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10 Unforgettable day trips from Tokyo
Visit Kyoto, explore Kawagoe, or enjoy views of Mt. Fuji from Lake Kawaguchiko. Discover the most unique day trips from Tokyo.
Are you planning to escape from the bustling Shinjuku streets and ready to explore shrines and temples a stone’s throw from Tokyo? As beautiful as Tokyo is, a day off visiting the countryside can take you to some of the best-hidden gems in Japan.
That’s why we have prepared a list of 10 unforgettable day trips from Tokyo. There and back in a day, you’ll no doubt have time to share your photos back at your Tokyo hotel on the same evening.
Our guide also includes a way to stay connected in Tokyo with an eSIM, as you’ll need the internet to buy train tickets and use maps to move around.
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1. View the Mount Fuji from the Lake Kawaguchi
- Distance from Tokyo: 63.69 miles (102.5 kilometers)
- How to reach Lake Kawaguchi: Take a 20-minute train from the Meidaimae Station to the Sengawa Station, walk to the Chuodo Mikata Station and take a 1:25-hour train to Kawaguchiko Eki. Finally, take the Saiko Sightseeing Bus to Yagisaki-koen to reach the outskirts of the lake.
- Time required: Full day
Mt. Fuji is one of the best places to visit in Japan, but it’s often cloudy. A trip to the surrounding lakes is a great option for stunning mountain views without being up in the clouds.
You can spend your day walking around the lake, exploring the surrounding forest, or taking a small boat ride to see Mt. Fuji from a beautiful vantage point.
Here, you can also visit the Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum, which costs 1,500 JPY (~$9.90 USD). This colorful village features ancient music boxes adored by European aristocrats, and offers stunning views of Mt. Fuji from the back.
Got some spare time? Visit the Chureito Pagoda on a hill for a memorable photo of the village and Mt. Fuji.
Travel tip: Get a tourist card in Japan to pay for buses, bullet trains, and other transportation methods.
2. Explore the Hakone town
- Distance from Tokyo: 63.69 miles (102.5 km)
- How to reach Hakone: Go to the Eifukuchō Station and take an 8-minute train to the Shimo-Kitazawa Station, then take the Odakuy Line Express for a 1:30-hour train ride to the Odawara Station. Lastly, take the Z03 for a 15-minute bus ride to the Hakone Yumoto Station.
- Time required: Full day
Entering Hakone you’ll be welcomed by the Hakone Shrine and Lake Ashi, where you can walk through the lake’s edge and look to the horizon. Here, you’ll see both the rising Mt. Fuji and the floating torii gate on the lake.
After exploring the beautiful landscapes surrounding the lake, you can ride one and relax while watching Lake Ashi’s nature. Alternatively, take a boat to Motohakone to reach the Hakone Ropeway and visit the Owakundani geothermal area.
Done with outdoor activities? Try the famous Hakone’s black eggs, visit the Hakone Museum of Art with unique Japanese pottery, or walk around the Hakone Open-Air Museum to watch traditional sculptures.
Travel tip: Book your train and entry tickets to Hakone in advance. Choosing the best eSIM for Tokyo can help you with unlimited data plans to book your tickets.
3. Combine culture with unique landscapes at Nikko
- Distance from Tokyo: 95.06 miles (153 km)
- How to reach Nikko: From Tokyo or Ueno Station, take a 1-hour train to the Utsunomiya Station and transfer to the JR Nikko Line for a 40-minute train to reach the Nikko Station.
- Time required: Full day
In the Tochigi Prefecture, Nikko blends culture, story, and natural beauty in a single place.
You can walk around this small city while enjoying the Edo period architecture, where the Nikko Shrines and Temples, listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites, are the main protagonists.
Up for an outdoor adventure? Visit the Nikko National Park. You’ll hike around the forest and reach hills with a beautiful aerial view, and you can relax from the bustling Tokyo streets.
Travel tip: Plan your trip to Japan during autumn, as the Nikko National Park green leaves turn into a mix of red and gold.
4. Connect with nature in Chichibu
- Distance from Tokyo: 58.71 miles (94.5 km)
- How to reach Chichibu: From the Shinjuku Station, take the Saikyō Line Local towards Omiya for a 7-minute train ride to the Ikebukuro Station and then a 1:30-hour train to the Seibu-Chichibu Station.
- Time required: Full day
Surrounded by nature and far from the capital’s noisy streets, Chichibu is among the top ideas for the best day trips from Tokyo.
In Chichibu, you’ll have plenty of things to do. Interested in traditional temples? Take your time to visit the 34 temples in the town. Want to explore sightseeing points? Take the Paleo Express, go through the mountain valleys using the hiking trails, and enjoy the beautiful landscapes.
You can also enjoy the blooming season in Chichibu, when flowers turn the landscape into a colorful mix of pink and violet, or simply walk around the mountains and follow the Arakawa River to relax.
5. Experience the blooming season in the Hitachi Seaside Park
- Distance from Tokyo: 85.62 miles (137.8 km)
- How to reach the Hitachi Seaside Park: From the Meidaime Station, take a 20-minute train to the Jinbocho Station and a short connection to the Otemachi Station. Walk to the Tokyo Station and take a 1:20-minute train to the Katsuta Station and a 15-minute bus from the Katsuta Station to the park.
- Time required: Full day
The Hitachi Seaside Park is the ideal day-round destination for planning day trips from Tokyo by train.
Visiting the park is an ideal getaway to experiencethe blooming season in Japan to its fullest, as the blue-colored flowers paint the landscape for visitors in over 350 hectares.
In autumn, you can visit the park and see how the flowers and trees change from blue to shades of golden, creating a mesmerizing landscape where you can spend hours walking.
Feeling more adventurous? The nearby amusement park is a great way to end your day riding tall roller coasters or watching the beautiful landscape on the wheel of fortune.
Travel tip: Watch for blooming information on the official Hitachi Seaside website.
6. Explore the modern city of Yokohama
- Distance from Tokyo: 28.89 miles (46.5 km)
- How to reach Yokohama: Take a 15-minute train from the Eifukuchō Station to the Shibuya Station and then on a 30-minute train from Shibuya to the Yokohama Station.
- Time required: Full day
From Japan’s most important port to the country’s second-largest city, Yokohama is home to cultural, historical, and natural attractions.
You can walk around the Yokohama streets to admire the traditional buildings dating from the 19th century or visit the Sankeien, a traditional Japanese garden that tells part of the city’s story.
Ever wonder where some traditional Japanese food comes from? Yokohama invites you to visit the Cup Noodles Museum and the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum to learn about the history of these dishes, which are among Tokyo’s favorite street foods.
Lastly, visit the Landmark Tower and head to the observatory on the 69th floor; the views are worth a picture to upload.
7. Visit Kawagoe, the “Little Edo” city
- Distance from Tokyo: 30.13 miles (48.5 km)
- How to reach Kawagoe: From the Shinjuku Station, take a 10-minute train to the Ikebukuro Station, a 25-minute train to the Kawagoe Station and finally, a 10-minute train to Fudanotsuji.
- Time required: Full day
Kawagoe feels like traveling to the Edo period. This city is known as Koedo, which means
Thanks to its traditional architecture, Little Edo makes it one of the best cities near Tokyo.
You can visit Kawagoe as a great option for day trips from Tokyo in winter, where the snow mixes beautifully with the traditional Kurazukuri buildings and the story behind the city.
You can take the time to visit Toki-no-Kane, the most important bell tower, and learn about this place’s history and historical importance.
But if you want a complete experience in Kawagoe, book a guided tour. It takes you through the most important historical sites and, within a day, will also take you to hidden gems around the city, including ancient temples.
8. Spend a day at the Izu Peninsula beaches
- Distance from Tokyo: 62.15 miles (100 km)
- How to reach the Izu Peninsula: Take a 1-hour ride on the Shinkansen train to Atami.
- Time required: Full day
Located south of Tokyo, the Izu Peninsula welcomes all travelers who want to explore its geological features and stunning views.
Visiting Izu can take over a day, but you can streamline it by visiting the most iconic areas.
You can hike in the nearby mountains, where you’ll find colorful waterfalls, or take a walk on the coastline.
If you feel like spending a day on the beach, the Izu Peninsula is home to the best beaches in Japan, and you could try seafood. Or perhaps you want to visit the hot springs around the Peninsula.
No matter the option, prepare a proper itinerary to visit this UNESCO Global Geopark.
9. Travel to Kyoto
- Distance from Tokyo: 62.15 miles (450 km)
- How to reach Kyoto: Take a 2-hour ride on the Shinkansen Tokaido Shinkansen train to Kyoto.
- Time required: Full day
Kyoto is easily one of the best cities to visit in Japan and travelers often spend a few days at least here. But, if you’re in a rush, Kyoto is also one of the most popular day trips from Tokyo.
You can visit the shrines and temples in Kyoto, walk to the thousand torii gates, or Ryoan-Ji to relax at its zen gardens, or visit the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
If you want to keep your day trip traditional, visiting the Geisha district is a must-add, as you can learn about the importance and history of this tradition.
To end your day tour from Tokyo, head to the Nishiki Market and try some traditional dishes. You can leave other attractions when planning a quick escape from the capital later on.
10. Hike Mt. Nokogiri
- Distance from Tokyo: 52.44 miles (84.4 km)
- How to reach Mt. Nokogiri: Take a 1:30-hour ride on the Shinkansen Train from the Uchibo Line to the Hana-Kanaya Station
- Time required: Full day
Did you know there’s a 31-meter daibutsu (buddha) in Mt. Nokogiri? And it’s not the only one! The mountain has over 500 small statues of various deities.
You can plan a hiking adventure to Mt. Nokogiri and its surrounding mountains, which are made from granite and have provided building materials for places like the Yasukuni Shrine.
Don’t feel like hiking? Take a cable car to the peak from Kanaya and enjoy the city and Tokyo Bay views while going up.
Once up, you’ll experience one of the best places to visit near Tokyo: the Hell Peek Point. This cliff offers breathtaking views from the bay and the Boso Peninsula, and if you’re lucky, Mt. Fuji will be visible in the distance.
Enjoy your day trips from Tokyo with Holafly
Got an itinerary packed with day trips from Tokyo? Having access to mobile internet in Japan is essential to book that bullet train, translate that menu, or understand those directions.
With the Holafly eSIM for Japan, you can enjoy all the day trips from Tokyo you plan and visit other attractions around the country, like watching snow monkeys or staying at onsen resorts.
With the eSIM, you’ll get unlimited data starting at $6.90 for one day, but reaching as little as $1.55 per day for a 90-day trip. It also includes 24/7 customer support, 500 MB of data sharing, and up to 5G connectivity when available.
But what about remote workers or digital nomads in Japan? The Holafly Connect subscription is a better option, as not only does it help you plan your day trips, it lets you share unlimited hotspot with your friends and family to ensure nobody is hit by high roaming charges..
For $64.90 per month, here’s what you get:
- Unlimited monthly data sharing
- Unlimited data
- 24/7 customer support
- Up to 5G connectivity
So, keep planning your Tokyo day trips and choose which data plan suits you best for exploring Japan.
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I first started my content creation journey as a freelancer in 2019, before connecting with Holafly in 2021. At Holafly, my travel and tech interests come together in one place as I craft high-quality articles about the eSIM and related markets. My content aims to help travelers stay connected, wherever they are.
