Day Trips from Tokyo: 10 Easy Escapes from the City

Tokyo could keep you busy for weeks, but some of the most memorable moments of a trip to Japan happen just beyond the city limits. Within a couple of hours by train, the best day trips from Tokyo take you to volcanic lakes with views of Mount Fuji, seaside temples, mountain shrines, and old merchant towns that still feel like the Edo period.

The best day trips from Tokyo are Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi, Hakone, Kamakura and Enoshima, Nikko, Kawagoe, Yokohama, and Mount Takao, all within about two hours. With a longer day, you can also reach the snow monkeys of Jigokudani or the farmhouses of Shirakawa-go.

1. Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi

At 12,388 feet (3,776 meters), Mount Fuji is Japan’s highest peak and its most famous symbol, and it’s been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013. The best base for seeing it is Lake Kawaguchi, about two hours from Tokyo, where the mountain rises straight up behind the water. Nearby, the Chureito Pagoda offers the classic postcard view of a five-story pagoda framed by Fuji, especially beautiful in cherry blossom season.

Fuji is often hidden by clouds, particularly in summer, so clear winter mornings give you the best chance of a full view. This Mount Fuji, Lake Kawaguchi, and Chureito Pagoda day trip covers all three in one day. For a more flexible pace, the Kawaguchiko and Mount Fuji private day trip includes a ride on the Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway. Either way, bring a warm layer, since it’s cooler up there than in the city.

If you’re traveling in summer or fall, the Mount Fuji and fruit picking day trip adds a stop at a local orchard to pick seasonal fruit.

2. Hakone and Lake Ashi

Hakone is a mountain resort about an hour and a half from Tokyo, famous for its onsen, or hot spring baths, and its views of Fuji. Ride the Hakone Ropeway over Owakudani, a steaming volcanic valley where eggs boiled in the sulfur springs turn black and are said to add seven years to your life. Then cruise across Lake Ashi on a replica pirate ship and look for the red torii gate of Hakone Shrine standing in the water.

This Mount Fuji and Hakone day trip combines Fuji’s Fifth Station with the ropeway and the Lake Ashi cruise. The Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi day trip is another good option. Both include an English-speaking guide.

3. Kamakura

About an hour south of Tokyo, Kamakura was the seat of Japan’s first shogunate in the 12th century, and it’s full of temples and shrines set among wooded hills by the sea. Its star is the Great Buddha of Kōtoku-in, a bronze statue about 37 feet (11 meters) tall that has sat in the open air for centuries. Hasedera Temple, with its hillside gardens and ocean views, is just a short walk away.

You can visit on this Kamakura day trip, or combine it with Fuji views on the Mount Fuji, Lake Ashi, and Kamakura day trip, one of the most popular tours from the city. The combined tour takes around 11 hours in total. For a guide all to yourself, there’s also a private option.

The Kamakura private day trip lets you set the pace between temples, shrines, and the coast.

4. Enoshima

A few stops from Kamakura on the charming Enoden railway, Enoshima is a small island linked to the mainland by a bridge. Climb past souvenir shops and shrines to the Sea Candle observation tower, explore the sea caves on the far side, and, on clear days, look back across the bay to Mount Fuji. It pairs perfectly with Kamakura.

The Kamakura and Enoshima private day trip covers the Great Buddha and the island in a single day.

5. Nikko

About two hours north of Tokyo, Nikko is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where lavish shrines sit deep in a cedar forest. The Toshogu Shrine, the mausoleum of the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, is covered in gold leaf and intricate carvings, including the famous “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” monkeys. Up in the mountains, the Kegon Falls drop about 318 feet (97 meters) from Lake Chuzenji.

Nikko is especially stunning in October, when the forests turn red and gold. This Nikko day trip covers Toshogu, Kegon Falls, and Lake Chuzenji, and the Nikko private day trip gives you a guide all to yourself. It’s a long day either way, so an early start helps.

6. Kawagoe

Less than an hour from Tokyo, Kawagoe is known as “Little Edo” for its preserved streets of black clay-walled merchant houses. Walk the Ichiban-gai street, see the Toki no Kane bell tower, and snack your way down Candy Alley, a lane of old-fashioned sweet shops. It’s an easy half-day trip if you’re short on time.

The private day trip to Kawagoe includes a guide who explains the town’s history and the option of a rickshaw ride.

7. Yokohama

Many visitors wonder whether Yokohama is part of Tokyo, and the answer is no. It’s a separate city, the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture, and Japan’s second-largest city by population, although it’s only about 30 minutes away by train. Explore Japan’s largest Chinatown, stroll the waterfront at Minato Mirai, and visit the Cup Noodles Museum, where you can design your own cup of instant noodles.

8. Mount Takao

For a dose of nature without a long journey, Mount Takao is about an hour from Shinjuku by train. At 1,965 feet (599 meters), it’s an easy hike on well-marked trails, or you can ride the cable car partway up. Near the top, the Yakuo-in temple is surrounded by forest, and on clear days the summit has views of Mount Fuji.

9. Jigokudani Monkey Park

In the mountains of Nagano, Jigokudani is home to Japan’s famous snow monkeys, which soak in natural hot springs to keep warm. They’re at their most photogenic in winter, roughly December to March, when snow covers the valley. It’s a long day from Tokyo, so a guided trip makes it much easier.

The Jigokudani Monkey Park day trip handles the travel so you can focus on the monkeys.

10. Shirakawa-go and Kanazawa

With the bullet train, even the Japanese Alps are within reach for a day. Shirakawa-go is a UNESCO-listed village of gassho-zukuri farmhouses with steep thatched roofs built to handle heavy snow, and nearby Kanazawa is known for Kenroku-en, one of Japan’s most celebrated gardens.

This Shirakawa-go and Kanazawa day trip by bullet train packs both into one full day.

Tips for Day Trips from Tokyo

An IC card like Suica or PASMO makes local trains and buses easy, since you just tap in and out. For Hakone and Nikko, regional passes from the local rail companies can save money if you plan to ride a lot. The nationwide Japan Rail Pass became much more expensive in 2023, so it’s worth comparing prices before buying one only for day trips.

Start early, since most guided trips from Tokyo last around 8 to 11 hours. Weekdays are quieter than weekends at popular spots like Kamakura and Hakone. For more ideas in the city itself, take a look at these things to do in Tokyo.

From the snowy summit of Fuji to the Edo-era lanes of Kawagoe, the region around Tokyo shows sides of Japan that the city alone can’t. Pick one or two that match your interests, and leave room in your plans for a clear-sky Fuji morning. If you’re heading farther afield, these things to do in Kyoto are a good next stop, and Civitatis’s full catalog has plenty more ideas.