The 14 Best Day Trips to Take From Tokyo

Gifu and Aichi, located in the Chubu region east of Tokyo, have a distinct culinary tradition based on fermented foods like miso and shoyu. For a taste of these two prefectures, take the 1.5-hour bullet train from Tokyo to Nagoya and then transfer to local lines. Try tamari soy sauce at Minamigura Shoten, a maker that has been perfecting the craft for 145 years. At the interactive Mizkan Museum, learn about vinegar production and sample regional varieties like vinegar made from aged sake lees. Then, dine on ayu or sweetfish caught through the traditional ukai boat method, which uses cormorants to snatch the river fish.

For a Zen-like getaway from Tokyo, take a two-hour train or bus to Hakone and be greeted by lakeside views of Mount Fuji. Locals have long loved Hakone as a retreat for onsen or outdoor hot springs. Book a room at The Hiramatsu Hotels & Resorts Sengokuhara for a private bath on a balcony overlooking the trees. Between soaks, walk to Hakone Shrine and the red torii gate over the water, admire sculptures against the backdrop of mountains at the Open-Air Museum, and board a sightseeing cruise of Lake Ashi.

You’ve likely seen photos of the 82-foot-tall Kamakura Buddha in a lotus position, casting his serene gaze over the 13th-century Kotoku-in complex. The Great Buddha is only an hour’s train journey from Tokyo, making it the perfect day trip for those fascinated by Japan’s ancient spiritual culture. Kamakura has also become a center for subculture at Salon de Suigeikan, an eccentric art house filled with Masamichi Ishimaru’s leather animal sculptures and distorted masks. His son Kazuto now opens the salon to underground parties with butoh performances, Goth drag queens, and rope bondage shows.

Fukushima City is an hour and a half north of Tokyo by shinkansen. This mountainous region has beautiful produce, and local chefs have turned Fukushima’s specialties – peaches, rice, seafood, sake – into a creative dining culture. Slurp up Koriyama “black ramen,” noted for its dark soy sauce soup, and wappa meshi, a wooden box artfully laden with rice, broth, seasonal vegetables, and seafood. The clean mountain water makes Fukushima famous for its sake, which you can sip at one of the centuries-old breweries founded by samurai.

Located in Saitama Prefecture, Chichibu is only two hours from the capital and a lovely spot to get immersed in Japan’s religious and cultural history. Chichibu is known for its Kannon Pilgrimage, a winding circuit through the mountains that reaches 34 temples dedicated to the Bodhisattva of compassion. Bow and ring the bell at the colorful Chichibu Shrine and stroll along the pond and flower gardens of the enormous Muse Park.

Ghibli Park is an amusement park for fans of Hayao Miyazaki’s films, such as Princess Mononoke and My Neighbor Totoro. The trip from Tokyo to Aichi takes about 3.5 hours, and as soon as you enter the green space, you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported into the world of Studio Ghibli. Instead of having rides, the theme park is divided into immersive, thematic zones based on anime movies. Take a selfie with a 17-foot-tall smiling Totoro statue, and sneak past the rolling green heads into Yubaba’s office from Spirited Away.

If you’re craving beach time, board a train 1.5 hours south from Tokyo to Enoshima Island. With wide sandy beaches and dramatic cliffs dotted with caves, it’s no surprise that the little isle is a favorite summertime day trip for city dwellers. Have a leisurely walk through Samuel Cocking botanical garden and ascend its lighthouse, nicknamed the Sea Candle. At sunset, dine on grilled seafood with views of the water, and indulge in a hot bath at Enoshima Island Spa.

Situated 90 minutes from Tokyo, Chiba is often called a suburb of the capital. However, the city has a broad range of creative activities for all ages and niches. Most notable is Tokyo DisneySea, a nautical-themed park with attractions like Mermaid Lagoon, based on Ariel’s underwater palace in The Little Mermaid. Near Narita Airport is Naritasan, a magnificent Shingon Buddhist temple with red-roofed pagodas and traditional snack vendors. Don’t miss the Hoki Museum, a sleek geometric building filled with hyper-realistic paintings and sculptures.

Be awed by the natural beauty of Nikko, a town in Tochigi Prefecture, approximately three hours from Tokyo. Visitors come to soak in an onsen and chase waterfalls, particularly the dramatic 318-foot-high Kegon Falls. Those interested in Buddhism can wander Kanmangafuchi Abyss, a gorge with moss-covered Jizo statues clothed in red knit caps and bibs. The 17th-century Toshogu Shrine, the final resting place of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, is also remarkable for its intricate wood architecture.

Travel three hours from Tokyo to see Fuji-san, the highest mountain in Japan. Gaze upon the iconic triangular blue peak topped with white snow from the Panorama Ropeway, a cable car up a nearby slope. Outdoor lovers can do a boat tour of Lake Kawaguchi or hike the trails of Aokigahara Forest. Families are fond of the roller coasters at Fuji-Q Highland amusement park, as well as the elegant European gardens of Kawaguchiko Musical Forest.

Step back into the Edo era (1603-1868) in Kawagoe, a town that feels frozen in time. A 45-minute subway from Tokyo transports you to “Little Edo.” There isn’t a skyscraper in sight; instead, the streets are lined with traditional warehouses topped with dark clay tile roofs. Three times a month, Kawagoe celebrates “Kimono Day.” If you visit on one of these occasions, you’ll see people dressed in kimonos at temples, elegant teahouses, and eel restaurants (a historic food specialty).

Nagano is best known as the site of the 1998 Winter Olympics, but visitors can take pleasure in outdoor activities any time of year. If you take the bullet train from Tokyo, you’ll get to Nagano in 2.5 hours. During the coldest months, skiers and snowboards congregate at resorts like Shiga Kogen and Hakuba, and smile at the snow monkeys bathing in hot springs at Jigokudani Monkey Park. When spring and summer arrive, you can trek through the Japanese Alps and learn about history at the stately 16th-century Matsumoto Castle.

Yokohama is only a half-hour subway ride from Tokyo, and it has plenty to please pop culture aficionados. The Anpanman Museum lets children interact with big-eyed Japanese mascots, while the Cup Noodle Museum celebrates the invention of instant noodles and lets you customize your own version. Yokohama also has Japan’s largest Chinatown.

Located two hours from Tokyo in Ibaraki Prefecture, Hitachi Seaside Park is a terrific day trip for those seeking a serene nature getaway. Walk through a maze of flowers at Miharashi Hill, and take the Ferris wheel for a picturesque view from up high. The expansive fields are covered with pastel blooms in the spring and fiery red leaves in the fall. In the winter, Hitachi Seaside Park turns into a wonderland of illuminated gardens.