20 best day trip plan from Tokyo: DIY day trip planner for the first timer to the advanced traveler

Would you like to visit various places other than Tokyo while staying in Tokyo?

But traveling with luggage may be a hassle for you, especially if you travel with senior(s) or small child(ren). If you want to minimize traveling with a luggage, just stay in one place and make day trip(s).

Actually there are many places where you can go as day trips from Tokyo.

In this post, I will pick 20 places where you can reach from Tokyo by a public transportation. Some of the plans I will show you may not be the place to visit as a day trip, but I’d like to share them with you as an idea. I will tell you a suggested deal for a day trip. If you intend using JR Pass or other deals, I also tell you how much you can use it to make a day trip.

1. Yokohama

Yokohama is only 30 minutes away from Tokyo. Yokohama is the easiest place to visit as a day trip. You can choose the train from the three railways, JR, Keikyu Railway and Tokyu Railway by the departure stations in Tokyo.

Suggested itinerary

Please see the link below to get more information about the trip to Yokohama.

Yokohama and Kamakura access guide. Find the right deal and route from your place to stay.

Yokohama and Kamakura are very popular places to visit from Tokyo as day trip. Of course you can visit these places from other places, like Osaka and Kyoto. I will show you how to get these places and choose the deals.

jprail.com

2016.04.03

2. Kamakura and Enoshima

Kamakura is abou 1 hour away from Tokyo. It is a nice destination for a day trip along with Yokohama. You may get to Kamakura by either JR and get to Enoshima by Odakyu Railway.

Suggested itinerary

Please see the link below to get more information about the trip to Kamakura. You can combine Kamakura and Yokohama in one day if you can accept with a tight schedule.

Yokohama and Kamakura access guide. Find the right deal and route from your place to stay.

Yokohama and Kamakura are very popular places to visit from Tokyo as day trip. Of course you can visit these places from other places, like Osaka and Kyoto. I will show you how to get these places and choose the deals.

jprail.com

2016.04.03

3. Kawagoe

Kawagoe is only 30 minutes away from Ikebukuro by Tobu Railway. This is another easy day trip destination. You can choose the train from the three railways, JR, Tobu Railway and Seibu Railway by the departure stations in Tokyo.

Suggested itinerary

4. Hakone

Hakone can be a day trip destination. If you take Odakyu Railway’s limited express “Romancecar”, you can get to Hakone-Yumoto directly in 90 minutes.

Suggested itinerary

Please see the link below to get more information about the trip to Hakone.

Hakone access guide and the sample itineraries

This post explains you the access to Hakone and various sample itineraries. You can find the best way by the rail pass which you will use in your travel.

jprail.com

2018.01.24

5. Lake Kawaguchi (Fuji, Kawaguchiko)

Lake Kawaguchi is the best spot to see Mt. Fuji. There are many places to see. You can choose a few places where you want to visit.

Suggested itinerary

Please see the link below to get more information about the trip to Lake Kawaguchi:

Lake Kawaguchi and Mt. Fuji access guide and the sample itineraries

This post explains you the access to Lake Kawaguchi / Mt. Fuji rea and various sample itineraries. You can find the best way by the rail pass which you will use in your travel.

jprail.com

2018.02.19

If you are ambisious, try Lake Kawaguchi and Hakone in one day:

Fuji Hakone one day trip sample itinerary. You can visit both Lake Kawaguchi and Hakone by day trip from Tokyo!

Both Kawaguchiko and Hakone are very popular in Mt. Fuji area. But if you have only one day, do you think you have to choose either one? Actually you can visit both in one day from Tokyo. Please find the sample itinerary in this post.

jprail.com

2016.09.25

6. Nikko

You can get to Nikko by either JR or Tobu Railway. Tobu operates many express train between Asakusa and Nikko. JR operates fewer but you can start from Tokyo, Shinjuku and manu more stations.

Suggested itinerary

Please see the link below to get more information about the trip to Nikko:

Nikko access guide. Three routes from Tokyo, Shinjuku and Asakusa.

This posts explains you about the access route to Nikko from Tokyo. There are several ways from some places in Tokyo. You can find the best route for you in this post.

jprail.com

2014.07.21

7. Izu

Izu peninsula has many spots. It is not possible to cover whole part of the peninsula but you can visit a few places in one day.

Suggested itinerary (for viewing Kawazu sakura)

I have 1 night 2 days sample plan of Izu and Hakone:

Hakone and Izu, Kawazu Zakura early cherry blossom viewing 2-day sample trip plan

This 2-day trip plan is designed for Kawazu early cherry blossom season from mid February to early March. This trip plan covers Hakone, Izu and Kawazu. And you will visit Kawazu in daytime and evening to watch two different views.

jprail.com

2020.04.19

8. Hitachi Seaside Park

You can get to Katsuta station by the limited express Hitachi or Tokiwa. This train trip is covered by JR Pass, JR East Pass and Tokyo Wide Pass. After arrival in Katsuta, all fares are extra on top of these passes.

Suggested itinerary

9. Ashikaga Flower Park

You can get to Ashikaga Flower Park station by the Shinkansen and a local train. These train trips are covered by JR Pass, JR East Pass and Tokyo Wide Pass fully. All you have to pay is the admission of the flower park.

Suggested itinerary

Are you interested in two flower parks in one day?

Ashikaga Flower Park and Hitachi Seaside Park in 12 hours. Two spectacular parks 1-day sample trip plan

If you only have one day but you want to visit both Ashikaga Flower Park and Hitachi Seaside Park, why don't you visit both. You can visit both in 12 hours. Please find the sample itinerary in this post.

jprail.com

2020.04.14

10. Gala Yuzawa

You can get to the snow resort by the Shinkansen directly. In these days, this resort has been developed as a summer resort.

Suggested itinerary

11. Kusatsu Onsen

You will take a train and a bus to get to Kusatsu Onsen. Both train and bus are covered by JR pass, JR East Pass and Tokyo Wide Pass.

Suggested itinerary

12. Nagano and Snow Monkey Park

This is very popular destination in the winter season. You may add Matsumoto instead of the monkey park in the summer season.

Suggested itinerary

Please refer my trip report in the link below:

Visit Snow Monkey Park, round trip from Nagano station in 4 hours, Trip to Tohoku, Chubu and Chugoku in 2016 winter – Part 9

Monkeys enjoy natural hot springs at Snow Monkey Park.This post is continued from Trip to Tohoku, Chubu and Chugoku...

jprail.com

2016.06.19

13. Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

It is the world class mountain sightseeing route. The Hokuriku Shinkansen makes the trip time be shorter and we can make this trip as a day trip from Tokyo.

Suggested itinerary

14. Kanazawa and Shirakawago

Catch the earliest Shinkansen train to get Kanazawa. Enjoy visiting the places in Kanazawa and then head to World Heritage Site Shirakawago.

Suggested itinerary

15. Kurobe Gorge and Toyama

Catch the earliest Shinkansen train to get Kurobe-Unzakionsen statin. Change to a local train going into the Kurobe valley. Enjoy the stunning view from the open air carriage.

Suggested itinerary

I have a sample itinerary which covers whole part of the moutain area in this area:

Alpine route, Kurobe gorge and Shin-Hotaka 3-day sample trip plan. Three best scenic mountain routes with Shirakawago and Takayama

This 3-day trip plan covers Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, Kurobe Gorge Railway, Shirakawago, Takayama and Shin-Hodaka Ropeway.

jprail.com

2020.04.12

16. Takayama and Shirakawago

Very popular sites in Hida area are squeezed into a day trip plan.

Suggested itinerary

17. Kyoto

I don’t think the tourist who stays in Tokyo goes to Kyoto as a day trip. But actually you can cover most major spots as a day trip from Tokyo.

Suggested itinerary

18. Hirosaki and Resort Shirakami

It is a plan that combines Hirosaki, which is a famous place for cherry blossoms, with a popular train Resort Shirakami.

Suggested itinerary

I have 2-day trip plan which include Resort Shirakami and Lake Towada:

Resort Shirakami and Lake Towada 2-day sample trip plan

You may find the 2-day trip sample itinerary which covers Resort Shirakami, Blue pond, Oirase stream and Lake Towada.

jprail.com

2020.04.09

19. Matsushima and Yamadera

It is a plan that combines Matsushima, which is one of “Three Best Scenery of Japan”, with the scenic temple, Yamadera. Take in the picturesque views of these superb places.

Suggested itinerary

20. Hakodate

Hakodate is not close to Tokyo, but it is possoble to make a day trip by the speed of the Hokkaido Shinkansen.

Suggested itinerary

Last word

I think there are pros and cons to my choice, but I hope you find an idea to create your trip plan.