Top Tokyo Day Trips

You have several options when it comes to day trips from Tokyo. Recent visitors have raved about these tours:

• Mt. Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour Return by Bullet Train
• 1-Day Tokyo Bus Tour
• Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
• Private Sightseeing to Mt Fuji and Hakone Guide
• Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour Return by Bus

The seaside city of Kamakura is located about 1.5 hours south of Tokyo, and people enjoy visiting the temples and beaches here. This tour to Kamakura and nearby Enoshima Island combines Kamakura’s cultural and historic treasures with the laidback beachy vibes of Enoshima. Yokohama and Kawasaki are also nearby, about one hour away.

Yes, seeing Mt. Fuji on a day trip from Tokyo is possible. There are several excursion options that include your transportation both ways and can include additional sightseeing stops, such as the Hakone Ropeway, a boat ride on Lake Ashi, and the Shinkansen bullet train.

It depends on the method of transportation. Kyoto is quite far from Tokyo—more than a 6-hour drive—but the Shinkansen bullet train can make the trip in closer to two hours. Consider how you want to divide your day between travel and sightseeing to decide whether this works for your schedule.

Hokkaido is located more than 18 hours north of Tokyo by car. If you take the bullet train, you can cut your travel time down to about four hours, which means it’s more worthwhile to stay overnight than try to squeeze it into a day trip. You should try to visit regardless: Hokkaido is beloved for its Sapporo beer and ramen, skiing and winter ice festival, and fragrant flower fields.

Tokyo day trip prices vary depending on duration and inclusions. If you’re looking for high-quality experiences on the lower end of the price range, these are the best tours to book now:

• From Tokyo Mount Fuji, Kamakura, Lake Ashi, and Oshino Hakkai
• Nikko: The Beauty of Kegon Waterfall and Chuzenji Lake From Tokyo
• From Tokyo: Mount Fuji Sightseeing One-Day Trip
• Mount Fuji & Lake Kawaguchi Small Group Tour & Tokyo Hotel Pickup
• Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Small Group Minibus Tour from Tokyo

Popular day-trip destinations from Tokyo include the Mt. Fuji area and Nikko, both at higher altitudes than sea-level Tokyo. In summer, the temperature difference can be quite refreshing, but in winter, it can be very cold. Dress appropriately for the season. Pick up some snacks for the journey before heading out on a day trip: Japanese convenience stores sell an exciting array of Japanese snacks and bento boxes that are ideal for travel. Some day trips travel by bus or car, but to save time for more sightseeing, look for a trip by Shinkansen (bullet train), which can be taken to some destinations.

The best times of year to visit Tokyo and take a day trip from there is spring (March–May) or fall (October–November). The weather is mostly warm and dry then, and you can enjoy seasonal foliage. However, these are very popular times to travel, so book day trips in advance. Summer in Tokyo is very hot and humid, but if you do visit then, take a day trip up to the mountains to enjoy more pleasant conditions. On the other hand, mountainous destinations can get very cold in winter, but you can still enjoy a day trip there if you dress warmly.

Both are possible. Independent travelers can reach Kawaguchiko or Hakone by public transportation, but a guided tour bundles round-trip transport with sightseeing stops such as the Hakone Ropeway, Lake Ashi cruise, and the Oshino Hakkai ponds—often returning by bullet train—so you spend less time navigating and more time enjoying the views and experience. Compare the tours on this page by duration, inclusions, and price to decide.

Many featured trips travel by bus or private car, but bullet train (Shinkansen) options save significant time and are ideal if you want more sightseeing and less transit. Note that this mode of transportation is much more expensive than others, though. Kamakura and Yokohama are reachable in about an hour, while Shinkansen-based tours reach farther destinations quickly. Some smaller or mountainous destinations are not accessible by bullet train, though. Filter this page for train-based tours to compare options.

Yes, Nikko is highly worth visiting. It’s a popular day-trip destination known for Kegon Waterfall, Lake Chuzenji, and UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic shrines and temples. This handy and highly-rated tour combines all the top attractions in one day. It’s especially rewarding to visit in fall to see the autumn foliage (mid-November) and in late spring for the greenery. Because it sits at a higher altitude than Tokyo, it can be pleasantly refreshing in summer, but dress warmly in cooler months.

For quick escapes, Kamakura (about one hour south) offers temples and beaches, while Yokohama—Japan’s second-largest city—and museum-filled Kawasaki are roughly an hour away. North of Tokyo, the town of Kawagoe in Saitama Prefecture is a great half-day destination, with well-preserved Edo period (19th-century) stores. These destinations are ideal if you want to be back in central Tokyo the same evening with minimal travel time.

Coastal spots including Kamakura and Enoshima offer beaches and relaxed sightseeing. The Mt. Fuji area also offers many family attractions, including the Fuji-Q Highland theme park. Private tours with a licensed guide can also be tailored to your family’s pace—filter this page by private tours to find one that suits your family’s interests.