Tokyo remains the most popular city in Japan for international tourists, and it’s easy to see why. This is the home of luxury sushi shops, the booming counterculture hotspot known as Harajuku, and more.
While there are plenty of things to do in the city limits, you might want to take a day trip elsewhere. Thankfully, being in Tokyo means that you are in close proximity to many awesome day trip options.
Ready to take a break from the city? These places might be a good choice for a quick respite.
Hakone: The Hot Spring City
Hakone is a quick train ride or car ride away from Tokyo, but you would never guess it. Unlike Tokyo’s crazy hustle and bustle, Hakone is a town that exemplifies calm. In a word, it’s a resort town devoted to Japanese hot springs.
You can soak up the health benefits of Japan’s natural volcanic springs at the onsen ryokan of your choice. Every hot spring inn (ryokan) has its own hot springs that you can bathe in. You can also book rooms, get kaiseki meals, and enjoy the wonders of nature.
If you’re done with hot spring spa time, you can also check out the Hakone Open Air Museum. It’s an entire art museum meant to be in balance with nature. You will be able to walk around lush gardens and see art exhibits that are meant to interact with the nature around them.
Fans of onsen bathing need to try this hot spring city, if only because it seems to be a city entirely devoted to relaxation. There is a ryokan for every budget, so don’t be afraid to do a deep search for the one that makes your heart sing.
Fuji-Q Highland: The Theme Park
Families who have boisterous kids and teenagers might want to check out a theme park. There are several options throughout Japan, including a Universal Studios location complete with a Harry Potter ride.
However, if you want to get out of the city, Fuji-Q is usually your best bet. This theme park has one of the tallest (and most scream-inducing) rollercoasters in the world. It also has a terrifying haunted hospital ride and jaw-dropping views of Mount Fuji.
This is a smart choice for parents who love theme parks, but still want something that isn’t “mass marketed” in the traditional sense of the word. It’s one of the best day trips from Tokyo for thrill seekers, too.
The Fuji-Q park isn’t just a park, either. It also happens to have a resort and spa, a hotel, and a Thomas the Tank Engine-themed portion of the park for young children. The park offers packages that come with transport to and from the park.
Kamakura: The History Hotspot
Tokyo is not the sole site for political history in Japan. Before Tokyo became the capital of Japan, the political capital of Japan was Kamakura. (Okay, well, this was the political capital during the 12th and 14th centuries, which is a major part of medieval Japan’s history.)
This petite city is more or less a fully-preserved, fully-accessible historic town. Walking through Kamakura transports you to a world long ago, complete with beautiful Buddha statues, the Museum of Modern Art, and some of the most breathtaking seasonal flowers you can see.
This is a day trip that is best for people who want to decompress from Tokyo’s city rigors. Unlike other day trips on this list, you also can enjoy access to some of the best beaches in Japan. (Kamakura is a beach town, after all.)
Yokohama: The Port City Next Door
Believe it or not, many people choose to have a day trip from Tokyo to a new city. The most popular city to tour is Yokohama, a port city that’s a quick drive away. For many tourists, the allure of Yokohama is its strong Chinese and Western influences—often blended with traditional Japanese vibes.
Much like Tokyo, Yokohama is a shopping paradise. This gorgeous city features a full Chinatown shopping experience complete with cute decor with a Chinese twist. If you’re interested in a more “global” district, the Motomachi district offers shopping and dining venues from a wide range of different countries.
Another reason you might want to take a day trip here is the Kirin Yokohama Beed Village. This district’s main appeal is the free beer and a closeup look at Yokohama’s brewery culture.
The Cup Noodles Museum is also here…well, one of them, at least. The other is in Osaka, and it’s one of the best ramen shops in Osaka.
Hitachi Seaside Park: Stop And Smell The Flowers
People often underestimate the natural beauty of Japan. They also underestimate how many different flowers this country is known for. You might have heard of the cherry blossoms, but did you know that there’s a park that has flowers blooming year-round?
Hitachi Seaside Park is one of the largest, most visually-stunning gardens in Japan. It features over 500 varieties of narcissus, a rolling hill filled with baby blue nemophila, and a full grove of Summer Cypress trees. The smell is incredible.
No matter when you visit, you’ll see floral blooms and gorgeous displays of botany at every turn. Hiking trails and cycling paths are the most popular attractions here. Once you drop by, you’ll understand why this is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful places in Japan.
Chichibu: Fields of Pink
Perhaps the only other major garden to rival Hitachi Seaside Park is Chichibu, a true Shangri-la in its own right. Most Japanese locals come here to wander through the carefully manicured fields of pink phlox or visit one of the town’s 34 different temples.
Chichibu is a more traditional day trip destination for locals. It’s been a popular summer, spring, and autumn getaway since the 1800s. The Hitsujiyama Park phlox gardens are the most popular attraction, but you can also set sail on a boat down the local Arakawa River.
This is a fairly quick day trip, too. You can take the Sebu Chibu line all the way there from Tokyo. If you’re a really big fan of trains, you’ll be happy to know that Chichibu has its own train: the Paleo Express, a vintage locomotive that winds its way through gorgeous scenery in the area.
Kawagoe: Little Edo
It’s no secret that Japan’s tourism industry has a lot to thank the Edo Period for. Kawagoe is a day trip for history buffs, and it’s one you don’t want to miss. This city is less than an hour from Tokyo’s outskirts.
Despite it being so close, it feels like a totally distant world. This city has a street known as “Little Edo” thanks to its classical architecture, shops filled with traditional crafts, and old school restaurants.
For a more modern tour, go to Taisho-Roman Street. This retro-Western street features architecture you’d expect to find in Italy, but with a twist. Its one-of-a-kind aesthetic has
While you’re here, you will likely hear a bell chime. That bell is the Bell of Time, a major clock tower that has been in use for several centuries. It still chimes four times a day, never ceasing its duties. It’s the Big Ben of the East.
Oh, they also have Candy Alley…an entire street dedicated to traditional Japanese sweets. If you have a sweet tooth, you might end up spending a small fortune here.
Nikko: Home of Toshogu Shrine
Japan’s Shinto shrines are one of the hallmarks of traditional Japanese culture. In Nikko, gorgeous shrines become one of the biggest attractions outside of Tokyo. This beautiful slice of Japan is home to the Toshogu Shrine.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site features one of the most intricate shrines in the entire country. Covered with real gold leaf and countless wood carvings make this an absolutely breathtaking must-see location.
The Toshogu Shrine is a grand memorial to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate. After his death, he was immortalized as a deity named Tosho Daigongen, “Great Deity of the East Shining Light.”
It’s not the only attraction in town, either. Hiking trails and a beautiful waterfall are some of the natural wonders to call Nikko’s region home.
Mt. Nokogiri: Great Views
Hikers come from all around to try to get a good look at the Observation Deck that hangs off a cliff, or at the lush forests surrounding the sky-high trails. Of course, it’s also famous for being home to a massive carved Buddha statue.
The Nihonji Temple also is here, and trust us, it’s surreal when you see it.
Mt. Fuji: The Biggest Mountain of Japan
Even if you never set foot in Japan before, you probably heard of Mt. Fuji. Home to the largest mountain peak in the country, Mt. Fuji is a national symbol of Japan. Many of the other day trips on this list give you a view of Mt. Fuji in the distance, but why not see it up close?
Intrepid hikers and mountain climbers might want to turn this day trip into a multi-day hike. Even if you don’t hike all the way up, you’ll be amazed at what you see along the way. The Five Fuji Lakes tend to be the biggest attraction, and not just because of the great swimming. They offer great views, too.
Not too far away from the mountain is Aokigahara Forest, a legendary forest that has become notorious as the “Suicide Forest.” Tourists who have a morbid interest in the paranormal might want to check it out…but don’t go too far!
Aokigahara is known for having rather bizarre disappearances, so visit that at your own risk. Locals tie themselves to ropes that are tied to trees to help them get back to the forest outskirts. It’s said that strange beings can lure you in.
Odawara: Samurai Heaven
Samurais were the legendary heroes of old world Japan, but there are shockingly few venues near Tokyo where you can enjoy Samurai culture. That’s what makes Odawara a uniquely fun day trip to experience.
The small town of Odawara is home to one of the closest Samurai castles near Tokyo, and it’s a pretty awesome one. Surrounded by a moat and next to a Ninja Museum, this is the place where you can make all of your Japanese shogun dreams come true.
The castle itself is rather small compared to others, but make no mistake about it. Odawara’s historical legacy make it a great day trip for families who want to enrich their children’s education.
Enoshima: The Beach Getaway
Perhaps the only beach city to get an even better rep than Kamakura is Enoshima. This gorgeous beach town is famous for its great beaches, stunning observatory, and multiple religious shrines.
People travel to Enoshima for a wide range of reasons, including a visit to the local caves, the Samuel Cocking Garden, or the famous Sea Candle lighthouse. Since this is such a quick trip from Kamakura, you might want to make a day trip of seeing both of them.
Mt. Takao: A Place To Monkey Around
There are some places around Tokyo prefecture that might shock a traveler, not because of their populations but because of their countryside charm. Mount Takao is one such town. This charming little area is a hiker’s dream come true, with gorgeous trails that celebrate nature in every way imaginable.
If you’re not a hiker, you might still want to check out Yakuo-in Temple, a classic Buddhist temple that dates back to 744 AD. (Yes, monks still live in that temple and tengu statues decorate it as a nod to the local legends.)
Of course, kids tend to enjoy trips to Mount Takao because of the area’s local monkey park. It’s a good place to “monkey around” and learn about the native monkeys of Japan.
Tokyo Disneyland
With all the different day trips from Tokyo on this list, it’s easy to forget that there’s a park inside the city’s limits that is worthy of a day trip all on its own. Well, actually, there’s two: Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea.
These hyper-popular parks have all the premium experiences you’d expect from a magical company like Disney. However, they aren’t in the United States. They’re in Tokyo, and DisneySea in particular is only available in Japan.
It might not be the most traditional thing to do when you visit Japan, but trust us. No one could fault you for partying at the House of Mouse.