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Tokyo is the largest city in the world, with a population of approximately 37.5 million. You’ll have plenty to see and do, but if you stay long enough, then beyond the city limits are some great attractions that make for a great day trip from Tokyo.
Best Places To See In Tokyo Japan
In our recent trip to Japan, I spent over a week exploring this big city and took a few days trip from Tokyo. The transportation system in the capital city is very wide and efficient which can cover long distances in a relatively short time, even without taking the Shinkansen bullet train.
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If you stay long enough and have seen the main attractions of Tokyo, then listed below are the twelve best day trips from Tokyo.
This post about Tokyo day trip is long. For your convenience, I have compiled links to hotels, tours, and other services here.
Before you visit Tokyo, be sure to check out our comprehensive Tokyo travel guide. It will have all the information you need – such as where to stay, which attractions to visit, what and where to eat, etc. – to help you plan your trip.
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Although Tokyo’s public transportation system is incredibly efficient, some people may not want to travel long distances so I’ve compiled a list of Tokyo day trips by distance, starting with the attractions with the shortest travel time from Shinjuku station.
Click on the link below to jump to any part of the guide. Estimated time for one-way travel.
For the purpose of this guide, all estimated travel times and fares are from Shinjuku station/bus terminal but you can use Google Maps and Hyperdia to find the best route from your hotel. Tokyo has many rail and bus lines, so there are several ways to get from point A to point B depending on where you’re going and what time you’re leaving.
Each attraction in this list is easy enough to get to on your own but if you like to go on a guided tour, then I have included links to organized tours in each entry.
Places To Visit In Tokyo Japan: Attractions, Landmarks, And Best Things To Do
It’s fun to start this list of the best day trips from Tokyo, Japan’s largest city, and Yokohama, Japan’s second largest city. Located about half an hour south of Tokyo, Yokohama is the capital of Kanagawa prefecture and home to several interesting attractions such as Japan’s largest Chinatown, Sankeien park, two ramen museums, and Minato Mirai. Its proximity makes it an easy trip from Tokyo.
Located by the sea, Minato Mirai is Yokohama’s central business district. It is home to shopping malls, hotels, art museums, convention centers, and an amusement park that features a hundred-meter tall ferris wheel that was once recognized as the tallest in the world.
If you like ramen, you might want to visit the Mie Cup Museum in Minato Mirai. This is a fun interactive museum that traces the history of instant ramen in Japan. We visited a museum shop in Osaka where we got to create a special instant ramen cup to take home as a souvenir.
The Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum is the second ramen museum you can visit in Yokohama. It showcases the history and different varieties of ramen found throughout Japan. It has an interesting ramen food hall that is made to resemble the old Shitamachi area in mid-1950s Tokyo. It has nine ramen restaurants, each featuring ramen dishes from a different region of Japan.
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I visited Kawagoe based on the recommendation of a Japanese friend. Located less than an hour northwest of Tokyo, Kawagoe is an ancient castle town in Saitama prefecture known for its wealth of preserved warehouses and traditional buildings. It is often referred to as “Little Edo” to enjoy its history.
Kawagoe is a small town so it doesn’t have much in the way of attractions, but the main draw and what we come for is the town itself. This is a beautiful and atmospheric city that is one of the most popular day trips from Tokyo.
Many of the old buildings along Kurazukuri Street have been converted into shops, restaurants, and cafes so one of the best things you can do is eat Japanese street food and see the many things for sale. Be sure to look for Kashiya Yokocho as well, a narrow alley with dozens of small shops selling traditional Japanese sweets and Japanese sweets.

If you’re looking for a good local place to eat Japanese food, my friend took me to Hasumi, a great soba restaurant located in a quieter part of town. He also suggested I try Coedo beer, which is a craft beer brand brewed in Kawagoe. It is located on the same street as the wooden time bell tower pictured below.
Tokyo Travel Guide (updated 2023)
Kawagoe is famous for its unagi and sweet potato too. Kawagoe has been a sweet potato producing area for over 250 years so you will find many shops selling a variety of sweet potato snacks and treats.
How to get there: Return by train from Shinjuku station to Kawagoe station. Catch a local bus to Kurazukuri Street.
Although Tokyo in the name, Tokyo Disney Resort is not actually in Tokyo. It’s in the city of Urayasu in Chiba prefecture, about an hour east of Tokyo. It consists of two theme parks (Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea), a shopping and entertainment complex, and several hotels.
What makes Tokyo Disney Resort so interesting is that it is the only Disney theme park resort that Disney does not have an ownership stake in. It is completely owned by the Oriental Land Company which pays The Walt Disney Company a license fee for the use of its name. and character. This leads to what many call the most unique Disney theme park resort in the world. This is probably the most popular day trip from Tokyo for people traveling with kids.
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We don’t usually go to theme parks when we travel but everyone we know says Tokyo DisneySea is a must visit. Although theme parks are the most popular with families, they are described as Disney theme parks designed more for adults, and they are right. It has the same classic Disney rides and characters, but the point is that the park is more grown-up, with more mature themes and more mascots running around, at least when we were there.
As the name suggests, Tokyo DisneySea is a Disney theme park with a nautical theme. We haven’t gone on every ride but some of our favorites include Tower of Terror, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull, and Toy Story Mania!
We haven’t been to Tokyo Disneyland but Tokyo DisneySea makes for a fun trip from Tokyo, with or without kids. Check out Klook for a list of Tokyo Disney Resort deals. You can also visit the Tokyo Disney Resort website for more information.
Kamakura in Kanagawa prefecture is one of the most popular day trips from Tokyo. Located about an hour south of Tokyo, Kamakura is often called the “Kyoto of eastern Japan” because of its considerable collection of temples, shrines, and other historical attractions.
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There are so many interesting shrines and temples in Kamakura that you can easily spend a few hours there. Some of the most popular include Hachimangu Temple, Engakuji Temple, Jochiji Temple, and Hasedera Temple. Many of these temples are connected by picturesque hiking trails so it’s a great way to experience both nature and Japanese culture at the same time.
As much as there is to see in Kamakura, the biggest attraction, literally and figuratively, is the Great Buddha of Kamakura. Built in 1252, it is a 11.4 meter tall bronze statue located on the grounds of Kotokuin Buddhist Temple. You can visit the Great Buddha and other Kamakura temples on your own or through a guided tour (Klook | Get Your Guide).
If you spend a day exploring the temples and shrines of Kamakura, you can also continue to Enoshima. This is a small island just off the coast but connected by a bridge to the mainland. You can get there by fast train 20 minutes from Kamakura station.
Enoshima is Tokyo’s most popular beach resort known for its small collection of Shinto temples and caves. If you visit in winter, then you might want to check out the Jewel of Shonan winter illumination show. This is one of three great illumination events held in the Kanto region, making Enoshima one of the most popular day trips outside of Tokyo in winter.
Tokyo Travel Guide
If you are planning to visit Kamakura and Enoshima, then there are several guided tours that you can choose from that cover.
How to get there: Travel by
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