Looking to take one or more day trips from Tokyo, but don’t know where to go?

It can be confusing. Lots of blogs list 10 to even 25 cities to visit from Tokyo.

But let’s be honest.

They’re not all equally worthwhile, especially if you’re visiting Japan for the first time or even the second time. These long lists just confuse travelers and make planning for your trip to Japan even more challenging.

So, in this guide, I’m going to share with you the ONLY 4 day trips you should consider doing from Tokyo.

All of them can be reached in 1 or 2 hours by bus or train. And all will reward you with tons of unique cultural experiences, rich historical sights, stunning natural beauty, and exciting culinary adventures. You can’t go wrong with any of these four and they will surely make your trip to Tokyo even more memorable. 

1. Mt. Fuji

One of the bucket list ideas on any Japan itinerary is a chance to see Mt. Fuji.  It is also one of the BEST Tokyo day trips to do in the winter because it’s the BEST time to see the whole mountain.

DIY Day Trip to Mt. Fuji

If you’re doing a day trip to Mt. Fuji on your own, I recommend taking a train or bus to Kawaguchi-ko Station (2-3 hours; ¥1,950-2,510) and making that as your base for exploring the area.

• The station has a great tourist information center. When I visited, there was actually tourism staff standing outside the station guiding people to the appropriate buses. Everyone I spoke to had fluent English, so communication was never a problem.
• The station has lots of signs in English guiding you on where to go and what to do
• Kawaguchi-ko is also THE transportation hub for the region. Many buses from Tokyo terminate at its station. Plus, the station’s buses and trains connect to the other lakes and tourist attractions in the area.
• You can get to Kawaguchi-ko using your JR Pass.
• If you’re staying overnight, it’s got a good selection of accommodations.

When to Visit Mt. Fuji

The BIGGEST complaint people have when they visit Mt. Fuji is that they can’t even see it. It’s so cloudy that the whole mountain is covered up.

However, there are certain times of the year when Mt. Fuji is more visible than not. Those months are when you REALLY want to do a day trip to Mt. Fuji and the other months are when you want to choose a different day trip destination from Tokyo.

Mt. Fuji in Winter

Your best chance of seeing Mt. Fuji is in from December to February. During these months in 2017, Mt. Fuji was completely visible at 8:00 am 70-80% of the time.

Plus, winter is when the mountain is capped with snow, making the views even more memorable.

The downside is that you won’t be able to go all the way to Mt. Fuji Fifth Station as the roads are closed.

Mt. Fuji in Summer

It’s rare that you will be able to see Mt. Fuji from June to August. For example, in 2017, you could only see the whole mountain at 8:00 am 20% of the time in June and August and 6% in July. Also, you won’t see it with its beautiful cap of snow.

I went in August and did see it for a few minutes at 5:00 am from the roof of my hostel, but during the day it was completely covered in clouds.

You still might want to visit Mt. Fuji in the summer if you plan to hike it. July and August are the best times to climb it. Plus, this is the ONLY season when the road to Mt. Fuji Fifth Station is open.

What to Do in the Mt. Fuji Area

There’s more to do at Mt. Fuji than just looking at the mountain.

• Five Lakes – View Mt. Fuji from the shores of any of the 5 lakes—you can get a map of the region that indicates the best places to see it.
• Chureito Pagoda – Climb to the top of this pagoda for the most iconic view of Mt. Fuji. It’s only worth going here if it’s a clear day and you can see Mt. Fuji.
• Climb Mt. Fuji – This is probably impossible on a day trip as it takes 4-7 hours to ascend, another 1.5 to walk around the crater, and 2-3 to descend.
• Fuji Fifth Station – Here you can view Mt. Fuji up close. The Fifth Station is the beginning of the most popular climbing route to the top. I didn’t do this, but many of the group tours that go here.
• Fuji-Q Highland – You can visit an amusement park with views of Mt. Fuji from the top of a roller coaster.
• Hiking – You don’t have to go to Mt. Fuji to hike. There are plenty of other mountains and hiking trails in the area that you can hike on for the day. One hiking trail, Panorama Dai, has spectacular views of Mt. Fuji. There’s also a hike you can do from the top of the Kachi Kachi Yama ropeway to Mt. Mitsutoge. The Tokai Nature Trail is a popular course with multiple views of Mt. Fuji.

• Hoto noodles – Try the area’s specialty: Hoto (Hotou) – flat noodles served with lots of veggies in a cast-iron pot (¥1,080). There’s a restaurant across from Kawaguchi-ko station called Hotou Fudo Kawaguchi-ko Station (11 am – 7 pm) – 3631-2 Funatsu, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi 401-0301,
• Mt. Tenjo-yama – Take the Kachi Kachi Yama ropeway to the top of Mt. Tenjo-yama for views of Mt. Fuji. Again, if it’s a cloudy day, skip this activity.
• Museums – There are several museums around Lake Kawaguchi-ko: Itichiku Kubota Museum (kimonos), Kawaguchiko Muse Museum (exhibits of doll maker, Atae Yuki), Kawaguchiko Museum of Art (paintings, prints, and photos of Mt. Fuji), and Fujisan World Heritage Center (displays on Mt. Fuji).
• Picking Fruit – I didn’t try any fruit from the region but another traveler I met while in the area raved about the peaches. Some tours offer an all-you-can-eat fruit picking activity.
• Bike around the lakes – There are places around Kawaguchi-ko station to rent a bike. You can bike around Lake Kawaguchi-ko and to Lake Saiko, Motosuko, and Shojiko.
• Saiko Bat Cave – You can walk around the interior of the largest lava bat cave in the region. It was formed from flowing lava from volcanic eruptions. There are 5 species of bats that make the cave their home.
• SAIKO Iyashi no sato NENBA – This is a re-creation of a village of thatch-roofed houses that once stood in the area until it was destroyed by a typhoon in 1966. It’s got beautiful views of Mt. Fuji in the background when the mountain is visible. I saw a smidge of the mountain when I visited. I felt it was tourist trappy with most houses turned into souvenir shops
• Sengan-jinja Shrine – The shrine is dedicated to Princess Blossom, the goddess of Mt. Fuji. A shrine has been built on the same spot as the present-day one since 807. It’s also the starting point of the Fuji Yoshida trail leading up to Mt. Fuji. It’s not used by hikers that much anymore.

How to Get to Mt. Fuji from Tokyo

You can get to Kawaguchi-ko from Tokyo by either bus or train. The easiest and cheapest way is by bus. It’s also the cheapest if you don’t have a JR Pass.

For those with a JR Pass, the cheapest way is a train, but you have to transfer once in Otsuki.

The easiest but most expensive way is by the new Fuji Excursion Express Train.

1. By Bus to Kawaguchi-ko

The easiest and cheapest way to get to Kawaguchi-ko is by bus. You can take a bus from Shinjuku Station, Shibuya Station, and Tokyo Station.

I left from the Shinjuku Express Bus Terminal inside Shinjuku Station (near the South Exit of Shinjuku Station). It was very easy to find the station as there were tons of signs in the underground metro station pointing the way to the bus station.

The bus from Shinjuku Express Bus Station to the Kawaguchi-ko costs around ¥2,100 (August 2023) and takes between 2 and 3 hours depending on what time of day you depart (rush hour) and where you get off.

You can buy your tickets at the bus station or online from Willer Express. When you search for bus times, you need to enter the prefecture. For Tokyo, it’s Tokyo, and for Kawaguchi-ko, it’s Yamanashi prefecture.

I bought my bus ticket a few days beforehand when I was buying my Fuji Hakone pass from Odakyu Sightseeing Service Center at Shinjuku Station.

2. Hakone

Located 1.5 hours by train from Tokyo, Hakone is the PERFECT day trip for those of you who travel to experience culture, history, food, art, and nature.

Organized Tour of Hakone

Another option is to join a tour group. There are a few that leave from Tokyo. Doing a tour group is understandable considering the confusion in getting there and if you’re not used to navigating bus systems, it can be overwhelming.

What Can You Do in Hakone?

• Hakone Checkpoint – Explore the re-creation of the Hakone Checkpoint (Hakone Barrier).
• Hakone Jinja – Visit the floating torii gate at Hakone Jinja.
• Hot Springs – Spend a few hours at a hot spring such as Yunessun, Tenseien, Ikkyu, or Hakone Yuryo. You can buy your ticket online beforehand for Yuryo and Tenseien.
• Japanese traditional inns – Stay in a traditional Japanese inn called a ryokan. You’ll get a kaiseki meal in your room along with a private hot spring.
• Lake Ashi – Take a cruise on Lake Ashi.

• Museums – My favorite was the Hakone Open Air Museum with its fun outdoor sculpture garden and a Picasso exhibition hall. Other Hakone museums, which I haven’t visited, include the Pola Museum of Art (famous western works of art), the Lalique Museum Hakone, Hakone Museum of Art, Hakone Venetian Glass Museum, and the Little Prince Museum.
• Owakudani – Ride a ropeway up to Owakudani, a volcano. While at the top, try the eggs that have been blackened in sulphurous water.
• Teahouses – Visit the 300-year-old Edo era Amazake-jaya Teahouse to sip some amazake (sweet sake without alcohol) and then onto the small nearby village of Hatajuku to see how the marquetry (the craft of making things out of small pieces of various colored wood) is performed.
• Tokaido Road – Hike along the original stone path of the old Tokaido Highway.
• Views of Mt. Fuji – If you’re here in the winter, you might be able to see Mt. Fuji peering over Lake Aishi.

How to Get to Hakone from Tokyo

You have several options for getting from Tokyo to Hakone. Unfortunately, none of them allows you to use your JR Pass all the way. Check out this fabulous detailed guide on how to get to Hakone.

1. By JR Train:

Use your JR Pass and take a JR train from Tokyo station to Odawara. Then transfer to a non-JR train to Hakone-Yumoto. PERFECT for JR Pass Holders.

2. By Non-JR Train:

For those without a JR Pass, it’s cheapest to take an Odakyu train from Shinjuku Station to Odawara and then transfer to another Odakyu train to Hakone-Yumoto.

3. By Direct Train to Hakone:

You can also splurge for a direct train to Hakone-Yumoto on the Odakyu Romance Care line from Shinjuku Station. Beautiful scenery!

4. By Bus:

There is a bus that goes from Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal via the Gotemba Outlet to Hakone, but it arrives at Togendai on Lake Ashi and not at the usual Hakone-Yumoto train station. Depending on where you’re staying or what you want to see, the bus could be really convenient or extremely inconvenient.

3. Kamakura

Kamakura has a nice laid-back surfer vibe that makes it the perfect relaxing day trip from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. Since the historic city is only one hour from Tokyo, it’s also the easiest and quickest day trip to take out of all four.

It is one of Japan’s most important historic destinations.  The city was once the ancient capital of Japan (1182 to 1333), a period referred to as the Kamakura Period. The de facto ruler of Japan, the Shogun lived in Kamakura, while the powerless Emperor resided in Kyoto.

As a result of its place in history, Kamakura is full of historic buildings, especially Zen temples and Shinto shrines, that it is sometimes referred to as the Kyoto of Eastern Japan.

I preferred the Zen temples in Kamakura to the ones in Kyoto. In Kyoto, they come across as existing solely for tourists while the ones in Kamakura appear to be functioning temples with scheduled meditation times. The ones in Kamakura are less crowded than the ones in Kyoto, giving visitors a  more quiet and contemplative experience.

DIY Day Trip from Tokyo to Kamakura

You can easily do a day trip to Kamakura on your own by taking a direct train from Shinjuku or Tokyo stations. It’ll take around one hour. Arrange your trip for a weekday to avoid the crowds of weekend visitors.

You can get around Kamakura by bus or train. Some temples are easy to get to, while others require navigating the bus system or walking for 20 to 30 minutes.

The people who work at the tourist information center at the Kamakura train station are knowledgeable and helpful. They gave me better directions to my accommodations than Google Maps did, saving me a lot of time.

What Can You Do in Kamakura?

• Great Buddha Statue (Daibutsu) – This is the #1 must-see in Kamakura. It makes for a very quick stop, too, as the statue is the only thing to really see.
• Daibutsu Hiking Course – You can also do the 2.2-kilometer Daibutsu Hiking Course. It’s a hiking trail that leads from Daibutsu to the temples around Engaku-ji. While on the way, visit the Zeniarai Benten cave shrine to wash your money for good fortune. I did just half the course from Daibutsu to Zeniarai Benten. I would have done the whole course, but this Japanese guy and I couldn’t find how to go the whole way as there were no signs once we got to Zeniarai Benten. In some places the trail is steep, but for most of the way, it’s easy. Check out this guided tour of the walking course.
• Enoshima island – A visit to sacred Enoshima Island is harder to do on a day-trip, but it’s possible. There’s a shrine, an aquarium, and a botanical garden on the island.

• Food – Kamakura is on the ocean, so it makes for a great place to eat seafood. Try the restaurant, Teishoku-ya shamoji (定食屋しゃもじ), near Hase-dera Temple. It’s a small restaurant popular with locals. There’s an English menu and a super friendly staff who spoke pretty good English when I was there. They play good music with an awesome sound system. I ate there twice and the second time they gave me a free side dish. Try the seafood donburi bowls or the mackerel set meal for only ¥1,000. It’s not touristy at all!
• Kamakura’s Temples. My favorites were Kencho-ji, Engaku-ji, Tokei-ji, and Hase-dera. If you have only time for one, visit Kencho-ji or Engaku-ji. Hase-dera is within walking distance of the Big Buddha statue. Sugimoto-ji is a small, interesting temple as well; Hokoku-ji with its bamboo forest was a disappointment;
• Komachi-dori and Wakamiya-oji – Walk along the pedestrian only Komachi-dori and down Wakamiya-oji, the grand street that goes from the ocean to the entrance of Hacheman-gu. There’s a pedestrian only lane that divides the street into 2 lanes.
• Tsurugaoka Hacheman-gu – Sitting right in the center of town near the train station, Hacheman-gu is the ruling Minamoto clan’s shrine. Not my favorite place in Kamakura, but it’s so close to the station and such an important historic site that it’s a must-see.

How to Get to Kamakura from Tokyo

You can take a train from either Tokyo Station or Shinjuku Station.

1. By Train from Tokyo Station:

You can get a JR train from Tokyo Station directly to Kamakura. Check Hyperdia. The train takes around 55 minutes and costs. Check Navitime or Google Maps for train schedules.

2. By Train from Shinjuku Station:

You can get the JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line for Zushi from Shinjuku Station directly to Kamakura Station. It takes about one hour.

There are other lines that will get you to Kamakura but require transferring in Yokohama, Ofuna, or Totsuka. Check Navitime or Google Maps for schedules.

4. Nikko

There’s so much to do and see in Nikko that you can’t go wrong with choosing it as a day trip from Tokyo. There’s great history, beautiful architecture, relaxing onsens, and lots of natural beauty (waterfalls!).

The tombs of the first Tokugawa Shogunate, Ieyasu Tokugawa, and his grandson are buried here in a stunningly beautiful and intricately designed set of buildings: Toshogu Shrine and Taiyuan Temple.

Since Nikko escaped American bombing during World War II, the buildings are the original–a rarity in Japan.

Nikko also has a lot of natural beauty and hot springs (onsens). 11.5 kilometers outside of Nikko is the hot spring town of Chuzen-ji Onsen with its beautiful lake, waterfalls, and mountains.

Thirty minutes away from Chuzen-ji Onsen is another onsen village called Yumoto Onsen where you’ll find more waterfalls, lakes, and hiking trails.

DIY Day Trip to Nikko

If you visit on your own, buy the Nikko World Heritage Area pass (¥2,040) with the extra limited express train fare (Roundtrip – ¥2,320). The train should get you to Nikko in around 2 hours. You can use the pass for traveling by bus to and from the World Heritage sites around Nikko.

If you tour Nikko on your own for just a day, you won’t have time to see everything. You’ll have to see EITHER the historic buildings OR the natural sights like waterfalls, lakes, and onsens. Not Both. The waterfalls and lakes are 1 hour to 1.5 hours away from Nikko by bus.

I love history and architecture, so I found the historical sights to be better than the natural sights, so I’d choose to see all of them over splitting up my time between those and the waterfalls and lakes. My opinion is probably affected by the weather. It was rainy and foggy when I visited Chuzen-ji and Yumoto Onsen villages. Kegon Falls was completely covered in fog and I got caught in a downpour on my way to the other falls.

Join a Group or Private Tour to Nikko

There are several group tours of Nikko that will allow you to see some (not all) of the World Heritage sites AND stop at one of the onsen villages in order to see a waterfall and lake and even visit a hot spring.

This might be the ONLY way to get in BOTH history AND nature.

You can find tours through Klook or GetYourGuide.

What Can You do in Nikko?

• Chuzen-ji – About 50 minutes by bus from Nikko, Chuzen-ji is an onsen village located on a lake. Near the bus station, there’s a beautiful waterfall called Kegon Falls.
• Futarasan-jinja – This Shinto shrine is right next to Toshogu and Taiyuin-byo. Built in 1619, it’s the oldest shrine in Nikko. It’s in a beautiful setting, but overall, I found the it to be average.
• Hot springs – You can stay in a traditional Japanese inn with a private hot spring or you can try one of the public hot springs.

• Kanma-ga-Fuchi Abyss – This is a little gorge with a roaring river. There’s an easy-to-walk path along the river. The highlight of the abyss, though, is a line of over 70 Jizo statues along the path. It requires a 15-minute walk from the nearest bus stop, but so worth it. Make sure to schedule a time to see this atmospheric sight.
• Kinugawa Onsen village – This is another hot spring resort village with lots of traditional Japanese inns. It’s also the location of Tobu World Square, an amusement park of miniature-sized famous world buildings and Edo Wonderland, is a recreation of a seventeenth-century Edo. People are dressed up in Edo-era characters like samurai and courtesans. You can wear a kimono, eat Edo-era food, and try out Edo-period jobs/crafts.
• Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa – This is the restored villa of the imperial family. It’s closed on Tuesdays, which was the day I was in Nikko.
• Rinnon-ji – This Buddhist temple is another sight on must-see lists. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to see it. Rain, early closing times, and not bringing snack foods with me along the way caused me to miss this temple.

• Shin-kyo Bridge – This is the red bridge that will be the first sight that you see before you come to the World Heritage area. It makes for a lovely photo op.
• Taiyuin Temple – The next must-see sight after Toshogu is Taiyuin Temple, the shrine to Ieyasu’s grandson, Iemitsu. Just as stunningly gorgeous as Toshogu Shrine but far fewer tourists visit it.
• Toshogu Shrine – The highlight of your day trip from Tokyo should be the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate that ruled Japan for 250 years. It is stunningly gorgeous and should not be missed. There are a lot of buildings, lots of steps to climb to his tomb, and lots and lots of tourists. Hit this one first. Get the audio guide.
• Waterfalls – There are 3 waterfalls that you can see around Chuzenji and Yumoto Onsen area: Kegon Falls, Yutaki Falls, and Ryuzu Falls.
• Yuba – Yuba is tofu skin, a specialty of Nikko. It’s served many different ways. One popular way is Yuba soba.
• Yumoto Onsen village – 5 hours from Nikko is the onsen village of Yumoto Onsen located on Lake Yunoko. There are some waterfalls on the way to the village.

How to Get to Nikko from Tokyo

You can choose to get to Nikko by either a JR Train (good for those with a JR Pass) or a non-JR Train, which is the Tobu Train. Bus is also an option.

1. By JR Train:

If you have a JR Pass, you can take a Shinkansen JR train from Tokyo Station to Utsunomiya and then transfer to an ordinary JR train to Nikko.

Price without JR Pass: ¥5,680 one way. It takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

2. By Non-JR Train:

You can also take a Tobu limited express train from Asakusa to Tobu-Nikko.

Some trains go directly to Tobu-Nikko Station, while other trains stop at Shimo-Imachi, where you’ll need to transfer to another train.

The cost is around ¥2,860 one way and takes around 110 minutes.

3. By Bus:

You can take a bus from Tokyo Station to Tobu Nikko Station. The cost is ¥2,500 and takes about 3 hours. Go to the Willer Bus website and enter “Tochigi prefecture” as your destination.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it: 4 great day trips from Tokyo. If you only have time for 1 trip, which should you choose? That’s a hard question. All are great. Here’s my opinion:

If it were December through February, I’d choose Mt. Fuji just because I’d always wanted to see the mountain. However, to be honest, it’s better to stay overnight so you can be there at 8:00 am when you have the greatest chance to see it.

If it were other times of the year, I’d choose Nikko first and Hakone a close second. Nikko for its history and natural beauty and Hakone for its art and onsens.

However, out of all 4, I had the best time in Kamakura. I found a welcoming local restaurant with great food and met lots of Japanese people. And I just really liked the laid back vibe of Kamakura.

Of course, we’re all different, so here’s a breakdown of which places suit which interests.

• Natural beauty and outdoors: Fuji, Hakone, and Nikko
• History: Hakone (Tokaido Highway), Kamakura (ancient Japanese capital), and Nikko (where the first Tokugawa Shogun is buried)
• Art: Hakone (museums)
• Architecture: Kamakura (Zen temples) and Nikko (shrines)
• Hot springs: Hakone and Nikko
• Food: Fuji (Hoto noodles-flat thick noodles with lots of veggies), Kamakura (seafood donburi—a bowl of rice topped with raw fish), and Nikko (yuba – tofu skins)

I’d love to hear from you in the comments section if you’ve been to any of these places. If you haven’t, I’d be happy to answer your questions