# What are the best day trips from Tokyo? > The best day trips from Tokyo by train: Kamakura (about 1 hour), Nikko (about 1h50 by Spacia X), Hakone and Mount Fuji, plus Kawagoe and Yokohama. Times and tips. - Source: https://clevertourists.com/resources/day-trips-from-tokyo - Authors: Evan & Clara, Clever Tourists (first-hand, from years of travel across 20 countries) - Published: 2026-08-18 **Kamakura, Nikko and Mount Fuji's Lake Kawaguchiko are the three best day trips from Tokyo.** Kamakura is about an hour by JR and has the Great Buddha, Zen temples and a beach; Nikko is under 2 hours by Tobu's Spacia X and has the most lavish shrine in Japan; Kawaguchiko is about 2 hours away and has the classic Fuji view, on a clear day. Hakone is close enough for a day too, but it is better with a night. We spent 9 days in Tokyo in 2023, 4 at the start of our Japan trip (18 to 22 March) and 5 at the end (15 to 20 April). Between them we went on to Hakone for 2 nights, then Matsumoto and Takayama, so this list is built around what fits a Tokyo base and what deserves its own stop. ## The quick ranking • **Kamakura:** about 1 hour from Tokyo Station. Best all-round day trip. Full day. • **Nikko:** about 1 hour 50 minutes from Asakusa. The most spectacular shrines near Tokyo. Long full day. • **Mount Fuji and Kawaguchiko:** about 2 hours from Shinjuku. Weather decides whether it is worth it. • **Hakone:** about 75 to 90 minutes from Shinjuku. Works as a day; better as one night. • **Kawagoe:** about 30 minutes from Ikebukuro. Half a day of Edo-era warehouse streets. • **Yokohama:** about 30 minutes. An evening of harbor views and Chinatown. Tokyo itself needs 3 to 4 days before you start adding these; see [how many days in Tokyo](https://clevertourists.com/resources/how-many-days-in-tokyo). ## 1. Kamakura: the Great Buddha, Zen temples and the sea Kamakura was the seat of Japan's first shogunate in the 12th and 13th centuries. Its sights are the **Great Buddha (Daibutsu)** at Kotoku-in, the hillside temple of **Hase-dera** with its sea view, the Zen temples of **Kita-Kamakura** such as Engaku-ji and Kencho-ji, and **Tsurugaoka Hachimangu** shrine at the top of Komachi-dori. **Getting there:** the JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo Station to Kamakura takes just under an hour, roughly ¥950 (≈ $6.0) one way, and is covered by the JR Pass. From Shinjuku, the Shonan-Shinjuku Line takes a similar time but runs less often. **How long:** a full day. **Suits:** first-timers, and anyone who wants temples without a long train ride. **Tip:** get off one stop early at Kita-Kamakura, walk south past the Zen temples to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, then take the Enoden line to Hase for the Great Buddha. You walk one way and never double back. ## 2. Nikko: Toshogu and the mountain shrines Nikko is a UNESCO-listed group of shrines and temples in forested mountains north of Tokyo. **Nikko Toshogu**, the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, is covered in gold leaf and carved, painted animals, including the original 'see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil' monkeys. Nearby are **Rinno-ji**, **Futarasan Shrine** and the red **Shinkyo Bridge**. **Getting there:** Tobu's **Spacia X** limited express from Asakusa to Tobu-Nikko takes about 1 hour 50 minutes; all seats are reserved, and you need both a fare ticket and a limited express ticket. JR Pass holders can take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Utsunomiya and the JR Nikko Line instead, which takes about 2 hours. **How long:** a long full day. **Suits:** history and architecture fans. **Cost:** Toshogu's adult admission is ¥1,300 (≈ $8.2) on Tobu's official Nikko pages; the Treasure House and Museum of Art cost extra. **Tip:** Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Falls are a further bus ride up the mountain road and are better with an overnight, especially in October when the autumn color is at its peak. ## 3. Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchiko Lake Kawaguchiko, in the Fuji Five Lakes area, is the easiest place to see Mount Fuji up close: the **Chureito Pagoda** viewpoint above Shimoyoshida, the lakeshore paths and the ropeway up Mount Tenjo. **Getting there:** the Fuji Excursion limited express from Shinjuku reaches Kawaguchiko in about 1 hour 55 minutes without a change; highway buses from Busta Shinjuku take about 1 hour 45 minutes in light traffic and cost about half as much. Our [Mount Fuji day trip guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/mount-fuji-day-trip-tokyo-romancecar-bus-tour-guide) compares the train, the bus and tours. **How long:** a full day. **Suits:** photographers, and anyone for whom seeing Fuji is the point. **Tip:** check the forecast the night before. Fuji hides in cloud on many days, especially in summer, and the trip is a long way to go for a view of cloud. Winter mornings are usually the clearest. ## 4. Hakone: hot springs and the loop (better with a night) Hakone is a hot-spring area in the caldera of a volcano: the **Hakone loop** by mountain train, cable car and ropeway over the steaming vents of **Owakudani**, a boat across **Lake Ashi**, the **Hakone Shrine** torii in the water, and the **Hakone Open-Air Museum**. **Getting there:** the Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto takes about 75 to 90 minutes. The loop itself takes a full day with stops. The **Hakone Freepass** (¥7,100 (≈ $45) for 2 days from Shinjuku) covers the train and loop transport but not the Romancecar seat fee; our [Hakone Freepass guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/hakone-freepass-worth-it-2026-guide) has the math and the 2026 to 2027 ropeway closure dates. We stayed **2 nights in Hakone** after our first Tokyo stay, rather than day-tripping, and we would recommend at least one: the onsen in the evening and the lake early in the morning are the parts a day trip misses. See [how many days in Hakone](https://clevertourists.com/resources/how-many-days-in-hakone) and [where to stay in Hakone](https://clevertourists.com/resources/where-to-stay-in-hakone), and read the [onsen etiquette guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/japanese-onsen-etiquette-rules-tattoos-and-bathing) first. ## 5. Kawagoe: 'Little Edo' in half a day Kawagoe kept a street of black-plastered **kurazukuri** merchant warehouses from the 19th century, along with the wooden **Toki no Kane** bell tower, the sweet shops of **Kashiya Yokocho** (candy alley) and **Kita-in** temple with its hundreds of stone Rakan statues. **Getting there:** the Tobu Tojo Line express from Ikebukuro takes about 30 minutes. Tobu's Kawagoe Discount Pass Premium (¥1,200 (≈ $7.6) for adults) covers the return trip from Ikebukuro and unlimited rides on the Koedo loop bus; buy it at a Tobu ticket counter or online. **How long:** half a day. **Suits:** anyone with a spare afternoon, and families. **Tip:** the old street is a 20-minute walk from Kawagoe Station; take the loop bus there and walk back, browsing on the way. Weekends are crowded. ## 6. Yokohama: harbor and Chinatown Yokohama is Japan's second-largest city and its first port open to foreign trade. Visitors come for **Minato Mirai** and the harbor views at night, the **Red Brick Warehouses**, the **Sankeien** garden, the **Cup Noodles Museum** and **Chinatown**, the largest in Japan. **Getting there:** about 30 minutes from Tokyo Station or Shibuya by JR or the Tokyu Toyoko Line. **How long:** an afternoon and evening. **Suits:** families and anyone who has done the big temples. **Tip:** combine it with Kamakura: the JR Yokosuka Line stops at Yokohama on the way back, so you can eat in Chinatown on the return. ## Better as overnights: Matsumoto and Takayama After Hakone we went on to **Matsumoto** (2 nights) and **Takayama** (3 nights). Matsumoto's black castle is about 2.5 to 3 hours from Shinjuku by the Azusa limited express, so a day trip is possible but leaves little time; Takayama is too far for a day. Both work far better as stops on the way west to Kanazawa and Kyoto. See our [Matsumoto guide](https://clevertourists.com/guides/matsumoto), [Takayama guide](https://clevertourists.com/guides/takayama) and the [10-day Japan itinerary](https://clevertourists.com/resources/japan-itinerary-10-days-tokyo-alps-kyoto-osaka) that runs that way. ## Tickets, passes and where to base yourself Different day trips leave from different stations: Kamakura and Yokohama from Tokyo Station, Hakone and Fuji from Shinjuku, Nikko from Asakusa and Kawagoe from Ikebukuro. If you plan several, a base on the JR Yamanote Line makes each departure one ride away; our [where to stay in Tokyo](https://clevertourists.com/resources/where-to-stay-in-tokyo) page compares the areas. Most of these are private railways, so a JR Pass covers only Kamakura, Yokohama and the JR route to Nikko. Pay the rest with an IC card; see our [Suica and Pasmo guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/japan-suica-pasmo-ic-card-tourist-guide-transit-tips). Leave big bags in [station coin lockers](https://clevertourists.com/resources/tokyo-kyoto-train-station-luggage-storage-coin-lockers-guide) or at the hotel. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the best day trip from Tokyo? Kamakura for most first-timers: just under an hour on the JR Yokosuka Line, with the Great Buddha, Hase-dera and the Zen temples of Kita-Kamakura in one walkable day. Nikko is more spectacular but takes about 1 hour 50 minutes each way. ### Can you do Hakone as a day trip from Tokyo? Yes. The Romancecar takes about 75 to 90 minutes from Shinjuku, and the loop takes a full day. One night is better: we stayed 2 nights in Hakone between our two Tokyo stays. ### How do you get from Tokyo to Nikko? Tobu's Spacia X from Asakusa takes about 1 hour 50 minutes and needs a reserved seat. With a JR Pass, take the Shinkansen to Utsunomiya and the JR Nikko Line, about 2 hours. ### Is a Mount Fuji day trip from Tokyo worth it? On a clear day, yes. Kawaguchiko is about 2 hours from Shinjuku by the Fuji Excursion train or highway bus. Check the forecast first: the mountain is often hidden by cloud, especially in summer. ### What is the easiest half-day trip from Tokyo? Kawagoe, about 30 minutes from Ikebukuro by the Tobu Tojo Line express, for its old warehouse street, bell tower and candy alley. Yokohama, about 30 minutes away, is the other easy option.