How far can you actually get on day trips from Tokyo?
An hour south puts you face to face with a 13-metre bronze Buddha cast in 1252.
Fifty minutes west lands you on a mountain with eight hiking trails and temple grounds wrapped in cedar.
Two hours north reaches UNESCO shrines with over 500 intricate carvings covered in gold.
You don’t need overnight bags or complex planning to see a completely different Japan.
Day Trips from Tokyo Quick Comparison: Travel Times and Costs
| Destination | Travel Time | Cost (Round Trip) | Main Appeal | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Takao | 50 min | ¥780–1,440 | Mountain hiking, temple | Nature lovers, beginners |
| Kamakura | 1 hour | ¥920 | Great Buddha, beaches | History, coastal walks |
| Nikko | 2 hours | ¥2,800–5,000 | UNESCO shrines, waterfalls | Culture enthusiasts |
| Hakone | 85 min | ¥2,540–4,940 | Hot springs, Mount Fuji views | Relaxation, couples |
| Yokohama | 30 min | ¥620–1,140 | Chinatown, waterfront | Food lovers, easy half day |
| Kawagoe | 30 min | ¥700–980 | Edo architecture | History, photography |
| Enoshima | 1 hour | ¥1,260 | Island shrines, caves | Coastal scenery, seafood |
| Izu Peninsula | 90 min | ¥5,080 | Dramatic coastline, hot springs | Longer day, nature |
| Lake Kawaguchi | 2 hours | ¥4,000 | Mount Fuji reflections | Mountain views, flowers |
| Hitachi Seaside Park | 2 hours | ¥3,000+ | Seasonal flower fields | Photography, spring/autumn |
Why settle around the city when you can explore stunning nearby destinations in just a day?
Mount Takao
The Keio Line from Shinjuku reaches Takaosanguchi Station in 50 minutes for 390 yen one way.
Discount passes bundling train fare with the cable car save about 20 percent.
What makes Mount Takao brilliant for first-time hikers is the choice.
Take the cable car to skip the initial climb, or pick from eight numbered trails based on your fitness level.
Trail 1 is paved and crowded but gets you to Yakuoin Temple, where cedar trees and incense create that classic mountain temple atmosphere.
The summit sits at 599 metres, giving you sweeping Kanto Plain views and on exceptionally clear days, Mount Fuji appears on the horizon.
Several restaurants near the peak serve tororo soba, the local buckwheat noodles that taste better after a climb.
Arrive before 9am if visiting on weekends during autumn when colours are spectacular but crowds massive.
Kamakura
An hour south on the JR Shonan Shinjuku or Yokosuka lines, Kamakura packs centuries of history into a walkable coastal town.
Start at the Great Buddha at Kotokuin Temple, a 10-minute walk from Hase Station.
Cast in bronze in 1252, this 13-metre statue sits in the open air after a tsunami destroyed its hall.
You can pay to enter the hollow interior and see the medieval casting technique from inside.
If you want more temples, Engakuji near Kita-Kamakura Station offers a peaceful start before walking into town.
Komachi Street between Kamakura Station and the temples offers lunch options including shirasu rice bowls featuring tiny whitebait caught fresh that morning.
After temple touring, walk to Yuigahama or Zaimokuza beaches where the sea breeze provides the perfect reset.
The entire circuit takes about four to five hours at a relaxed pace, making this ideal for travellers who want culture with coastal scenery.
🗼 Planning some day trips from Tokyo? I’ve got you covered:
Nikko
Two hours north via Tobu Railway from Asakusa Station, Nikko deserves an early start.
The journey costs around 2,800 yen return, or consider the Nikko Pass if you plan to use local buses.
Head straight to Toshogu Shrine when it opens at 8am to beat tour groups.
The UNESCO site explodes with colour and detail, with over 500 carvings decorating the Yomeimon Gate alone, all gilded and painted in vivid reds and golds.
The famous “three wise monkeys” carving appears on the Sacred Horse’s stable.
Plan 90 minutes minimum for the shrine grounds where admission is 1,600 yen.
After Toshogu, head to Kegon Falls 45 minutes away by bus where the 97-metre cascade looks particularly dramatic after rain.
Nikko sits noticeably cooler than Tokyo year-round, so bring a light jacket even in summer.
This trip rewards culture enthusiasts willing to start early.
Hakone
The Odakyu Romance Car reaches Hakone-Yumoto from Shinjuku in 85 minutes for 2,470 yen one way with required seat reservations.
The Hakone Free Pass makes sense if you plan to use the local ropeways, boats and buses.
Lake Ashi provides the classic Mount Fuji photo opportunity, weather permitting.
The lakeside Hakone Shrine has that famous torii gate in the water.
It’s best to photograph it early in the morning, before the crowds arrive.
Multiple onsen facilities offer day-use bathing, with Hakone Yuryo giving you indoor and outdoor baths with mountain views.
The Owakudani volcanic valley releases sulphurous steam across barren mountainsides where vendors sell black eggs boiled in hot springs.
A suggested route works like this: train to Hakone-Yumoto, bus to Lake Ashi, shrine visit, ropeway to Owakudani, return via train for a full day loop.
Perfect for couples seeking relaxation and natural beauty.
Enoshima
This small island in Sagami Bay sits an hour from Tokyo and connects to the mainland via a walking bridge.
Three shrines dedicated to Benzaiten climb different levels, with summit views reaching Mount Fuji on clear days.
The real draw is the relaxed island atmosphere and fresh seafood.
Restaurants near the harbour serve shirasu rice bowls and display tanks of live lobsters prepared to order.
The combination of shrines, coastal walks and excellent lunch makes this an easy, satisfying day trip.
Use the Enoden Line for coastal views on the way back to Tokyo.
Yokohama
Japan’s second city sits 30 minutes from Tokyo, making it perfect when you want something different without travel hassle.
Multiple train lines connect the cities for 310 to 570 yen one way depending on your starting station.
Start your half-day route with lunch in Yokohama’s Chinatown.
It’s Japan’s largest, boasting over 500 shops and restaurants.
You can enjoy nikuman meat buns from street vendors or indulge in sit-down dim sum.
Both options are fantastic!
Walk to Yamashita Park along the waterfront, then head to Minato Mirai 21 for harbour views from the Landmark Tower observation deck at 273 metres.
Time it for sunset along the waterfront and you get sweeping city and bay views as the lights come on.
Perfect choice when the forecast is poor in the mountains.
Kawagoe
Kawagoe earned its nickname “Little Edo” through remarkably preserved merchant architecture from the 17th to 19th centuries.
The city is only 30 minutes from Ikebukuro Station on the Tobu Tojo Line.
A one-way ticket costs 490 yen.
Also, foreign passport holders can buy discount round-trip passes for 700 yen.
Kurazukuri Street features sturdy warehouses made of black clay tiles and white plaster.
These fireproof designs came about after a fire in 1893 ruined much of the city.
Today the buildings house craft shops, cafes and museums creating an unmistakably historic atmosphere. Toki no Kane, the bell tower, stands four storeys tall and rings four times daily.
Kashiya Yokocho, also known as Candy Alley, is a narrow lane filled with sweet shops.
Here, you can find dagashi, which are cheap, nostalgic candies.
Kitain Temple holds the last structures from Edo Castle, moved here in 1638.
Five hundred stone statues of Rakan disciples, each with unique expressions, line the paths throughout the grounds.
Izu Peninsula
The Izu Peninsula extends into the Pacific Ocean, roughly 90 minutes from Tokyo by JR Odoriko limited express.
This longer day trip is best started early.
The stunning Jogasaki Coast makes it worthwhile, with volcanic cliffs and paths above crashing waves.
A suspension bridge crosses a rocky inlet.
The 9-kilometre coastal trail runs nearby, passing lighthouses and spots for stunning ocean views.
Mount Omuro, a dormant volcano with a distinctive bowl shape, allows you to walk around the crater rim via chairlift access.
Numerous hot spring resorts cluster around the eastern shore, with Atami offering ocean-view baths at multiple hotels and public facilities.
Lake Kawaguchi
Express buses from Tokyo Station or Shinjuku reach Lake Kawaguchi in about two hours for roughly 2,000 yen one way.
The northern shore hosts Oishi Park where seasonal flower displays frame Mount Fuji views, with lavender in summer and cosmos in autumn.
Your success seeing the mountain depends entirely on weather, with early morning offering the highest chance before clouds gather.
Winter months generally provide clearer conditions than summer.
When the mountain cooperates, the reflection views across the lake rank among Japan’s most photographed scenes.
Hitachi Seaside Park
Located in Ibaraki Prefecture about two hours north of Tokyo, Hitachi Seaside Park transforms with the seasons.
Spring brings nemophila, tiny blue flowers that cover rolling hills in late April and early May.
About 4.5 million blooms create a magical landscape.
Autumn turns the same hillsides crimson with kochia bushes in October.
JR trains from Tokyo or Ueno Station reach Katsuta Station in roughly 90 minutes, with local buses completing the 15-minute journey to the park entrance.
The park covers 190 hectares with cycling paths offering an efficient way to explore the expansive grounds.
Rental bicycles are available near the entrance in standard, tandem and electric models.
Which Day Trip Should You Choose
For the best chance of Mount Fuji views visit Lake Kawaguchi or Hakone.
For food and a relaxed half day, choose Yokohama or Enoshima.
Or if you prefer history, choose Kamakura or Nikko.
For spring or autumn colours then Mount Takao or Hitachi Seaside Park are best.
Each of these destinations delivers something Tokyo cannot.
Choosing temples, mountains, hot springs, or coastal walks gives you a fuller view of Japan.
Stepping outside the capital for a day is a great way to explore.
