Chill out, get some positive vibes, and allow yourself to get lost with the peace and calmness of one of the most beautiful cities of Japan, Tokyo. Now here, we will help you out with the best day trips from Tokyo.
Tokyo offers you numerous things to do on a day trip which include museums, natural attractions, historical gems, temples, shrines, and professional sports clubs along with the Japenese traditional pursuits like, sumo wrestling, karate, and judo. Tokyo, the most efficient and ultramodern city of Japan is famed with the title of ”World’s Most Expensive city to live”.
This lavish city is also well off in music and theatres including modern dramas, symphony Orchestras, rock, and pop concert. Let’s have a look at best day trips from Tokyo to explore the ravishing city.
Unusual Day Trips From Tokyo by Road
1. Hakone
This Place offers a huge collection of tourist spots spread over a hill and under a lake. It is located in the Fuji-Hakone Izu National park and one of the best Hot springs resorts(Onsen) in Japan. Hakone is the gateway to Mt Fuji where you can get a full view of mountains in clear days.
Apart from the onsen, Hakone has a great natural attraction which includes, mountains, volcanic valleys, lakes, cable cars, unique art museums and so on. It is perfect for a more nature-based getaway, it has pirates traversing. These three great hiking trails as well as volcanic valleys and beautiful ships.
It has more than a dozen museums in the area to keep you from wandering your way. Hakone Open-Air Museum for Impressionism Collection at the Pola Museum.
Address: Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa, Japan.
Drive Time: It takes 1hr 20 min(via Tomei Expressway and Odawara Atsugi Road / National Route 271) from Tokyo to Hakone.
2. Nikko
This colourful small town is known for its interesting history and culture, adorable nature, temples, Shrines, and seasonal highlights, especially in autumn and winters. It is one of the most delineated mountain spots all over Japan. If you are really interested to know about the history of Japan. Then the Nikko day trip will be the best option for you.
Nikko is most popular for the Toshugu Shrine (the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu) which is now part of the UNESCO World Heritage site. The temple buildings are extremely attractive and various carvings with all their details can keep you busy all day. Three monkeys are one of the most popular carvings there.
Moreover, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nikko offers you beautiful nature spots to explore, i.e. Kegon Waterfall and Lake Chuzenji which is highly popular in autumn (mid to late October).
Address: Tochigi, Nikko, Japan.
Drive Time: It takes 2hr 9 min(via Tohoku Expressway) from Tokyo to Nikko.
3. Kamakura
This city is famous for its great collection of Zen temples, and impressive shrines. This is must visit place for a day trip if you seeking for tranquillity for your mind and soul. Kamakura is located 42km southwest of Tokyo and is a pleasing small seaside town. That offers to glee a nice cluster of interesting sights.
Kamakura is well known for Daibustu, 11 meters long copper Lord Buddha statue. It is one of the famous statues of ancient Japanese Buddhism and the most popular attraction for visitors to visit. The second most popular attraction is Tsurugaoka Hachiman-Gu Shrine, a very spacious and spectacular Shinto shrine. Near the middle of the town and also all around you can easily found lovely little Zen temples.
Apart from this, Kamakura offers you great light hiking options to explore beautiful shrines with bamboo forests, tea houses and as well as delicious street food to try. You can visit Kamakura all year round.
Address: Kanagawa, Just south of Tokyo.
Drive Time: It takes 1hr 21 min(via Wangan Road/ Metropolitan Expressway Wangan Line) from Tokyo to Kamakura.
4. Tokyo National Museum
It is one of the largest and oldest art museums in Japan. If you are eager to know about the history of Japan and need some educational tour with your kids, this is one of the best options for weekend day trips from Tokyo.
Tokyo National Museum is home to more than 100,000 important works of Japenese, Chinese and Indian art and more than 100 national treasures. It was opened in 1938. The museum also includes highlights such as numerous Japanese and Chinese sculptures from the 6th century to the present, collection of old textiles, the historical old weapons, and Asian ceramics and poetry.
Address: 13-9 Uenokoen, Taito City, Tokyo 110-8712, Japan.
Drive Time: It takes 14mins(Ueno Line / Metropolitan Expressway 1 / Route 1) from Tokyo to Tokyo National Museum.
5. Disneyland and DisneySea
If you are planning a day trip with your kids, and want to experience Cartoon Network Disneyland in real life then this is one of the entertaining and best day trips from Tokyo.
This entertaining spot gives you an opportunity to meet and enjoy with your favourite cartoon character and also gives you a chance to refresh your childhood memories again.
This resort is divided into two parks: Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disneysea. In Disneyland, you can get a chance to enjoy, meet and mingle with your favourite cartoon characters and In Disneysea you can get a chance to enjoy numbers of Exciting rides.
Address: 1 – 1 3Maihama, Urayasu, Chiba 279-0031, Japan.
Drive Time: It takes 60 mins from Tokyo to Disneyland and 50 mins to Disneysea.
6. Enoshima
It is a small island only about 4km circumference located on the Shonan coast and very near to Kamakura, and very easily you can make a combined tour on a one day trip. Enoshima is a small island connected to the mainland by 600-meter long Enoshima Benten bridge so you don’t have to wait for the boat.
In summer, you can enjoy swimming, surfing on the beach and here you can also see the clear view of Mt Fuji on clear days. The To-Do list of Enoshima includes riding the escalators up the hill, the Shrines, temples, gardens and cliffs and rocks platform on the seaward side and caves.
If you are looking for a romantic day trip in Japan or date with your partner then we personally recommend you visit here in the month of February (Month of Love) because there are regular shows happening on the island, in the month of February, i.e. an evening light-up, a popular date-night experience in Japan and a very early spring tulip performance. Seriously this time you will get a great experience for a lifetime.
Address: Fujisawa, Kanagawa 251-0036, Japan.
Drive Time: It takes 1 hr 15 mins(via National Route 466 and National Route 1) from Tokyo to Enoshima.
7. Yokohama
It is one of the elegant and largest cities in Japan and the most popular from the day trips from Tokyo. This beautiful city offers you plenty of things to do and numerous attractions to see. Yokohama city is well known for its two attractions, i.e. The China Town and Minato Mirai.
China Town is the must-visit place for its delicious food, Sightseeing spots, and lively atmosphere and pretty sure the vibrancy of this city will take you to visit here again.
There are more than 600 restaurants with different varieties of fabulous food and Chinese stores in Chinatown that craves you to visit here again and again.
Minato Mirai is the seaside area in Yokohama and famous for the gorgeous night view of itself. It’s our personal experience if you visit Minato Mirai at night, then there is no better place to see than this city. There are no words to describe the beauty of this stunning city at night and also personally recommends you to visit there.
If you like the Japanese garden and want to spend some time with greenery then enjoy a few hours in the Sankeien garden. Apart from this also visit these spots in Yokohama- Yamashita Park, Cup Noodle Museum, Queens Square and Landmark Tower, and Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum.
Address: Kanagawa, Japan.
Drive Time: It takes 11mins(via Shin-Yokohama Street) from Tokyo to Yokohama.
8. Mount Fuji
Mt Fuji is the iconic symbol of Japan. And also the tallest mountain in the country with a height of 3,776 meters(12,380 feet). If you want to admire the natural beauty and wanna vanished yourself in the lap of nature. Then the Mt Fuji day trip is waiting for you. Mount Fuji has been a sacred site for Shinto practitioners since at least the 7th century.
Mount Fuji is famous for climbing and Sunrising view in the morning. Many people start climbing at night to get a splendid view of sunrise from the peak of the mountain. And, after all, is nicknamed as “the land of the rising sun”. The sunrise from Mount Fuji has rewarded with a special name, Goraiko.
The best time for climbing in Mount Fuji is 1 July to 14 September. And the rest of the year you can only visit. During the climbing season, direct buses run from Shinjuku to the fifth station on the peak of the mountain and the rest of the year bus runs only the base of the mountain.
Address: Chubu region, Honshu, Japan.
Drive Time: It takes 2hr 30 min from Tokyo to Mount Fuji.
Bottom Line
This metropolis city of Japan is rich in all aspects like technology, Tourism, Sports, religious places (Zen Temples and Shrines) and many more. Spring and Autumn season is the best time to visit in Tokyo. Because this time autumn enters with colourful foliage and comfortable temperatures. Spring brings a lot of the same, but instead of a lively fall, the foliage you see here is the cherry blossoming tree in full bloom.
After the long discussion on great trips from Tokyo now, going to bundle up this article with 8 best day trips from Tokyo. Hope you would love to read this article and got a super idea for your next day trip.
Wishing you a marvellous time in Tokyo!!
Suggestion To Read:
FAQ Best Day Trips From Tokyo
The best time to visit Japan is from March to May (late Spring) and September to November late Autumn. that’s the best time because rainfall is less and the weather is moderate.
Winter which is from mid-June to March.
Best airlines to book from the USA to Japan are; ANA, Delta Flight, Singapore Airline, Japan Airline flight and many more.
as a foreigner tourists, 2 week is sufficient.
50 US Dollar per day will be your costing. If you leave economically and travel by bus because the trains are very expensive.
