Hakone, Kamakura, and Nikko are the three that almost everyone does, and they earned those spots. After that, the best pick depends on whether you want a mountain, a beach, a city, or a hike. All ten are reachable from central Tokyo in under 2.5 hours by train, and most cost less than ¥2,000 each way.
Only have half a day? Mt. Takao. Under an hour from Shinjuku and you can be back by lunch. Want a full day? Kamakura, Hakone, Nikko, or Yokohama. All three need an early start and fill the day. Interested in onsen? Hakone is the obvious pick, though it works better as an overnight trip. Want the easiest trip? Kamakura or Enoshima. Straightforward train, no transfers, plenty to do near the station. Have good weather? Kawaguchiko. Bad weather wrecks this one because Fuji is the entire reason to go.
How do they compare?
All ten, side by side.
| Destination | Train Time | Round Trip | Time Needed | Go For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Hakone | 85 min | ~¥5,000 | Full day+ | Onsen, ropeway, lake, volcano |
| 2. Kamakura | 55 min | ~¥1,900 | Full day | Great Buddha, hiking, beach |
| 3. Nikko | 2 hrs | ~¥6,700 | Full day | Shrine complex, waterfalls, lake |
| 4. Kawaguchiko | 2 hrs | ~¥4,400 | Full day | Fuji views, lake cycling |
| 5. Enoshima | 70 min | ~¥1,300 | Half day | Island walk, seafood, sea caves |
| 6. Yokohama | 25 min | ~¥960 | Full day | Chinatown, waterfront, museums |
| 7. Matsumoto | 2.5 hrs | ~¥13,240 | Full day | Original castle, soba, sake |
| 8. Mt. Takao | 50 min | ~¥860 | Half day | Easy hike, summit views |
| 9. Kawagoe | 30 min | ~¥980 | Half day | Old warehouse street, sweet potato food |
| 10. Chichibu | 80 min | ~¥1,580 | Full day | River gorge, shrine, hiking |
The trips
1. Hakone
85 min from Shinjuku (Romancecar) · ~¥2,500 one way · Hakone Free Pass ¥7,100
The Hakone loop is what makes this trip: ropeway over volcanic vents, a pirate ship across Lake Ashi, cable car up to Owakudani where you eat sulfur-boiled black eggs that supposedly add seven years to your life. The Open Air Museum is one of the better art museums in Japan, and it is outdoors, which means you are not stuck inside on a good weather day. Most people try to do the full loop plus onsen in a single day and run out of time. If you can stay overnight, do. The best onsen areas are away from the tourist loop, in spots like Sengokuhara and Tonosawa where the ryokan and the quiet are the whole point.
2. Kamakura
55 min from Tokyo Station (JR Yokosuka Line) · ~¥950 one way
The Great Buddha is the headliner, but the hiking trails between the temples are the real draw. The Daibutsu hiking course connects Kita-Kamakura to the Great Buddha through forest trails and smaller temples that most visitors skip. Komachi-dori near the station has food stalls and souvenir shops if you want to browse, but it gets packed by midday. Walk east toward Yuigahama Beach after the temples for sand, surf shops, and an afternoon that feels nothing like the morning. Shirasu (raw whitebait) on rice is the local specialty, though it is unavailable January to early March because of the fishing ban.
3. Nikko
2 hrs from Asakusa (Tobu Spacia X) · ~¥3,340 one way for limited express
Toshogu Shrine is one of the most ornate shrine complexes in Japan, covered in gold leaf and carvings. That alone fills a morning. But the area beyond the shrine is where Nikko gets interesting: walk to Kanmangafuchi where stone Jizo statues in red caps line a river gorge, or take the bus up to Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Falls (one of the tallest waterfalls in Japan at 97 meters). In autumn, the Irohazaka switchback road up to the lake is one of the most popular leaf-viewing spots in the Kanto region. Give yourself the full day because the bus ride to the lake adds an hour each way. If you want to go deeper, staying overnight in Kinugawa Onsen gives you time for the Senjogahara Plateau trail and the riverside ryokan.
4. Kawaguchiko
2 hrs from Shinjuku (direct bus) or Otsuki transfer · ~¥2,200 one way by bus
This trip lives or dies by the weather. On a clear day, Fuji fills the skyline across the lake and you understand what the fuss is about. Rent a bike and ride the lake shore, take the Kachi Kachi Ropeway for an elevated view, or walk the north shore where the classic postcard angles are. Houtou noodles (thick flat noodles in miso with vegetables) are the local dish and one of the more filling meals you will have. The mountain appears most often on clear winter mornings, so check a webcam before you commit. If Fuji is hidden, everything else here feels like setup without a payoff.
5. Enoshima
70 min from Shinjuku (Odakyu to Katase-Enoshima) · ~¥650 one way
A small island connected to the mainland by a bridge. Walk up through the shrine gates, take the outdoor escalators if you do not want the stairs, and keep going to the sea caves at the far end. The whole walk takes about an hour. Seafood restaurants line the approach, and shirasu bowls are the same local catch as Kamakura. It pairs well with Kamakura since they are on the same rail line, about 20 minutes apart. Do Kamakura in the morning, Enoshima in the afternoon, and you have a full day from a single train ticket out of Tokyo.
6. Yokohama
25 min from Tokyo Station (JR Tokaido or Yokosuka Line) · ~¥480 one way
Only 25 minutes from Tokyo Station, so getting there takes almost no time. Yokohama's Chinatown is the largest in Japan and worth a walk through for the food alone: steamed buns, dumplings, and roast pork from street stalls. The Cup Noodles Museum lets you design your own cup and is more fun than it sounds. Yamashita Park and the Minato Mirai waterfront fill the rest of the day. There is more here than most people expect, so give it the full day rather than trying to squeeze it into an afternoon.
7. Matsumoto
2.5 hrs from Shinjuku (Azusa limited express) · ~¥6,620 one way
The longest commute on this list, and the most expensive, but Matsumoto Castle is one of only twelve original castles left in Japan. The black exterior against the Alps in the background is worth the train ride if castles interest you. The town around it has soba restaurants everywhere (this is a soba region, and you will taste the difference), plus sake breweries you can walk between. The cost and travel time make this a borderline day trip. If you are already heading to the Japanese Alps for Takayama or Kamikochi, skip the day trip and spend a night in Matsumoto instead.
8. Mt. Takao
50 min from Shinjuku (Keio Line to Takaosanguchi) · ~¥430 one way
The easiest hike from Tokyo and one of the most popular mountains in the world by foot traffic. Trail 1 is paved and passes a temple with tengu statues halfway up. Trail 6 follows a stream through forest and feels less like a highway. The summit has food stalls, a visitor center, and on clear days a direct view of Fuji. The whole hike takes about 90 minutes up and an hour down, or you can take the cable car partway. Good for a morning trip since you can be back in Shinjuku by early afternoon.
9. Kawagoe
30 min from Ikebukuro (Tobu Tojo Line) · ~¥490 one way
An old merchant town close enough for a quick half day. The main street has old clay-walled warehouses that are now shops and cafes. Sweet potato is the local thing, and it shows up in everything: ice cream, chips, tarts, beer. The Bell Tower (Toki no Kane) rings at specific times and is the one photo everyone takes. Candy Alley (Kashiya Yokocho) is a short street of traditional sweet shops. The whole walkable area is compact, so you can see everything in 3-4 hours and be back in Ikebukuro for dinner.
10. Chichibu
80 min from Ikebukuro (Seibu Laview limited express) · ~¥790 + ¥710 surcharge one way
The least-visited destination on this list, which is part of the appeal. Take the train to Nagatoro for the river gorge: you can ride a wooden boat through the rapids or walk the trails along the cliffs above. Chichibu Shrine is small but has elaborate carvings similar to Nikko's style. The area is best in autumn for the foliage along the river, or in December when the Chichibu Night Festival draws huge crowds. It is a full-day trip because of the commute, but you will not run into the tour bus crowds that pack Kamakura and Hakone.
Which trips pair together?
Some of these share a train line or sit close enough that you can combine two in a day. Kamakura + Enoshima is the easiest combination because they are on the same Enoden line, about 20 minutes apart. Start with the temples and hiking in Kamakura, then head to Enoshima for the afternoon. Kawagoe + Mt. Takao also works: Kawagoe in the morning (it is a half-day trip), then Takao in the afternoon, since both connect through Shinjuku or Ikebukuro.
Your departure station in Tokyo matters for planning. If you are staying in Shinjuku, Hakone, Kawaguchiko, Enoshima, and Mt. Takao all leave from there. Ikebukuro connects to Kawagoe and Chichibu. Tokyo Station and Asakusa cover Kamakura, Yokohama, and Nikko. Staying near one of these hubs saves you a transfer on the morning you head out.