 round trip, and Nihonji's entry fee is extra.
• Day trip or overnight: a full day. Check the timetable, because Uchibo Line trains are less frequent south of Chiba.
• Best season: spring and autumn, on a clear day for the views over Tokyo Bay to Mt Fuji. Midsummer is hot and humid.

Beach and Coast

Enoshima (Kanagawa): Island Shrines, Caves and the Sea Candle

A small island just offshore with Enoshima Shrine, the Iwaya Caves, the Sea Candle observation tower, an outdoor escalator (the Escar) and views along the coast, linked to Kamakura by the retro Enoden line.

• Getting there: the Odakyu Line from Shinjuku to Katase-Enoshima (some Romancecar trains run direct), or JR to Fujisawa and then the Enoden, about 65 to 80 minutes in all.
• Cost: the Odakyu Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass costs ¥1,640 for adults from Shinjuku, with unlimited Enoden rides. The island's sights are extra; the Enoshima 1-Day Pass (¥1,550) covers the Escar, the Sea Candle and the Iwaya Caves.
• Day trip or overnight: a comfortable day, 5 to 6 hours for Enoshima alone. Kamakura and Enoshima together make a long day of about 11 to 12 hours.
• Best season: summer for the beaches, and the clear, cooler months for Mt Fuji from the Sea Candle. The Kamakura and Enoshima bus tour covers both in one day.

Izu Peninsula and Atami (Shizuoka): Onsen, Seafood and Beaches

Atami is the retro seaside hot-spring town at the start of the peninsula. Beyond it are Ito, the bamboo groves and ryokan of Shuzenji, the cliffs of the Jogasaki coast, wasabi farms and the white sand beaches of Shimoda.

• Getting there: the Tokaido Shinkansen (Kodama or Hikari) reaches Atami from Tokyo in about 35 to 45 minutes, for around ¥3,700 to ¥4,300 one way. The JR Tokaido local line takes about 1 hour 50 minutes for about ¥2,000, and the Odoriko limited express serves the east coast.
• Cost: higher by shinkansen; the local line roughly halves it.
• Day trip or overnight: Atami is a fine day trip. Southern Izu (Shimoda is about 2.5 to 3 hours away, and Dogashima) is much better with a night there; on a day trip, pick one place.
• Best season: summer for the beaches and onsen all year, with the Kawazu cherry blossoms in February and Atami's plum blossoms in early spring.

Family Days

Yokohama (Kanagawa): Chinatown, the Harbor and Museums

Japan's second-largest city has the country's biggest Chinatown, the Minato Mirai waterfront (Landmark Tower, the Cosmo Clock Ferris wheel, the Red Brick Warehouse), the Cup Noodles Museum, Yamashita Park and Sankeien Garden.

• Getting there: the JR Tokaido Line from Tokyo or Shinagawa (about 25 to 30 minutes, about ¥500), or the Tokyu Toyoko Line from Shibuya (about 25 to 30 minutes, around ¥280 to ¥310), which runs on into central Yokohama as the Minatomirai Line.
• Cost: a day runs roughly ¥4,500 to ¥8,000 per person before the train from Tokyo, and much of the waterfront and Chinatown is free.
• Day trip or overnight: a very easy half or full day, the closest of the big day trips.
• Best season: year-round, with cherry blossoms and autumn leaves in the gardens; the harbor is at its best in the evening.
• With a guide: Yokohama is easy on your own. The Enoshima, Kamakura or Yokohama tour (4.6★ from 51 reviews, a smaller record) lets you choose it as one of its routes.

Tokyo Disney Resort (Chiba): Disneyland and DisneySea

Two parks, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, at Maihama in Urayasu. DisneySea opened on September 4, 2001, and its 25th anniversary celebration, the "Sparkling Jubilee," runs from April 15, 2026 to March 31, 2027.

• Getting there: the JR Keiyo or Musashino Line from Tokyo Station to Maihama, about 15 minutes and about ¥230 one way. Walk to Disneyland, or take the Disney Resort Line monorail (¥260 for adults) to DisneySea.
• Cost: the 1-Day Passport is priced by date, with the same ranges at either park: adults ¥7,900 to ¥10,900, juniors (12 to 17) ¥6,600 to ¥9,000, children (4 to 11) ¥4,700 to ¥5,600, and free for ages 3 and under. Weekends, holidays and peak periods cost the most.
• Day trip or overnight: a full day or more. Arrive early, and expect the anniversary year to be one of the busiest in recent memory.
• Best season: year-round, with the heaviest crowds on weekends, holidays and school breaks.

Highlands and Onsen

Karuizawa (Nagano): The Highland Resort

A cool highland resort at the foot of Mt Asama, with the Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza street, the huge Prince Shopping Plaza outlets, Shiraito Falls, cycling and autumn leaves.

• Getting there: the Hokuriku Shinkansen (Asama or Hakutaka) from Tokyo in about 65 to 80 minutes, around ¥6,000 one way and fully covered by the JR Pass and the JR Tokyo Wide Pass. The fastest Kagayaki trains do not stop at Karuizawa.
• Cost: the train costs more than most day trips; bikes are about ¥1,500 a day.
• Day trip or overnight: a comfortable day thanks to the shinkansen, although many people stay a night to slow down.
• Best season: summer to escape the heat, autumn leaves, and winter skiing.

Kusatsu Onsen (Gunma): Stay the Night

One of Japan's "Three Famous Onsen," known for the steaming Yubatake ("hot water field"), the yumomi water-cooling performance and its strongly acidic, sulfurous water.

• Getting there: a direct highway bus from Shibuya or Shinjuku takes about 4 to 4.5 hours. Faster is the JR Kusatsu-Shima limited express from Ueno to Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi (about 2.5 hours) and a bus of about 25 minutes, or the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Karuizawa and a bus of about 80 minutes (¥2,240).
• Cost: around ¥3,500 to ¥6,000 one way depending on the route, plus the ryokan.
• Day trip or overnight: about 200 km from Tokyo, and onsen towns reward a slow, stay-the-night pace. A day trip is possible only with a very early start and is not recommended; stay the night.
• Best season: year-round, most atmospheric in winter when snow meets the steam, and a cool escape in summer.

Day Trips by Interest

• History and culture: Nikko, Kamakura, Kawagoe, Narita.
• Nature and mountains: Mt Takao, Nokogiriyama, Karuizawa, plus Mt Fuji and Hakone.
• Beach and coast: Enoshima, Kamakura, Izu and Atami.
• Onsen: Kusatsu, Izu and Atami, plus Hakone.
• Families: Yokohama, Enoshima, Tokyo Disney Resort.

Rail Passes for Day Trips

• Nikko Pass World Heritage Area (Tobu): about ¥3,000 for adults, valid 2 days, with the round trip from Asakusa to Nikko and the World Heritage loop buses. Best for a day at the shrines. The limited express surcharge is extra, and prices changed in 2025.
• Nikko Pass All Area (Tobu): about ¥8,000 for adults, valid 4 days, adding the buses to Lake Chuzenji, Kegon Falls and Yumoto Onsen and the lake cruise. Best for an overnight or nature trip. Its price roughly doubled in 2025, so compare it with a World Heritage pass plus a separate bus pass, such as the Chuzenji Onsen Free Pass (¥2,300) or the Yumoto Onsen Free Pass (¥3,500).
• Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass (Odakyu): ¥1,640 for adults from Shinjuku, valid 1 day, with the round trip to Fujisawa, unlimited Enoden rides and the Fujisawa to Katase-Enoshima section.
• Mt Takao round-trip discount ticket (Keio): the round-trip train plus the cable car or chairlift, for a saving of about 20%.
• Seibu Kawagoe Pass and Kawagoe Discount Pass: a discounted round trip from Ikebukuro or Seibu-Shinjuku, sometimes with local buses.
• Yokohama Minatomirai Pass and Minato Burari Ticket: about ¥500 to ¥920 for the local subway, buses and Minatomirai Line if you are making several hops.
• JR Tokyo Wide Pass: ¥16,000 for adults and ¥8,000 for children (since March 14, 2026), for 3 days of unlimited JR East travel around Kanto, shinkansen included. It suits combining several JR trips (Nikko, Karuizawa, Izu, GALA Yuzawa) in a few days.
• Japan Rail Pass: the nationwide Japan Rail Pass (4.74★ from 648 reviews) covers the JR routes to Nikko, Kawagoe, Mt Takao and Karuizawa, and is worth it only if it also carries you across Japan.

Which Day Trip to Choose

1. One free day on a first trip: go to Kamakura for the temples, the Great Buddha, the beach and an optional Enoden ride to Enoshima. Buy the Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass if you will ride the Enoden more than twice.
2. The most impressive culture day: go to Nikko, and keep the day to the shrine district (Toshogu, Rinnoji, Shinkyo Bridge) instead of adding Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji. If Oku-Nikko is the goal, stay a night, and remember the Akechidaira Ropeway is closed until at least September 2027.
3. Something easy and different: Kawagoe (30 minutes, Edo-era streets) or Yokohama (25 minutes, Chinatown and the harbor) are the easiest half days.
4. Nature without going far: Mt Takao, under an hour away and cheap, or Nokogiriyama with the ferry across Tokyo Bay for something less known.
5. Onsen first: day-trip to Atami, but for a classic hot-spring town (Kusatsu, or ryokan towns in Izu such as Shuzenji and Shimoda) book a night, because the journey makes a day trip a poor trade.
6. Buy a pass only when local transport adds up. For there-and-back trips (Yokohama, Kawagoe, Kamakura only, Atami) an IC card is cheaper; passes win for Nikko (buses), Enoshima with Kamakura (the Enoden) and Mt Takao (the cable car).

Two rules of thumb: if the round trip takes more than about 5 hours (Kusatsu, southern Izu), plan an overnight. If the sights at the far end need buses (Oku-Nikko, deep Izu), either buy the area pass or leave them for another trip.

Before You Go: What Can Change

• Fares and journey times vary with the type of train, the day of the week and the season. Check them on the Tobu, Keio, Odakyu or JR East sites before you travel; sources round some fares differently, such as the Maihama fare.
• Tobu raised both Nikko pass prices in 2025, so confirm the current price when you buy.
• The Akechidaira Ropeway in Nikko is closed for renewal from January 16, 2026 until at least August 31, 2027, with reopening planned for September 2027.
• Tokyo Disney prices change by date and are shown only on the official calendar for each day; the ranges here are 2026 guide figures checked against the official age bands, and Annual Passports remain suspended.
• Autumn leaf and hydrangea dates move by up to a week or two each year, so check the current forecast before you fix a date.
• Some fares come from booking and route-planning sites, which can differ from the railways' own fares; where possible we used the operators' figures.

Day Trips from Tokyo FAQ