14 Great Day Trips from Tokyo

Tokyo is Japan's great metropolis, blending culture, food, and shopping into one exciting mix. It is one of the few cities in the world where you could spend many days without running out of new things to see. First-time visitors to Japan will find plenty to do here. But exploring other parts of Japan is just as rewarding. If you don't have time to travel far from Tokyo to regions like Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka, or Hokkaido, there are still many interesting smaller cities near Tokyo. We've put together 14 easy destinations near Tokyo that make great day trips, perfect for planning a one-day trip from Tokyo to help you plan your Tokyo itinerary.

Let's see what's worth visiting near Tokyo.

▶︎ Tokyo Trip: 15 Recommended Places to Visit

1. Nagoya

Nagoya is the capital of Aichi Prefecture, about 1.5 to 2 hours from Tokyo by Shinkansen (bullet train). It is known for its food, especially red miso and other seasonings, as well as many famous attractions such as LEGOLAND, Ghibli Park (a theme park inspired by Studio Ghibli), the Toyota Automobile Museum, Nagoya Castle, a giant dome fruit garden, and the Nabana no Sato flower garden in nearby Kuwana, Mie Prefecture, among many others. This makes Nagoya one of the best cities to visit near Tokyo.

2. Hakone

Hakone is part of the volcanic mountain range in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Highlights include a boat cruise on Lake Ashi with beautiful views of Mount Fuji, tasting black eggs boiled in volcanic hot spring water, and riding the ropeway up to Owakudani, a famous volcanic valley. It is a popular retreat for Tokyo residents, as it lies only about 100 kilometers away.

3. Kamakura Old Town

Kamakura is about one hour from Tokyo by train, making it easy to visit. It was once the capital of Japan during the Kamakura period, so it has many beautiful, nationally famous temples and shrines, such as the Great Buddha (Daibutsu) and the Kannon Temple. It also has clean, sandy beaches.

4. Odawara

Odawara is a small town located just before Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. It is home to the beautiful three-tiered, four-story Odawara Castle, which includes an interesting museum. This makes it one of the Japanese castles most easily reached from Tokyo.

5. Yokohama

Yokohama is likely one of the most popular day trip destinations from Tokyo. It is close by and easy to reach, with plenty of things to see, such as Chinatown, the waterfront district, and the Ramen Museum.

6. Nikko, a World Heritage Site

Nikko is a small town just before the entrance to Nikko National Park. It has many famous cultural attractions, such as Toshogu Shrine—home to the carved wooden Three Wise Monkeys (see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil)—which is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The natural scenery here is also beautiful, including Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Falls, especially during the autumn leaves season.

7. Kawagoe Old Town

Kawagoe is the most popular attraction in Saitama Prefecture, located just north of Tokyo. It was once a castle town during the Edo period and has been well preserved, with rows of beautiful old-style Japanese houses still standing today, along with several interesting temples and shrines.

8. Chichibu

Chichibu is a popular destination in spring, thanks to its fields of pink moss phlox flowers, known in Japan as shibazakura, at Hitsujiyama Park from mid-April to early May. The town's main temples and shrines are also nearby and worth a visit.

9. Izu Peninsula

Izu is a popular coastal hot spring destination for people from Tokyo. The small town of Atami has beautiful hot spring baths with both indoor and outdoor options offering sea views. Atami Castle is another highlight and a popular cherry blossom viewing spot, said to be one of the first places in Japan where cherry blossoms begin to bloom. It is less than an hour from Tokyo by Shinkansen.

10. Boso Peninsula

Boso Peninsula is another great day trip from Tokyo that remains underrated. There are two main highlights: the town of Tateyama, with several interesting castles, shrines, and temples, and Mount Nokogiri, home to Nihonji Temple, one of the largest and most impressive temples in Japan.

11. Lake Kawaguchiko

Lake Kawaguchiko is a popular lakeside retreat for people from Tokyo, offering clear, beautiful views of Mount Fuji. It is the second-largest and most accessible of the Fuji Five Lakes. There is plenty to do here, so it's worth spending more than a day. Another highlight is the lakeside park, where cherry blossoms bloom along a long stretch of the shore from early to late April, along with one of the largest shibazakura flower fields, offering views of Mount Fuji in late May.

12. Takasaki

Takasaki is only 50 minutes from Tokyo by Shinkansen. It is known as the home of Daruma dolls, Japan's traditional good luck dolls. The town has a small-town Japanese atmosphere, with interesting sites including the Kannon Temple and Shorinzan Darumaji Temple.

13. Kusatsu Onsen

Kusatsu Onsen is one of the best hot spring towns in Japan. Although it is not too far from Tokyo, the journey takes quite a while, nearly 4 hours by bus. While it can be done as a day trip, this hot spring town has so much to offer that it's hard to see it all in just one day.

14. Fukushima

Fukushima is about one and a half to two hours north of Tokyo by Shinkansen. The area is surrounded by mountains, offering plenty of natural attractions, such as a dormant volcanic crater, castles, old town districts, and hot springs. It is also known for its local dishes, such as black broth ramen and sake.