9 of the Best Weekend Getaways from Tokyo

Although it’s possible to visit Hakone on day trips from Tokyo, it’s much more rewarding to take a leisurely approach to the famous hot spring town. After all, its prime pastimes—soaking in natural mountain hot springs, gliding across Lake Ashi on a boat cruise, soaring over valleys on Hakone Ropeway—are not suited to rushing.

There’s plenty to keep you busy here for two or even three days, with numerous museums, including the Hakone Open-Air Museum, a pretty shrine, and many onsen ryokan (hot spring inns) where you can soak in the therapeutic waters while staring into the mountains.

One of the best weekend trips from Tokyo is a jaunt to the Fuji Five Lakes, and Lake Kawaguchi is among the most easily accessible for a short trip. Railway enthusiasts will enjoy the dedicated Fuji Excursion train, which runs between Shinjuku and Kawaguchiko stations four times a day and will get you from the city to the lakes in just under two hours. Once there, you’ll find charming Japanese-style pensions (minshuku), bicycles for rent, and stunning Fuji views across Lake Kawaguchi.

Insider tip: Big and small kids alike will love the major amusement park Fuji-Q Highland, with its epic roller coasters and array of rides for little ones.

Just two hours north of Tokyo is Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture, home of the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Toshogu Shrine: a 17th-century shrine dedicated to shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. The magnificent complex features dozens of buildings, many of which are covered with the intricate Nikko-bori carving style. You can also explore Nikko National Park, with superb hiking, water sports, and brilliant foliage in the autumn, all making for a top weekend escape from Tokyo.

Most people’s first impressions of Chiba Prefecture are from landing at the big, busy Narita Airport, northwest of Tokyo. Yet the majority of the prefecture is quieter; nowhere more so than the rustic, laid-back Chiba Peninsula. What makes this a great countryside destination near Tokyo? The long white sandy stretch of Kujukuri Beach is a dreamy beach trip in the summer, and the uncrowded rural area is dotted with farms and cafés, such as Brown’s Field, where you can pet animals, eat ice cream, and enjoy fun rides.

If you’re looking for a winter weekend destination near Tokyo, jump on the Shinkansen at Tokyo Station and ride 75 minutes northwest to the Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort. The station at Gala Yuzawa is seasonal: It's open only during the ski and snowboard season, which runs from the last week of December to the first week of May. The best ski conditions are typically from January through March, when skiers can enjoy the resort’s 16 runs, 11 lifts, and a roughly even split between beginner, intermediate, and advanced trails.

Insider tip: Gondolas, ski rentals, and more are directly connected to the train station, so you can get on the mountain immediately.

Did you know that the metropolitan Tokyo area includes several islands? The Izu Islands lie to the southeast of the capital’s mainland, with Izu Oshima being the principal island in the group, which is accessible by ferry in under two hours from Takeshiba Terminal. Once there, you’re on island time: think of wild hikes, lazy swimming, sleepy villages, and open-air hot springs. Public transportation on the 35-square-mile (91-square-kilometer) island is sparse, but you can rent a car, scooter, or bicycle to get around.

Insider tip: Although the 75-minute ferry ride offers the best balance between cost and time spent, there’s also a slower ferry (6 hours) or a quicker (30-minute) flight to the island.

If you’re looking for a weekend trip to a nearby city from Tokyo, Kanazawa fits the bill. You can get there in as little as 2.5 hours on the Hokuriku Shinkansen from the capital. Sample the country’s freshest seafood, visit a bustling market, and walk the landscaped gardens of Kenroku-en and the adjacent Kanazawa Castle grounds. Kanazawa is famous for its gold leaf production—book a tour to learn more about this traditional craft—and it has an atmospheric teahouse district filled with old-fashioned wooden storefronts.

Insider tip: Two nights and three days is a good length for relaxed exploration.

Did you know that Japan produces wine? In addition to being the partial home to Mt. Fuji, Yamanashi Prefecture is Japan’s fruit bowl, filled with cherry and peach orchards, as well as the country’s biggest concentration of wineries. Munch and sip your way through Kofu, where many of the vineyards are located, or join a cookery class to learn about traditional Japanese cuisine. One or two nights here is just right, allowing time to soak up the mountain scenery of the Shosenkyo Gorge, preferably from one of the area’s hot springs.

Insider tip: A limited express sightseeing train from Shinjuku goes directly to the station in Kofu in just 90 minutes.

A little less than two hours from Tokyo on the Hokuriku Shinkansen is Nagano City, capital of Nagano Prefecture. There’s lots to do in the prefecture—it’s a premier skiing destination, and there are numerous nihonshu (sake) distilleries where you can enjoy tasting experiences. A particularly worthwhile destination in the city is Zenkoji, a large Buddhist temple complex with several shukubo (temple lodgings) on-site; here, visitors can try meditation, eat shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine), and learn about the temple’s 1,400-year history.