Hi all,

We've got 4 days in Tokyo this fall and would like to take a day trip out of the city to some place interesting. We like lots of different things - both cultural and natural.
What's you favorite day trip from Tokyo and why?
Thanks in advance for your input.
R&Z

Many people visit Nikko as a day trip from Tokyo. (I'm glad I spent a night there.) Like many people, I visited Kamakura (and Kiti-Kamakura) as a day trip from Tokyo. I enjoyed both. If I had had to choose between them (and I'm glad I didn't), I'd go with Nikko, as it offered a greater contrast to other places I had seen. BUT you'd have to be very selective, as there's a lot to see there.

It might be helpful if you tell us your itinerary and interests.

Nikko and Kamakura for sure to see historical sites and temples, Nikko in particular to get out of the city. Sawara in Chiba is interesting for a look at a merchant town with well preserved buildings and a taste of life from the Edo period.

Mt. Takao, on the outskirts of Tokyo is a popular site with a temple and hiking trails, easily assessable from the city. Weekdays are best for any day trips you may be considering.

The options that have already been offered are probably the best ones, but just for variety's sake, I'll offer one more. I spent a day at Gotokuji and Jindai-ji temples. These are not technically outside of Tokyo, but they are outside the central part of the city. Gotokuji is the "Cat Temple" with all of the manekineko statues. I visited Jindaiji on what ended up being an overcast, slightly foggy day, and it felt so otherworldly and different from the city. In addition to the main temple complex, there are walks you can do to visit other small shrines and a couple of streets lined with soba restaurants. The Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum is also out that direction. I didn't have time to visit that museum, as there were other things I wanted to do back in the city center, but I think you could do 1-2 sites in a half day or 2-3 sites for a full day of activities that would provide a good contrast to urban, modern Tokyo.

Thank you kja, curiousgeo, and memejs for your thoughtful responses. Nikko sounds like a good bet: nature, maybe some short hikes, would love to see the Kegon waterfalls.

kja, our itinerary is still fairly open. 4 days in Tokyo with one day trip. We appreciate suggestions for Tokyo such as Gotokuji (great description, by the way), and we'll look into the Architectural Museum. We like a lot of things - Japanese know-how, crafts, textiles, history, traditional art...

Thanks again for your suggestions.

So ... no time elsewhere in Japan? In that case, my choice would definitely be Nikko.

Hakone/ Kamakura would also be options

Can you get to Hakone without a bus ride on a steep winding road?

When is the trip?

I recommend Hakone to see some of the unique natural beauty of Japan, including great views of Mt Fuji (weather-permitting). A bonus is the opportunity to go for a soak in a hot springs.

Why? How important is this? Both "steep" and "winding" are subjective. I don't recall the bus on the Hakone Loop as being particularly steep, but it is somewhat winding.

The bus to Kegon Falls near Nikko climbs a mountain and has several switchbacks. The switchbacks make the road both steep and winding, by definition.

But, the answer to your question is "yes" because you can avoid taking the bus altogether. You can take the Loop counter-clockwise from Hakone Yumoto (HY) to Moto Hakone (MH) and then return the same way.

See the map, text, and video here: Hakone Round Course - Hakone Travel

I recommend going clockwise on the route, with the bus ride first. This is opposite of the way the route is described in the link. The woman in the video went clockwise. She walked the Nakasendo from the teahouse to the lake, but the bus goes all the way from HY to MH, so the walk is not necessary. It was odd to see that part of her walk was, at one point, fairly steep uphill when the entire walk is basically downhill. I stayed at a minshuku on that road and easily walked down to the lake. The walk back up was kind of tough. If I would do that walk then I would go in her direction, down to the lake. While there is some uphill walk going that way I have to believe that there is more of it the other way (i.e. most of her walk was probably downhill).

In addition to knowing when your trip is, it c/would be useful to know where you are staying in Tokyo and what days of the week you will be there.

Mt Takao was a good suggestion by curiousgeo. It is a less obvious alternative to Nikko/Kamakura/Hakone. I haven't visited there but looks interesting. I think that is the area around Hachioji. I think it is covered, like Nikko, by what was once called the Tokyo Wide Area Pass.

Here is another option that would be less than a full daytrip and would be best at certain times of year: Showa Memorial Park (Showa Kinen Koen) - Tokyo Travel

Another excellent daytrip option: Lake Kawaguchiko - Fuji Five Lakes Travel

Noticed this advice on that page which would apply to Hakone:
Be warned that even though Kawaguchiko is located right at the base of Mount Fuji, the mountain is not always visible because of clouds. Visibility tends to be best in the early mornings (usually before 9am) and in the late afternoons, while clouds often obstruct the view during daytime even on days with fair weather, and especially during the hazy summer.

The time of year matters

We'll be in Tokyo mid-week in mid-September, Ueno area. We know it's chancy that we'll see Mt Fuji and expect that there will be rain. The idea of going Nikko or Hakone is very appealing, but looking at some of the videos of "day trips" to either location makes them seem, maybe, a bit to ambitious/energetic for us. Neither of us do well with bus rides on twisty mountainous roads, so not sure where that leaves us. In the case of Hakone, taking the "Loop counter-clockwise from Hakone Yumoto (HY) to Moto Hakone (MH) and then return the same way" as you suggested sounds like an alternative. Just need to study it. Not knowing the transportation well yet, bear with this dumb question: Can we travel half the loop and reverse back?

Have gotten some dependably good feedback here from you and others. Thank you all.

On the right side of this link, scroll down to "Side Trips from Tokyo." Select one. Under the picture, click on "Get There." Etc.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html

What an informative resource! Thank you much, kja.

About the twisty mountain roads: would you not do well due to motion sickness or acrophobia or both or what?

You can have a nice day trip to Nikko, just skip Kegon Falls like most of the daytrippers do. The visit would involve some fairly easy walking, though getting to Tokugawa's mausoleum requires climbing a very long stairway. If that is too ambitious then skip it and still nave a good day. Going midweek means, you would take the Tobu train which is what most people do (and not the JR train from Shinjuku that runs on weekends, which means there might be fewer visitors midweek).

>> Can we travel half the loop and reverse back?
Yes. This would be pretty easy. This does involve riding on a ropeway which might not be good for someone with a fear of heights. Weekday visit means you won't encounter Japanese on weekend getaways from Yokohama and Tokyo.

An alternative to taking the Tobu train to Nikko is to take JR. You would take a JR local train from JR Nikko Station and then transfer to the shinkansen. So you can get to ride the shinkansen (bullet train) that way. A bonus to that is that the transfer is at Utsunomiya which is the gyoza capital of Japan (of the world). How to get to and around Nikko: Access, Orientation and Transportation

It's more motion than height, I think.
Good to know how to modify the pace in Nikko. Thanks!

As someone based in Tokyo, these are my go-to day trips when I want a quick escape. Kamakura’s great for a relaxed walk through temples and bamboo groves, with the ocean nearby. On clear days, I like heading to Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station, just for the views. Hakone’s perfect for hot springs and museums. Mt. Takao is an easy hike I’ve done dozens of times. And when I want real quiet, Okutama’s forests and rivers are hard to beat. All are easy to reach and worth the trip.

Hi Kazu, welcome to fodors forums. What are the chances for a clear day in September (one clear day in four). Better later in the month? I have seen that there are bus tours from Tokyo (hotel pickup) to Fuji 5th Station (or nearby) but the issue for the OP is winding roads.

Okutama looks interesting. Easier to reach by car but can go by train.

I found this:
Easy Okutama Day Trip Itinerary | Tokyo Cheapo

which links to this:
Top 26 Day Trips From Tokyo | Tokyo Cheapo

Some of the daytrips are more for locals rather than foreign tourists on their first visit to Japan. This not necessarily a bad thing, but other spots involve World Heritage sites.

Last on the list is Kyoto, which none of us mentioned. It certainly can be done. The shinkansen takes only 10 minutes or so longer than the fastest train to Nikko. It would be more expensive (worth it) and Kyoto Station is much more complex than either Nikko station. It is simpler to get around Nikko. Taxis would make a daytrip to Kyoto easier, instead of just using transit.

There are some interesting packages for visiting Kyoto or Hakone/Fuji here: All plans | SUNRISE TOURS JTB

Am reminded that there will be a grand sumo tournament in Tokyo in Sept.