Mt Fuji, Hakone, Nikko and Kamakura are all within two hours of Tokyo, and half of the best day trips are easy by train on your own. Here is which places are worth a guided tour, what each costs, and 10 day tours compared.
What You Should Know
- Under an hour by train: Yokohama, Kawagoe, Kamakura and Mt Takao, all easy alone. About 80 to 120 minutes: Hakone, Chichibu, Nikko and Lake Kawaguchi below Mt Fuji. Three hours or more: the Jigokudani snow monkeys in Nagano, where a tour saves the most planning.
- Guided day tours cost $35 for a Kamakura walk to about $155 to $175 for the classic Mt Fuji and Hakone bus tour with a bullet train home. A private guide in Hakone is $334 for your group, with transport and tickets on top.
- Mt Fuji is only visible on clear days, most reliably on winter mornings. Cancellation terms vary by tour and booking option, so check the policy shown for your departure before you book, and check the forecast the day before.
- Weekends and Japanese holidays add hours. Guests on Fuji bus tours in October 2026 describe 12- to 15-hour days and skipped stops in holiday traffic, so book long trips on a weekday if you can.
Best Day Trips from Tokyo: Where to Go and How
The best day trips from Tokyo are Mt Fuji and its lakes, the hot-spring valleys of Hakone, the gilded shrines of Nikko and the temples and Great Buddha of Kamakura. Closer in, Yokohama, the old warehouse town of Kawagoe and the hiking trails of Mt Takao take under an hour by train. The question for each is whether to go on your own or join a tour: we think a tour earns its price for Mt Fuji, Nikko and the snow monkeys, where the sights are spread out and public transport is slow, and is optional everywhere else.
What is the best day trip from Tokyo?
- Best overall: Mt Fuji and Hakone, on a guided day with a bullet train home.
- Best easy independent trip: Kamakura, under an hour by train.
- Best cultural day trip: Nikko's shrines.
- Best short trip: Yokohama, about 30 minutes away.
- Best winter experience: the Jigokudani snow monkeys.
| If you want | Go to | Best way | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mt Fuji and a lake cruise in one day | Mt Fuji and Hakone | The Japan Panoramic Tours bus, bullet train home (our pick) | From $155 |
| Mt Fuji on a budget | Lake Kawaguchi | F Trip's full-day Fuji bus tour | $54 |
| Shrines, waterfalls and a mountain lake | Nikko | Amigo Tours' Nikko day trip | From $109 |
| Temples and the Great Buddha | Kamakura | Train there, then a guided walk | $35 plus about ¥1,200 |
| An easy half day | Yokohama or Kawagoe | On your own by train | Under ¥1,000 each way |
| A hike and a hot spring | Mt Takao | Irie Tokyo Tours' small-group hike | $120 |
| Monkeys in hot springs | Jigokudani, Nagano | H.I.S.' snow monkey day tour | $116 |
We compared ten day tours below, and further down list how to reach every destination on your own, with train times and fares. For single destinations in more depth, see our Mt Fuji tour comparison and Nikko day trip guide; for the city itself, our best things to do in Tokyo guide.
Japan Panoramic Tours: Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour, Return by Bullet Train
The two most famous day trips from Tokyo in one day: Mt Fuji in the morning, then Hakone's ropeway and a cruise on Lake Ashi, with the ropeway, cruise and a bullet train ticket from Odawara back to Tokyo Station all in the price. With 33,510 reviews and 87% of them five stars, it is the most-reviewed day trip from the city, and the bullet train cuts the slow drive home that guests on other Fuji tours complain about. Its listing gives a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before departure.
Book NowBest Day Trips from Tokyo: 10 Tours Compared
At a glance: the ten tours below run from $35 for a guided walk in Kamakura to $334 for a private guide in Hakone. Our top pick, the Japan Panoramic Tours bus to Mt Fuji and Hakone with a bullet train back, starts at $155.
How we ranked them: by review score and volume, how recently guests have reviewed them, what the price really includes (transport, entry tickets, lunch), and how well each covers a different day out from Tokyo.
| Tour (Operator) | Price | Viator Rating | Duration | What Decides It | Ages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our Pick Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour, Return by Bullet Train Japan Panoramic Tours Check availability |
Most dates: $155 (¥24,616) without lunch, $162 with the buffet lunch. 19 to 31 December and March to April: $168 without lunch, $175 with it. Child 4 to 11 from $110 | ⭐ 4.8 (33,510 reviews) Read Reviews |
11 hrs | Mt Fuji's 5th Station (or a substitute when the road is closed), Hakone's ropeway and a Lake Ashi cruise, then the bullet train from Odawara to Tokyo Station. Weekday check-in 7:20 in Ginza or 7:50 in Shinjuku; weekends and holidays 7:20 in Shinjuku only. Bookings of up to 10 | All ages; under 4 free |
| Mount Fuji Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Tokyo F Trip Check availability |
$54; under 3 $45 | ⭐ 4.8 (2,631 reviews) Read Reviews |
10 hrs | Eight stops around Lake Kawaguchi, including Chureito Pagoda and Oshino Hakkai, from Shinjuku or Tokyo Station. No lunch; it does not go up the mountain | Up to 75 |
| Nikko, Kegon Waterfall and Chuzenji Lake from Tokyo Amigo Tours Japan Check availability |
Without Toshogu entry: $109 at 7:00, $129 at 9:00. With Toshogu entry: $139 at 7:00, $149 at 9:00. Premium (Toshogu entry and lunch): $164 at 7:00, $179 at 9:00 | ⭐ 4.8 (2,230 reviews) Read Reviews |
11 hrs | Shinkyo Bridge, Toshogu Shrine, Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji by bus from Ginza, with an English and Spanish guide | All ages; 3 to 11 from $98 |
| Kamakura Walking Tour: The City of Shogun Localized Walking and Food Tours Check availability |
$35; 10 and under $12; plus about ¥1,200 for trains and entry | ⭐ 5.0 (148 reviews) Read Reviews |
3.5 hrs | Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, Komachi Street, the Great Buddha and Hasedera, from 10:00 in Kamakura. You make your own way there | All ages |
| Mount Fuji, Kamakura, Big Buddha and Lake Ashi Day Trip Amigo Tours Japan Check availability |
$119 ($129 on a few dates); $149 with lunch | ⭐ 4.8 (1,661 reviews) Read Reviews |
11 hrs | Lake Kawaguchi, the Great Buddha ticket and a Lake Ashi cruise in one bus day from Ginza. The most ground covered on this page | All ages; 3 to 11 $107 |
| Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide Japan Guide Agency Check availability |
$334 per group (¥53,000) for 6 hours; $366 for 8 hours; children under 12 free | ⭐ 4.9 (291 reviews) Read Reviews |
6 or 8 hrs | A licensed guide meets you in Hakone and builds the day around you. Transport, entry fees and lunch are extra | All ages; up to 10 |
| Yokohama: Guided Cup Noodles Museum Tour and Make Your Own Cup gotcha Check availability |
$60 (¥9,500); 18 and under $57; at least 2 adults | ⭐ 4.9 (66 reviews) Read Reviews |
1.5 hrs | An English-speaking guide and museum entry, with starts every 30 minutes. Not on Tuesdays | All ages |
| Tokyo: Mt Takao Tour with Ramen and Tattoo-Okay Hot Spring Irie Tokyo Tours Check availability |
$120; 4 to 12 $80; under 4 free | ⭐ 5.0 (33 reviews) Read Reviews |
7 to 8 hrs | A hike past Yakuo-in Temple to the summit, a ramen or soba lunch and a hot spring that accepts tattoos. Groups of up to 6; not on Wednesdays; cable car fares extra | All ages |
| Hidden Japan Near Tokyo: Temple Walk and Local Life in Chichibu Chichibu Region Omotenashi Tourism Bureau Check availability |
$51 (¥8,050), currently reduced from $73; $79 in pilgrim dress | ⭐ 4.9 (22 reviews) Read Reviews |
3 hrs | Three temples on the Chichibu 34 Kannon pilgrimage with a local guide, private for up to 6, from 13:00 at the station | 18 to 70 |
| Nagano Snow Monkey 1 Day Tour with Beef Sukiyaki Lunch from Tokyo H.I.S. Check availability |
$116 (¥18,400), listed as reduced from $145; 4 to 11 $114 | ⭐ 4.6 (161 reviews) Read Reviews |
13 hrs | Bus from Shinjuku at 7:45, a sukiyaki lunch and the walk to Jigokudani's monkey park. Crampons sold on board | All ages |
ℹ️ Every price, rating, review count, duration and age band above was pulled from the booking platform's partner API on 11 November 2026. Yen prices are converted at ¥158.56 to the US dollar, the rate the booking widget uses, so these are a snapshot and the live price in the widget below can differ slightly. Prices are per person unless marked per group. Review counts and ratings were retrieved on 11 November 2026; review recency varies by listing, and the descriptions below point to recent feedback where it exists. Cancellation terms vary by tour and booking option, so check the policy shown for your selected departure before booking.
What to Expect on a Mt Fuji and Hakone Day Trip
- 017:20 or 7:50
Check in, Ginza or Shinjuku
Weekdays: 7:20 at Matsuya Ginza (bus leaves 7:30) or 7:50 at Shinjuku's LOVE sculpture (leaves 8:00). Weekends and holidays: Shinjuku only, 7:20 for 7:30. Late arrivals cannot join later.
- 02~10:30
Mt Fuji
About 30 minutes at the 5th Station, or a lower stop when snow or wind closes the road. The first leg can be about three hours.
- 03~12:00
Lunch
A buffet if you booked the lunch option; otherwise bring or buy your own.
- 04Afternoon
Hakone ropeway
The ropeway or Mt Komagatake for views over the volcanic valley, traffic permitting.
- 05Late afternoon
Lake Ashi cruise
A short cruise across the caldera lake, then the bus to Odawara.
- 06~18:00
Bullet train to Tokyo
Your shinkansen ticket from Odawara is included, arriving at Tokyo Station at about 18:00.
- 01
Check in, Ginza or Shinjuku
Weekdays: 7:20 at Matsuya Ginza (bus leaves 7:30) or 7:50 at Shinjuku's LOVE sculpture (leaves 8:00). Weekends and holidays: Shinjuku only, 7:20 for 7:30. Late arrivals cannot join later.
7:20 or 7:50 - ~10:3002
Mt Fuji
About 30 minutes at the 5th Station, or a lower stop when snow or wind closes the road. The first leg can be about three hours.
- 03
Lunch
A buffet if you booked the lunch option; otherwise bring or buy your own.
~12:00 - Afternoon04
Hakone ropeway
The ropeway or Mt Komagatake for views over the volcanic valley, traffic permitting.
- 05
Lake Ashi cruise
A short cruise across the caldera lake, then the bus to Odawara.
Late afternoon - ~18:0006
Bullet train to Tokyo
Your shinkansen ticket from Odawara is included, arriving at Tokyo Station at about 18:00.
This is how a day on our top pick usually runs, from the listing and recent reviews. Times move with traffic, and the order can change.
The 10 Day Trips from Tokyo, and Who Each One Suits
Grouped by what each does best, with the top pick first. On the long bus days, the difference between a great trip and a tiring one is usually the weather and the traffic rather than the operator, so read the tradeoffs as well as the highlights.
Japan Panoramic Tours: Mt Fuji and Hakone, Return by Bullet Train
$155 without lunch on most dates and $162 with the buffet lunch ($168 and $175 from 19 to 31 December and in March and April), rated 4.8 from 33,510 reviews. Choose this for convenience and the number of sights covered, not for a relaxed visit to Fuji or Hakone; if you want more time in either, travel independently or stay overnight. On weekdays you check in at 7:20 at Matsuya Ginza (the bus leaves at 7:30) or at 7:50 at the LOVE sculpture in Shinjuku (leaving at 8:00); on weekends and holidays it is Shinjuku only, check-in 7:20 for 7:30. The bus climbs to Mt Fuji's 5th Station, then crosses to Hakone for the ropeway or Mt Komagatake and a cruise on Lake Ashi, before you board the bullet train at Odawara and reach Tokyo Station at about 18:00. Guests in November 2026 praise guides Na-chan, Aki, Lovely and Mizuho. The tradeoff is pace: several October and November 2026 guests felt rushed, with about 30 minutes at Fuji, and traffic sometimes cuts the ropeway (one group was given an ¥800 shop voucher instead). When snow or wind closes the 5th Station road, the bus stops at a lower station or a nearby village instead. Opinions on the buffet lunch are split, so skip it if you are a light eater. Book it for a weekday with a clear forecast; on a rainy day guests saw nothing at all. If you hold a JR Pass, the operator's return-by-bus version is cheaper.
Check availabilityF Trip: Mount Fuji Full Day Sightseeing Tour
$54, rated 4.8 from 2,631 reviews, the cheapest guided Fuji day on this page. It spends the day around Lake Kawaguchi rather than on the mountain: Oishi Park, Chureito Pagoda, the springs of Oshino Hakkai, a 1,300-year-old shrine and the old street with the Fuji view everyone photographs. Guests in November 2026 call guides Tim, Belle and Sandy organised and kind. The weaknesses are the size and the drive: bookings of up to 30, one October 2026 guest who paid for a small group found 20 to 25 people, and a holiday-weekend tour in October 2026 ran 15 hours, back at 23:00. Lunch is not included, and the listing caps the age at 75. We'd book this for a weekday when the forecast is clear; if Fuji is hidden, the lake stops are pleasant but not worth the long bus ride on their own.
Check availabilityAmigo Tours Japan: Nikko, Kegon Waterfall and Chuzenji Lake
$109 for the 7:00 start or $129 at 9:00 without Toshogu entry, $139 or $149 with it, and $164 or $179 for the premium option with entry and lunch. Rated 4.8 from 2,230 reviews. A bus from Ginza takes you to the Shinkyo Bridge, the gilded Toshogu Shrine, the 97-metre Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji. Guests in November 2026 praise guides Jorge and Bertrand and the autumn colours. Book an option with Toshogu entry unless you plan to skip the shrine: it is the main event. The earlier 7:00 start is $20 cheaper at every level. The weak points are timing and traffic: an October 2026 guest's bus left late and took over three hours to get there, then sat in traffic around the lake. A September 2026 guest who missed the bus at a stop was left to get back alone, so note every departure time. If you would rather linger at the shrines, the train is faster; see our Nikko day trip guide.
Check availabilityLocalized Walking and Food Tours: Kamakura, The City of Shogun
$35 for three and a half hours, $12 for children 10 and under, rated 5.0 from all 148 reviews. You take the train to Kamakura yourself, then a guide walks you from Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine down Komachi Street to the Great Buddha and Hasedera Temple, using picture cards to explain the history. Guests in 2026 single out guide Midori, and an April 2026 couple on a weekday had the guide to themselves. Budget about ¥1,200 on top for the short train ride and temple entry. Expect some stairs and hills. We think this is the best-value day out on this page: under $60 all in, including your train from Tokyo.
Check availabilityAmigo Tours Japan: Mt Fuji, Kamakura, Big Buddha and Lake Ashi
$119 for the full tour, or $149 with lunch, rated 4.8 from 1,661 reviews. One bus day from Ginza covers Lake Kawaguchi and Oishi Park, Kamakura's Great Buddha (ticket included) and a Lake Ashi cruise. It suits a short stay where this is your only day out of Tokyo. The tradeoff is time: an October 2026 guest called it long and tiring at about 10 hours, with Fuji easier to see in the morning than by afternoon. The Ginza meeting point (Ginza Inz 2, opposite Tokyu Hands) is hard to find, and an October 2026 group who missed the bus paid a $30 each penalty to rebook, so find it the day before.
Check availabilityJapan Guide Agency: Hakone Customized Private Tour
$334 for your group for six hours or $366 for eight, up to 10 people, children under 12 free, rated 4.9 from 291 reviews. A licensed guide meets you on foot in Hakone, often in your hotel lobby, and plans three to five stops around you: Hakone Shrine, the ropeway, Owakudani, Lake Ashi or the Open-Air Museum. Guests in October 2026 had ropeway closures and rain, and their guides moved them to museums such as the Okada instead. The price covers the guide only: trains, the Hakone Freepass, entry fees and lunch are extra, which two guests in 2026 felt made it poor value, and an August 2026 group was finished in three hours. We'd book it if you are staying a night in Hakone, and agree the plan and end time in advance.
Check availabilitygotcha: Yokohama Cup Noodles Museum Guided Tour
$60 per adult and $57 for anyone 18 or under, with at least two adults per booking, for 90 minutes inside the Cup Noodles Museum with an English-speaking guide and admission. Rated 4.9 from 66 reviews. Guests in October 2026 praise guides Masa, Nori and Emi for the story behind instant ramen, and an August 2026 guest booked it after the museum's own tickets sold out. One 2025 guest felt you are better off going alone and paying for the noodle-making workshop instead, so check what is included before you book. All soups contain pork. Yokohama is only about 30 minutes from Shibuya, so combine it with Chinatown and the waterfront.
Check availabilityIrie Tokyo Tours: Mt Takao with Ramen and a Hot Spring
$120, $80 for children 4 to 12, rated 5.0 from all 33 reviews, in groups of up to six. You meet the guide at Takaosanguchi Station, ride the cable car or chair lift halfway, hike past Yakuo-in Temple to the summit (Fuji is visible on clear days), eat ramen or soba, and finish in a hot spring that accepts tattoos. Guests describe plenty of stairs and say you need good shoes and basic fitness. Lunch and the hot spring are included; the train and cable car are not. Hot springs in Japan are nude and separated by gender. It does not run on Wednesdays.
Check availabilityChichibu Omotenashi Tourism Bureau: Temple Walk in Chichibu
$51 for three hours, currently reduced from $73, rated 4.9 from 22 reviews, all posted within the past year, the newest in November 2026. Local guides walk your group (private, up to six) to three temples on the Chichibu 34 Kannon pilgrimage, with a coffee break, and for $79 you can walk in white pilgrim dress. Guests in 2026 say the walk is easy and the temples close to the station, and liked hearing about the guides' own lives in the town. It is a young listing with few reviews, and the booking listing only accepts ages 18 to 70. Allow about 80 minutes each way on the Seibu limited express from Ikebukuro.
Check availabilityH.I.S.: Nagano Snow Monkey Day Tour with Sukiyaki Lunch
$116, listed as reduced from $145, rated 4.6 from 161 reviews, the lowest rating on this page. A bus leaves Shinjuku at 7:45, stops for a sukiyaki lunch and reaches Jigokudani's monkey park, where wild macaques bathe in hot springs, from about 13:30. It is a 13-hour day with about four hours on the bus each way, and the walk from the car park takes 30 minutes or more on paths that can be icy (crampons are sold on board). Guests from 2025 and 2026 loved the monkeys but felt the time there was short and the guides uneven; from about mid-March the monkeys may not go in the water on warmer days. We'd book it only for December to early March, and consider the bullet train if you can plan the connections yourself.
Check availabilityNot sure which? Book the Fuji and Hakone tour for your clearest weekday, take the train to Kamakura on your own (or with the $35 walk), and add Nikko if you have a third day.
Day Trips from Tokyo by Destination: Travel Times and Fares
Half the best day trips from Tokyo need no tour at all. Here is how to reach each one by public transport, with typical one-way times and fares from central Tokyo. Fares are from the rail operators and Japan travel guides and change from time to time, so check before you go.
| Destination | On your own | One way | Fare (one way) | Is a tour worth it? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yokohama | Tokyu Toyoko Line from Shibuya, or JR from Tokyo Station | About 30 min | A few hundred yen | No; the guided museum visit is a nice extra |
| Kawagoe | Tobu Tojo Line express from Ikebukuro | About 30 min | ¥490 (the Kawagoe Discount Pass is ¥710 return for foreign visitors) | No |
| Mt Takao | Keio Line from Shinjuku to Takaosanguchi | About 50 min | About ¥500 | Optional: worth it for the hot spring and company |
| Kamakura | JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo Station | Just under 1 hr | About ¥950 | Optional: a guide adds the history |
| Chichibu | Seibu Laview limited express from Ikebukuro | About 80 min | ¥1,700 reserved (¥800 on slower trains) | Optional |
| Hakone | Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto | About 80 min | ¥2,470; the 2-day Hakone Freepass from Shinjuku is ¥7,100 plus the Romancecar surcharge | Either; the loop is easy alone with the Freepass |
| Nikko | Tobu Spacia X limited express from Asakusa | About 1 hr 50 min | About ¥3,340 | Helpful for Kegon Falls and the lake, which need a mountain bus |
| Mt Fuji (Lake Kawaguchi) | Highway bus from Shinjuku, or the Fuji Excursion train | 1 hr 45 min to 2.5 hrs by bus; about 1 hr 55 min by train | About ¥2,000 to ¥2,200 by bus; about ¥4,100 by train | Yes for first-timers: the viewpoints are spread out |
| Snow monkeys (Nagano) | Hokuriku bullet train to Nagano, then a local bus and a forest walk | About 3 hrs door to door | Roughly ¥8,000 to Nagano, plus the bus | Yes unless you are confident with connections |
Kawagoe is the one destination with no tour on this page: there was no guided Kawagoe day with recent reviews when we checked, and it does not need one. Walk the Kurazukuri warehouse street, the Toki no Kane bell tower and Kashiya Yokocho, the sweet-shop alley, in half a day.
Go on Your Own or Book a Tour?
The deciding factor is how spread out the sights are once you arrive, not how far away the place is.
- Go on your own to Yokohama, Kawagoe, Kamakura and Mt Takao. Each is one direct train from central Tokyo, and the sights are walkable from the station. A guided walk in Kamakura or Takao adds stories and saves map-reading, but you are not paying for transport.
- Either works for Hakone. The Hakone Freepass covers the mountain railway, cable car, ropeway, lake boat and buses in a loop that is simple to follow. A tour mainly saves the planning and, on our pick, adds Mt Fuji the same day.
- A tour helps for Mt Fuji, Nikko and the snow monkeys. Fuji's best viewpoints sit far apart around the lakes, Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji are a winding mountain bus ride above Nikko's shrines, and Jigokudani needs a train, a bus and a forest walk.
Our take: the long bus tours trade freedom for convenience. In practice they are best on a clear weekday; on a weekend or holiday, guests describe the bus as the main thing they saw. For Nikko and Hakone, a fast train and your own pace often beat a coach, if you are comfortable reading a timetable.
When to stay overnight instead
Three trips reward a night away. In Hakone, a ryokan with its own hot spring turns a rushed loop into a slow one, and you get a second morning for Fuji views, which are clearest early. In Nikko, the shrines fill one day and Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji another. And for the snow monkeys, a night in Nagano or the hot-spring village of Shibu Onsen replaces a 13-hour bus day with an unhurried morning at the park. Lake Kawaguchi is worth a night too if seeing Fuji at dawn matters to you.
Which day trips are best for children?
- Yokohama: about 30 minutes away, with the Cup Noodles Museum, the waterfront and Chinatown close together. The guided museum tour charges $57 for anyone 18 or under.
- Kawagoe: 30 minutes from Ikebukuro, with a flat, short walk along the old warehouse street and an alley of traditional sweet shops.
- Kamakura: under an hour from Tokyo Station. The Great Buddha is an easy walk from Hase Station, while Hasedera and the shrines have stairs and hills; the $35 walk charges $12 for children 10 and under.
- Mt Takao: good for active children who can manage stairs; the cable car cuts the climb, and the guided hike is $80 for ages 4 to 12.
- Harder with young children: the 10- to 13-hour bus days to Mt Fuji, Nikko and the snow monkeys, where most of the time is spent sitting, and the snow monkey path can be icy.
The Best Day Trip from Tokyo by Season
Each season favours a different trip.
Mt Fuji and the snow monkeys
Cold, dry air makes winter mornings the clearest time to see Fuji, and the monkeys at Jigokudani bathe most reliably in the coldest months. The road to Fuji's 5th Station can close in snow, so tours stop lower down.
Cherry blossom at Chureito Pagoda and Kawagoe
The pagoda with Fuji behind it is the classic spring photo, and Kawagoe's riverside cherry trees bloom at the same time. Expect crowds and higher tour prices: our pick costs $168 to $175 from March to April.
Kamakura's hydrangeas and cooler mountains
Kamakura's temples are known for hydrangeas in June. In July and August, Hakone, Nikko and Mt Takao are cooler than the city, but humidity and typhoons can cloud the views.
Nikko, Hakone and Takao in autumn colour
Leaves turn first around Lake Chuzenji in mid October and reach Nikko's shrines, Hakone and Mt Takao by November. November 2026 guests on our pick and the Nikko tour describe autumn colour as a highlight.
What a Day Trip from Tokyo Costs
Per person, using the prices above and the train fares in the destination table.
The do-it-yourself day
About ¥3,000 to ¥4,000, or $20 to $25. A return train to Kamakura (about ¥1,900), Great Buddha and Hasedera entry, and lunch. Yokohama and Kawagoe cost even less.
The budget guided day
$54 to $60, plus lunch. F Trip's Fuji bus, or the $35 Kamakura walk with your own train and entry fees.
The classic day
$155 to $175. Mt Fuji, the Hakone ropeway, a Lake Ashi cruise and the bullet train home: $155 without lunch or $162 with it on most dates, $168 or $175 in late December and March to April.
The trap to avoid
Booking a long bus tour for a holiday weekend or a cloudy day. The price is the same, but guests describe 15-hour days and no Fuji. If your booking can still be changed, move your date.
Our Take
Across these ten, the worst reviews of the Fuji tours are rarely about the guide. They are about traffic and cloud, so the most useful thing you can do is book a weekday and check the forecast the day before.
Tips for Day Trips from Tokyo
- Book long trips on weekdays. Weekend and holiday traffic around Fuji and Hakone adds hours and can cancel stops.
- Find your meeting point the day before. Ginza Inz 2, Matsuya Ginza and Shinjuku's LOVE sculpture are all easy to miss, and buses leave on time.
- Go to the toilet before you board. A November 2026 guest on our pick says the first leg was about three hours without a stop.
- Bring cash. Small shops, shrines and snack stalls around Fuji, Kamakura and Nikko often take cash only.
- Use an IC card for ordinary trains. Suica or Pasmo covers the regular trains in the destination table; limited expresses such as the Romancecar and Spacia X, and the highway buses, need a reserved ticket.
- Dress for the mountains. Fuji's 5th Station, Nikko's lake and Hakone are several degrees colder and windier than Tokyo; an October 2026 guest's husband was blown over by the wind at the 5th Station.
- Plan your days. Our Tokyo in November and other monthly guides cover the weather, and our Tokyo private tour comparison covers private cars for Fuji and Nikko.
Where to Stay in Tokyo
Staying in Tokyo or planning a trip? Here are three well-reviewed hotels, with live prices from our booking system. Rooms at the best-rated hotels are usually the first to go, especially in peak season and over holidays, so it's worth locking in your stay before availability fills up.
Compare Live Tokyo Hotel Prices
Live rates for a three-night stay for two adults, checking in about a month from now. Change the dates at checkout and book with instant email confirmation.
- Instant confirmation by email
- Live rates, not brochure prices
- Free cancellation on selected rates
HOTEL GROOVE SHINJUKU, A PARKROYAL Hotel
Rooms from the 18th floor up in the Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, about 700 metres from Shinjuku Station; 9.1 on 3,823 reviews, and its 100 most recent average 9.3, with the views the most praised. There is no real lobby, and Kabukicho's nightlife is right outside.
Book now on:
hotel MONday Asakusa
A simple 3-star about 300 metres north of Senso-ji and a 3-minute walk from the Tsukuba Express; 9.4 on 2,989 reviews, with the location, staff and cleanliness most praised. The lowest rate on this list in every month we sampled; rooms are tight for three, and check-out is at 10 am.
Book now on:
The Tokyo Station Hotel
Inside the 1914 red-brick Tokyo Station building, with a spa and several restaurants; 9.5 on 2,106 reviews, and the highest recent average on this list at 9.6. By far the dearest hotel here, and some rooms overlook the tracks.
Book now on:
Estimated nightly rate for a 3-night stay, 2 adults. Final price on Expedia or Booking.com.Room only. Local taxes and fees are added at checkout and can add roughly 20%.
How We Chose These Day Trips
We searched the booking platform's partner API for day trips from Tokyo to Mt Fuji, Hakone, Nikko, Kamakura, Yokohama, Kawagoe, Mt Takao, Chichibu and Nagano, kept those with strong ratings and reviews from the past six months, and chose one or two per destination so the ten cover different days out. We left out a Kawagoe sushi workshop and a Kamakura rickshaw ride whose newest reviews were over a year old, and a Kamakura and Enoshima bus tour rated 4.5.
Every price, rating, review count, duration and age band came from the partner API on 11 November 2026, with yen converted at ¥158.56 to the dollar. For each tour we read the most recent reviews and its recent one- to three-star reviews in full, which is where the practical details on this page come from. The rating split for our top pick (87% five stars) is from all 33,510 of its reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best day trips from Tokyo?+
Best overall is Mt Fuji and Hakone, on a guided day with a bullet train home (from $155). The best easy independent trip is Kamakura, the best cultural trip Nikko, the best short trip Yokohama and the best winter experience the Jigokudani snow monkeys.
Can you do Mt Fuji as a day trip from Tokyo?+
Yes. A guided bus tour costs from $54 for the lakes around Kawaguchiko to $155 for Fuji's 5th Station plus Hakone with a bullet train back. On your own, the highway bus from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko takes about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2.5 hours and costs about ¥2,000 to ¥2,200. Go on a clear weekday.
What is the easiest day trip from Tokyo?+
Yokohama and Kawagoe, each about 30 minutes by train for under ¥500 one way. Kamakura is just under an hour from Tokyo Station on the JR Yokosuka Line for about ¥950, with the Great Buddha and its temples walkable from the station.
Is Hakone or Nikko better for a day trip?+
Hakone for hot springs, a lake cruise and, on clear days, views of Mt Fuji; Nikko for its gilded shrines, Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji. Nikko is slightly farther (about 1 hour 50 minutes by limited express from Asakusa) and best in autumn; Hakone is about 80 minutes from Shinjuku.
Do I need a JR Pass for day trips from Tokyo?+
Usually not. Most day-trip lines (Odakyu to Hakone, Tobu to Nikko and Kawagoe, Seibu to Chichibu, Keio to Mt Takao) are private railways the JR Pass does not cover. It helps mainly for Kamakura and Yokohama on JR lines and the bullet train to Nagano.
How much does a day trip from Tokyo cost?+
Going on your own to Kamakura, Yokohama or Kawagoe costs about ¥3,000 to ¥4,000 including entry and lunch. Guided day tours on this page cost $35 to $175 per person, and a private guide in Hakone is $334 for your group before transport and tickets.
Can you see Mt Fuji on a day trip in summer?+
Sometimes, but summer haze and cloud often hide it. The clearest views are on winter mornings from December to February. Check the forecast before you book, and check the cancellation terms for your departure in case you need to move your date.
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