Tokyo day trips: choosing among ten destinations
Compare ten day trips from Tokyo by interests, transport and passes, including Yokohama, Kamakura, Enoshima, Kawagoe, Hakone, Nikko, Kawaguchiko, Mount Takao, Chichibu and Sawara.
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If you have just one day outside central Tokyo, choosing the right destination and pass is important. Based on travel interests and transport, this page compares the ten day trips from Tokyo already covered on this site. For tickets, see the Pass comparison. All prices come from official pages as checked on 2026-10-28. The official pages do not provide consistent information for one-way fares or door-to-door journey times across destinations, so this page does not list them. Before departure, use Route planning and timetable tools to check the day’s route. Return to the Tokyo travel guide.
Key points
- Nikko and Hakone passes are not single-day passes: The Nikko World Heritage Area Pass covers 1 to 2 consecutive days, while the Hakone Freepass is available only for 2 or 3 days.
- Kamakura and Kawagoe passes combine return travel with discounts. Check the departure station and whether an extra limited express fare is required.
- Reserve highway bus seats for Kawaguchiko in advance. Official information does not guarantee a view of Mount Fuji.
How to choose
| Destination | Suitable for | Transport from Tokyo | Pass details | Full article |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yokohama (横浜) | Harbour walks | Minatomirai Line and other railways | Minatomirai Line day ticket: 460 yen; valid only on that line | Yokohama day trip |
| Kamakura (鎌倉) | Temples, Great Buddha and Enoden railway | Odakyu | Enoden day pass 800 yen; pass from Shinjuku 1,640 yen | Kamakura day trip |
| Kawagoe (川越) | Historic streets | Tobu Tojo Line from Ikebukuro, about 30 minutes | Seibu 1,000 yen (foreign passport holders only); Tobu Premium 1,200 yen | Kawagoe day trip |
| Hakone (箱根) | Mountain transport, cable cars and lake cruises | Odakyu | Pass from 7,100 yen for 2 days (departing Shinjuku) | Hakone day trip |
| Nikko (日光) | World Heritage shrines and temples | Tobu | World Heritage Area Pass 3,000 yen, 1 to 2 days | Nikko day trip |
| Kawaguchiko (河口湖) | Mount Fuji scenery | Highway bus from Shinjuku, about 1 hour 45 minutes | Adult bus fare from 2,200 yen | Kawaguchiko day trip |
| Enoshima (江の島) | Observation tower, garden and escalators | Odakyu and Enoden | Garden free, observation tower 800 yen; shares the Enoden ticket with Kamakura | Enoshima day trip |
| Mount Takao (高尾山) | Hiking and autumn leaves | Keio Line to Takaosanguchi, about 50 to 55 minutes | Official information: mountain entry free | Mount Takao day trip |
| Chichibu (秩父) | Seasonal flowers and town streets | Seibu Ikebukuro Line, about 80 minutes | Limited express supplement purchased separately (Ikebukuro to Seibu-Chichibu 900 yen) | Chichibu day trip |
| Sawara (佐原) | Historic town and waterways | Journey time not listed on the official page | Not listed on the official page | Sawara day trip |
Questions to help you choose
- Just one day and you want fewer transfers: Kawagoe or Yokohama.
- World Heritage and history: Nikko or Kamakura.
- Mountains and lakes: Hakone or Kawaguchiko. Both depend on the weather, and official information does not guarantee that cable cars will operate or that Mount Fuji will be visible.
- Travelling with older people or children: Check walking distances and transfers before choosing a pass.
Common misunderstandings about passes
- A pass is not necessarily cheaper: Compare return fares, limited express supplements and attraction entry fees separately.
- The Nikko pass does not include limited express tickets or admission to shrines and temples.
- The Hakone Freepass does not include the Romancecar supplement.
- The Seibu Kawagoe pass is available only to foreign passport holders, who must show their passports when buying it.
Check prices again on each operator’s official website before departure.
Sources
- 東武鐵道｜池袋至川越 (www.tobu.co.jp, checked 2026-10-28)
- 小田急電鐵｜江之島鎌倉周遊券 (odakyu-global.com, checked 2026-10-28)
- 東武鐵道｜NIKKO PASS (www.tobu.co.jp, checked 2026-10-28)
- 富士急巴士｜新宿至河口湖 (bus.fujikyu.co.jp, checked 2026-10-28)
- GO TOKYO｜高尾山及周邊 (www.gotokyo.org, checked 2026-10-28)
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