Weekend & Day Trips from Tokyo, Japan

1. Atami

The small fishing town and hot spring resort of Atami is located on the north east coast of the Izu Peninsula. You can easily get there from Tokyo on the high-speed Tokaido Shinkansen train in less than an hour.

Built on the remnants of an ancient volcano crater, Atami has been a popular “onsen” or hot-springs resort for generations. Your visit to Atami would be incomplete without visiting at least one of her hot-spring resorts to “take the waters”. VOther attractions in the town include the Museum of Art, the charming Akoa Herb and Rose Garden and the Atami Castle. There are many restaurants offering sublime freshly-caught fish and seafood.

Atami, Ajiro Bay, Shizuoka, Japan

2. Chiba Castle

A visit to Chiba Castle is an easily-achievable half-day excursion from Tokyo using the train from Tokyo to Hon Chiba Station. The Chiba Castle was originally built in 1126 and was extensively reconstructed in 1967; today it is home to the Chiba City Folk Museum.

In the museum you can admire a collection of Samurai armory and weapons including swords and guns, but expect to find very little in the way of English descriptions of the exhibits. Although Chiba Castle is by no means one of the most beautiful castles in Japan it is worth a visit for history buffs and those interested in ancient Japanese architecture. The surrounding area is filled with cherry trees which are spectacular when in blossom around the end of March.

Chiba Castle, 1 Chome-6-1 Inohana, Chuo Ward, Chiba, 260-0856, Japan, Phone: +81-4-32-22-82-31

3. Chichibu

Located northwest of Tokyo in the Saitama prefecture, Chichibu offers a delightful change from the hustle and bustle of the city. You can reach Chichibu in just over an hour by train on a Red Arrow Express from Ikebukuro Station.

Once you reach the town you can explore on foot or rent a bicycle. On your way to see the Chichibu Shrine, one of the highlights of your excursion, you will pass several old buildings which artfully combine Japanese and Western architectural features.

Other attractions include several Buddhist temples and the Meisenkan, a museum all about the production of silk. At the end of your busy day you can relax at the Matsuri-no-Yu hot-spring complex adjacent to the rail station before returning to Tokyo.

Chichibu, Saitama, Japan

4. Enoshima

A day trip to Enoshima Island is an ideal way of spending some quality time outside the city. The small island is reached by rail from Shinjuku Station and if you visit on weekends you can take a direct train to Katase-Enoshima Station.

Once you reach the island you will find interesting little shopping streets which lead up the steep hill to the Enoshima Shrine, which is spread across three areas of the island.

There are sweeping views from the top of the hill as well as a café, various lookout points and the lovely Samuel Cocking Garden. There are plenty of places to stop for a meal and admire the views. Map

Enoshima Island, Fujisawa 251-0036, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan

5. Ghibli Museum

Visiting Tokyo’s Ghibli Museum is an entertaining and enchanting way to spend a day, particularly if you are traveling with children.

This is no stuffy old-fashioned museum, but rather a celebration of Japan’s Studio Ghibli film studio, which produced many of the country’s most outstanding animated movies.

The main exhibit in the museum is dedicated to demonstrating the art of animation using over-sized mechanical contraptions. Other exhibits include interactive replicas of popular film sets and a mini-theater on the ground floor where you can watch animated shorts. English-speaking guides are a bonus.

Tickets to visit the Ghibli Museum are very limited and you will need to book well in advance of your visit.

Ghibli Museum, 1 Chome-1-83 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-0013, Japan

6. Hakone

Located less than one hundred kilometers from Tokyo, Hakone is a popular recreational area which is easily accessible from Tokyo by public transport. Hakone offers day trippers a large selection of attractions and activities including beautiful Lake Ashinoko, many natural hot-water springs, an open-air museum and no less than four art museums. You can go on a sight-seeing cruise to see the Hakone Shrine and boiling sulphur springs in the Owakudani Valley, take a wonderfully scenic ride on the Hakone Tozan Railway or ride the Komagatake Ropeway (an aerial cable car) to the summit of Mount Hakone. Your day trip to Hakone would be incomplete without visiting one of more than a dozen natural hot springs and bath houses for a rejuvenating soak.

Hakone , Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan

7. Kamakura

If you feel like visiting a coastal town which has good beaches as well as many historical shrines, Kamakura would be a good choice.

The town lies less than an hour south of Tokyo in the Kanagawa Prefecture, and was once the political center of Japan during the 12th century. Today the town is a popular tourist destination with several attractions for you to discover, starting with the Great Buddha of Kamakura which was cast in bronze back in 1252.

Kamakura boasts no less than twelve Buddhist Zen temples for you to visit, as well as the Hachimangu Shrine which is the most important Shinto shrine in Kamukura. There are good sandy beaches to enjoy as well as the chance to visit Enoshima Island.

Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan

8. Kawagoe

You have a choice of three railway companies offering a quick and easy rail trip from central Tokyo to Kawagoe, which was once a major supplier of all types of commodities.

Today you can get a taste of the old days in Japan as you walk through the historic Warehouse District which is lined with Kurazukuri (ancient clay-walled buildings and residences) from the Edo period.

The Kitain Temple is worth a visit to see the last remaining remnants of the Edo Castle and more than 500 stone statues of the disciples of Buddha. You can get an overview of the history of Kawagoe at the Kawagoe City Museum. You should not leave without visiting Candy Alley to buy traditional Japanese sweet treats.

Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture, Japan

9. Lake Kawaguchico

Lake Kawaguchico is the most easily accessible of the Fuji Five Lakes (from Tokyo), offering excellent views of captivating Mount Fuji. The best time to see Mount Fuji is early morning so an overnight stay is highly recommended. You can ride the Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway to an observation point on Mount Tenjo, from where you will have a good view of Mount Fuji on a clear day.

Interesting museums include the Kubota Itchiku Museum which showcases amazing kimono, the Kawaguchico Museum of Art and the Yamanashi Gem Museum.

The area offers good hiking and there are hot water springs to rejuvenate tired muscles.

Lake Kawaguchico, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan

10. Kawasaki

Located between Tokyo and Yokohama, the seaside city of Kawasaki is not a particularly touristy city, but there are a few attractions which make it an interesting destination for day trippers from Tokyo.

You can easily travel to Kawasaki by train and travel within the city is easy by bus. Attractions include the Fujiko F. Fujio Museum of Art, which showcases the work of the artist Fujimoto Hiroshi, the creator of the popular robotic cat Doraemon.

History buffs will enjoy visiting Nihon Minkaen, an open-air museum which is home to 25 historic Edo-period buildings. Several of these historic buildings house workshops where you can see demonstrations of traditional Japanese crafts.

Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan