Top 5 Day Trips from Tokyo

Exploring beyond Tokyo for the day offers a delightful change of pace and a chance to experience Japan’s diverse beauty and culture. All the destinations listed here are less than a 2-hour train journey from central Tokyo, a compelling reason to take advantage of Japan’s excellent rail system to venture outside the bustling capital! 

Less than 1.5 hours by train from Tokyo is a vibrant Japanese cultural theme park, showcasing traditional Edo period culture, set in the mountains of Nikko. Complete with Ninja show, Samurai sword experience, traditional archery, and Edo character dress up, there are also several live performances, workshops, Kimono rental, Edo cuisine, and educational exhibits for all ages. 

A short 2-hour journey from Tokyo, you’ll find the World Heritage site of Nikko. It’s no wonder that Nikko’s most historic shrines and temples are designated sites and National Treasures of Japan. Their striking architecture is in perfect harmony with the surrounding cedar forests and mountain slopes. The walkable heritage area includes two Shinto shrines and one Buddhist temple. Together, they form a complex of over 100 intricately detailed, vermilion-painted structures, connected by paths lined with centuries-old trees and weathered stone lanterns. These sites are fastidiously preserved by generations of monks, and painstakingly reconstructed using original plans and traditional techniques when damaged. The result is examples of Edo-period architecture as stunning today as the day they were finished. 

Kawagoe is located about 30 minutes by train from central Tokyo. Its main street, lined with Kurazukuri (clay-walled warehouse-style) buildings, retains an ambience reminiscent of an old town from the Edo Period and allows us to imagine the streets from past centuries. As such, this city became known as "Little Edo". During the Edo Period, Kawagoe prospered as a supplier of commodities to Tokyo (then named Edo). As Kawagoe was an important city to the capital for trade and strategic purposes, the shogun installed some of their most loyal men as lords of Kawagoe Castle. Close ties ensued between the two cities and over the years, Kawagoe inherited many aspects of the Edo culture and architecture. One of the most important temples in the Greater Tokyo area, Kitain Temple, is Kawagoe's other main attraction. It is home to the only remaining structures of the former Edo Castle. 

Hakone is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, less than one hundred kilometres from Tokyo. Famous for hot springs, natural beauty, and the view across Lake Ashinoko of nearby Mount Fuji, Hakone is one of the most popular destinations among Japanese and international tourists looking for a break from Tokyo. Make sure you treat yourself to one of several outstanding onsen (Japanese hot springs), including: Yunosato Okada for a serene experience, or Tenzan Onsen, with its maze of indoor and outdoor pools. 

Off the beaten path from the big city of Tokyo, Kamakura is surrounded by mountains and the sea and is rich with culture. Throughout each season, the city transforms, from lightly falling sakura petals in the spring to orange and red fall colours on the trees. 

Whilst the temples and shrines are teeming with history, the city also has its modern side, as its full of modern museums and trendy cafés. 

Hopefully this blog post has inspired you to visit the incredible country of Japan and everything it has to offer. If you would like to start planning your tailor-made holiday, then call us on 01442 617777 or email us at holidays@tailoredjourneys.co.uk to speak to an expert today!