12 Best Day Trips From Tokyo (top freaking picks for 2025)
You could spend multiple months in Tokyo alone and still not see everything the city has to offer. I’ve been going back there as a part-time local for years, and I’m still discovering new and unique things to do in Tokyo.
Still, sometimes I want to step away from the neon lights and familiar train lines. And when that mood strikes, these are my absolute favorite day trips from Tokyo to take.
These are places you can easily get to (by train) in usually less than two hours. Besides my own experience, I’ve also reached out to my Japanese friends and residents to get their top picks.
So if you’re keen to see more than the bustling city, rest assured you’re in the right place!
These are the best Tokyo day trips — now let’s do this!
Table of Contents Show
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1. Enoshima / Kamakura
The Enoshima Electric Railway, which you can take from Kamakura station.
Kamakura and Enoshima sit right next to each other, which are just a couple of hours outside of Tokyo. And they’re two of my favorite towns to visit.
Think beachy vibes with nostalgic Japanese sites — that’s Kamakura and Enoshima.
You can easily spend a day or two exploring good food, famous historical sites, nature, restaurants and more.
What to Do
Visit the Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kotoku-in)
Walk up to the peak of Enoshima Island (lots of shops and such along the way!)
Explore the Enoshima Iwaya Cave
How to get to There
To Kamakura
Take the JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo Station to Kamakura Station
It takes about an hour and costs around 950 yen
To Enoshima
From Kamakura Station, take the Enoden Line to Enoshima Station
It takes about 30 minutes and costs around 260 yen
2. Lake Kawaguchiko
If you’re keen to see Mt. Fuji up close and personal, then you may want to add Lake Kawaguchiko to your itinerary.
It’s part of the Fuji Five Lakes, which sit at the base of Mt. Fuji. So naturally, the views are amazing and the perfect spot to grab some epic shots.
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What to Do
Visit the Fuji Five Lakes
Enjoy the stunning views of Mt. Fuji
Take a boat ride on Lake Kawaguchiko
Hike up to the top of Mt. Fuji (summer only)
Visit the Oshino Hakkai springs
Explore the Aokigahara Forest
Visit the Itchiku Kubota Art Museum
Go shopping at the Kawaguchiko Ohashi Bridge Street
Relax in one of the many onsen (hot springs)
Enjoy the food
How to get to There
Take the JR Chuo Line toward Takao from Shinjuku or Tokyo Station; hop on Chuo Line again at Takao Station; get off at Otsuki Station.
Transfer to the Fujikyuko Line at Otsuki Station and take a train to Kawaguchiko Station
The trip takes about two and half hours and costs around 2,600 yen.
3. Mt. Takao
A view of Fuji-san from the peak of Mt. Takao.
If you like hiking and nature, then you’ll love Mt. Takao, which is just a couple hours from Shinjuku station, making it the perfect day trip.
You get epic views of Mt. Fuji at the top and it’s a nice hike with multiple courses/trails to choose from, depending on your skill level.
What to Do
Great photo ops
Explore Japanese nature
See the Takao Yakuōin Yukiji Temple
Restaurants and souvenirs at the top
Visit the Takaosan Beer Mount (the highest beer garden in Tokyo)
How to get to There
Take the Keio Line from Shinjuku Station to Takaosanguchi Station (not Takao Station)
You can purchase a Mt. Takao Discount ticket to take the cable car up the mountain, otherwise, follow signs or your Google Map app to the base of the mountain to hike up.
4. Nikko
The Shinkyo Bridge
Nikko is a historic, nature-drenched charming town north of Tokyo by about an hour and a half.
I have a friend who grew up there and I always hear about visitors taking short trips to explore the town and its nature.
You’ll get stunning mountain views, onsens, historical sites and nature. It’s a cool spot, for sure.
What to Do
Visit Nikkō Tōshogū
Hike to Kegon Falls
Relax in an onsen
Explore Lake Chūzenji
Visit the Nikko National Park
Grab a photo at the famous Shinkyo Bridge
How to get to There
You can take a few different ways there, depending on your starting point — I would just use Google Maps from where you are to find the best route
It’ll take you about two and half hours and cost between 2,600-3,500 yen
5. Karuizawa
Photo credit: Kishor
Have you ever seen Terrace House? If not, check it out! (it’s on Netflix). It’s a Japanese reality show (with comedian commentary).
And while it’s since been cancelled, it’s still a solid guilty-pleasure show to get ready for your trip — especially the Karuizawa season.
Karuizawa is a picturesque town with lots of shopping, trendy cafes and restaurants and a ski resort to boot. It’s only about one hour from Tokyo, making it the perfect day trip from the city.
Explore more:
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What to Do
Visit Terrace House filming locations
Shop at Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza
Dine at trendy cafes and restaurants
Ski at Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort
How to get to There
Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Karuizawa Station, which takes about 1 hour and costs around 6,000 yen
From Karuizawa Station, take a bus or taxi to your destination in Karuizawa
6. Chichibu
Photo credit: Sophia Ayame
Saitama prefecture (just north of Tokyo) gets a bad rap. I actually used to live in Saitama my first time moving to Japan, so it’s definitely nostalgic for me. So these next two day trips from Tokyo will nip that idea in the bud.
Chichibu is a small town with beautiful parks and scenic views. It takes about two and half hours to get there by train, but you can stop by Hachijoji on the way for some extra exploring!
Chichibu is probably best during the fall foliage or cherry blossom season.
What to Do
Check out the parks (Hitsujiyama Park and Muse Park)
Visit Chichibu Shrine
Hike to the top of Mount Buko for stunning views of the surrounding area
Enjoy one of the many hot springs
Explore the Saitama Museum of Natural History
How to get to There
Take the Seibu Ikebukuro Line from Ikebukuro Station to Seibu-Chichibu Station, which takes a couple of hours and costs around 2,000 yen
7. Kawagoe
Walking around Kawagoe during a random festival.
Kawagoe is a super cool town in Saitama. It’s like a mini Kyoto and it’s just a couple hours north of Tokyo. And I definitely recommend checking it out.
The streets are lined with nostalgic buildings, shopping, restaurants and vendors. And if you go during a festival (check the schedule here), the vibe is extra energetic.
So if you’re bored in Tokyo, hop on a train and head north to Kawagoe — it’s a hidden gem.
Explore more:
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What to Do
Explore the nostalgic streets and traditional buildings (again, it’s a mini Kyoto)
Do some shopping at the local shops and vendors
Try the epic food (there are lots of restaurants and streets vendors)
Enjoy a festival if the timing is right
How to get to There
From Ikebukuro Station, take the Tobu Tojo Line for about 45 minutes to get to Kawagoe Station — this will run you about 700 yen
8. Hakone
Photo credit: Matt & Chris Pua
Looking for Japanese onsens and idyllic views? You should probably check out Hakone then — a popular mountainous town, just west of Tokyo.
You can get epic views of Mt. Fuji, stroll around its quaint town and enjoy some amazing hot springs. Plus, you can get there in under two hours — perfect for a day trip!
What to Do
See some pretty epic views of Mt. Fuji
Take a stroll around the super quaint town
Walk through Hiryu Falls
Relax in the amazing hot springs
Enjoy some local food and drinks
How to get to There
Take the Limited Express Romancecar (Odakyu line) from Shinjuku Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station, which takes about an hour and a half and costs around 2,500 yen
*Note that the Odakyu limited express train is reserved seating only
9. Izu Peninsula
Photo credit: @wanderplans, Unsplash
A little further south of Hakone you’ll get to Atami and Izu Peninsula. Beautiful views of the beach and mountains, hot springs and historical sites, lots of amazing food — Izu Peninsula is a solid day trip from Tokyo.
And there are tons of places to see and things to do here.
Hangry by Nature has an awesome video exploring some of the best stuff. You can get to Atami station in just under an hour using the Shinkansen.
What to Do
Hike to the summit of Mount Omuro
Visit Atami for onsen, shopping and Atami Castle
Fireworks festivals
Relax in an onsen
Visit Shuzenji Temple
Visit the MOA Museum of Art
Eat amazing food
How to get to There
Take the Tokaido Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo Station to Atami Station, which takes about one hour and costs around 4,000 yen.
10. Hitachi Seaside Park
Photo credit: Yuta Koike
Hitachi Seaside park doesn’t look real. Seriously, go look it up!
It’s a park with rolling hills full of flowering gardens that paint the ground in different colors. It feels like you’re either stepping into Mary Poppins or a Studio Ghibli film.
This is an amazing day trip from Tokyo to add to your itinerary — plus, it’s pretty affordable.
It’ll take you about 2 and half hours from Shinjuku station though, so make sure you give yourself enough time!
What to Do
See beautiful seasonal flowers
Walk around or ride a bike through the park
Enjoy the views from the Ferris wheel
Have a picnic or barbecue
How to get to There
Take the JR Joban Line from Ueno Station to Katsuta Station (about two hours)
From Katsuta Station, you can take a bus, which takes around 15-20 minutes
11. Tokyo Disney / Disney Sea
Photo credit: Colton Jones
Who doesn’t love Disney? It’s nostalgic, fun and a great day trip from Tokyo. While crowds can be annoying, just remember that you’ll need to deal with lines and such for most popular places in Tokyo and Japan — it comes with the territory, I guess.
Tokyo has two parks to see: Tokyo Disney and Tokyo Sea. I’ve seen both in one day, so if you’re keen to explore everything, you definitely can.
Explore more:
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What to Do
Tokyo Disneyland
Monsters Inc. Ride & Go Seek!
Space Mountain
Splash Mountain
Western River Railroad
Pirates of the Caribbean
It's a Small World
Tokyo DisneySea
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull
Raging Spirits
Tower of Terror
Toy Story Midway Mania!
Fantasmic!
How to get to There
Take the JR Keiyo Line from Tokyo Station to Maihama Station (about 15 minutes and 230 yen)
12. Fuji-Q Highland
Photo credit: Priscilla Du Preez
If you want to get out of Tokyo and like amusement parks (but Disney isn’t really your thing), then Fuji-Q Highland may be right up your alley.
Fuji-Q is one of Japan’s most popular amusement parks and it’s just a couple hours outside of Tokyo — perfect for a day trip!
You can enter the park for free, but will need to purchase individual tickets to ride any coasters. You can see their full price list here.
What to Do
Ride Fujiyama (tallest/fastest coaster in Japan)
Ride Takabisha (steepest drop)
Ride Eejanaika (360-degree inversion)
Ride Dodonpa (fastest acceleration)
Visit Thomas Land
See Mount Fuji from the observation deck
How to get to There
Take the JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku Station to Fujikyu-Highland Station (about 2 hours and 4,000 yen)
Later ✌️
Tokyo has plenty to do. I mean, I still constantly experience new things, and I’ve been living there on and off since 2017!
Still, when you’re needing a break from the city and looking for something a little different, you have lots of options (often less than two hours away).
And when you come back, ready to explore the city again, be sure you don’t miss out on these coolest areas in Tokyo!
Otherwise, happy travels out there!
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