Tokyo is one of the world's most exciting cities, but every traveler needs a change of scenery now and again. Fortunately, Japan's efficient trains make it easy to take incredible day trips from Tokyo, allowing you to experience a completely different side of the country without having to take your luggage along with you. Whether you are looking to experience Japan's natural wonders, theme park thrills, or a day filled with skiing, there is a perfect destination a short train ride away waiting to be explored!
From the picture-perfect landscapes of Mt. Fuji and the tranquil Fuji Five Lakes, to the enchanting and magical world of Tokyo Disney Resort, and the powdery slopes of Yuzawa (the closest ski resort to Tokyo), these day trips from Tokyo offer something for everyone. Whether you are heading to Japan for the first time or the tenth, taking a break from Tokyo to explore these nearby gems will give you a deeper appreciation for all that Japan has to offer.
One of the most iconic day trips from Tokyo, Mt. Fuji and the nearby Fuji Five Lakes region offer breathtaking natural beauty and a peaceful contrast to the urban energy of Tokyo. The journey takes anywhere from 90 minutes to 2.5 hours by train and bus, depending on your exact route, or you can opt to hire a private driver or book a tour with transportation from Tokyo that gets you to the area in a little over an hour. The Fuji Five Lakes region is known for its stunning views of Japan’s tallest peak, Mt. Fuji, serene lakeside villages, and opportunities for hiking, boating, or relaxing in an onsen. Spring, autumn, and winter are the best times to visit Fuji Five Lakes. You can expect beautiful cherry blossoms in April and fiery foliage from late October into November, while the winter months, January and February in particular, provide clear skies for unobstructed views of Mt. Fuji.
For a magical and easy day trip, Tokyo Disney Resort in Urayasu is a family-friendly day trip from Tokyo. Located just 10 miles (16 kilometers) from Tokyo Station, Tokyo Disney Resort is a quick 30-minute train ride on the JR Keiyo Line. The resort includes two exceptional theme parks: Tokyo Disneyland, modeled after its American counterparts, and Tokyo DisneySea, a unique theme park inspired by nautical legends and global ports of call. Both parks offer an elevated theme park experience, with exceptional hospitality, incredibly designed attractions, and gourmet dining. While Tokyo Disney Resort is wonderful year-round, it truly shines during seasonal celebrations in spring and winter, when the parks are transformed with elaborate decorations and limited-time treats.
In the event that you are heading to Tokyo in the winter and dreaming of snow-capped mountains, Yuzawa is the ultimate alpine escape—and it is surprisingly close to Tokyo. Located about 110 miles (177 kilometers) from Tokyo Station, this charming ski town can be reached in just 75 to 90 minutes via the Joetsu Shinkansen. Yuzawa is home to several ski resorts, including Gala Yuzawa, which connects directly to the Shinkansen (bullet train) station for convenience. Known for its powdery snow, scenic slopes, and relaxing onsens, Yuzawa offers a luxurious winter retreat without the long travel times of similar ski resorts in Hokkaido. The best time to visit is from mid-December through March, when snow conditions are at their peak and the town transforms into a cozy, snow-draped getaway.
Day Trips from Tokyo: Table of Contents
Mt. Fuji, or Fujisan as it is known in Japanese, is more than just Japan’s tallest mountain. Mt. Fuji is a sacred symbol woven into the country’s cultural, spiritual, and artistic identity. Standing at 12,389 feet (3,776 meters), this iconic stratovolcano has long been revered in Shinto and Buddhist religions. Mt. Fuji frequently appears in classical literature, poetry, and artwork, most famously in Hokusai’s Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji series. Even today, Mt. Fuji serves as a powerful symbol of beauty, strength, and national pride. On a clear day you can see Mt. Fuji from parts of Tokyo and even on the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Kyoto. However, the best place to see this sacred and majestic mountain is from the Fuji Five Lakes region. Fuji Five Lakes is located about 60 miles (95 kilometers) from Tokyo, making it a great option for a day trip!
Due to its sheer size, Mt. Fuji creates its own weather patterns and is often covered by clouds. To catch clear views, the best time to visit Fuji Five Lakes is during the cooler, drier months of late autumn through winter, specifically from November to February, with January and February offering the clearest skies. Early mornings tend to offer the best visibility, especially just after sunrise. During the summer months, the views of Mt. Fuji are often obstructed by haze or clouds, although it is the only time of the year that the summit is open to climbers. Visiting Mt. Fuji in the spring, especially when the cherry blossoms are in bloom, is also extremely popular among locals and tourists. However, the chances of seeing Mt. Fuji are not nearly as high as if you were to visit during the winter months.
The Fuji Five Lakes region offers some of the most incredible views of Mt. Fuji. Located at the northern base of Mt. Fuji, this area includes five scenic lakes: Kawaguchiko, Saiko, Shojiko, Yamanakako, and Motosuko. Among them, Lake Kawaguchiko is the most accessible and developed, offering everything from hot spring resorts and museums to a scenic ropeway. The lake is particularly famous for its reflections of Mt. Fuji on calm mornings, vibrant cherry blossoms in spring, and colorful foliage in autumn. Brian and I visited a number of areas in the Fuji Five Lakes on our day trip from Tokyo, however, Lake Kawaguchiko was our favorite.
Popular viewing spots in and around Lake Kawaguchiko include:
The period of November through February offers the clearest skies and the best opportunities to see Mt. Fuji. This does not mean that you cannot see Mt. Fuji at other times of the year, but visibility is typically worse thanks to increased cloud cover, therefore decreasing your chances of seeing Mt. Fuji up-close. Similarly, just because you plan to visit Fuji Five Lakes in the winter months, when visibility is typically at its best, does not guarantee you views of the iconic mountain. With that being said, before heading out to Fuji Five Lakes on your day trip from Tokyo, you can assess the visibility of Mt. Fuji thanks to dedicated online live streams! We used the Fujigoko.tv website before heading out on our day trip from Tokyo, just to make sure we would be able to see Mt. Fuji on the day of our scheduled excursion.
Climbing Mt. Fuji is a bucket-list experience for many, attracting both locals and international adventurers. The official climbing season typically runs from early July to early September, when the trails are free of snow and mountain facilities like huts and first-aid stations are open. There are four main trails to the summit (Yoshida, Subashiri, Gotemba, and Fujinomiya), each offering different levels of difficulty and scenery. Most hikers aim to reach the summit by sunrise, an experience known as Goraiko, which translates to “arrival of light” and provides hikers with an opportunity to see the sunrise from above the clouds. Although Mt. Fuji is not a technically difficult hike, altitude and weather can be challenging, so preparation is key.
There is a mandatory hiking fee for all climbers of ¥4,000 ($28.00 USD). Generally, it takes between five to seven hours to ascend to the summit of Mt. Fuji from the 5th Station (the starting point for most hikers), 90 minutes to walk the perimeter of the crater at the summit, and about three to five hours to descend. It is recommended that hikers rest overnight in one of the mountain huts and to break the hike up over two days to prevent altitude sickness and injury. Since the hiking season is short and climbing Mt. Fuji is such a popular attraction for tourists and locals alike, making an advance reservation for one of the mountain huts is crucial. For additional information regarding hiking Mt. Fuji, please visit the official website for Mt. Fuji Climbing.
While public transportation to Mt. Fuji and Fuji Five Lakes is available, the easiest and fastest way to get to the area from Tokyo is without a doubt on an organized tour or with a private driver. We booked a private driver, who picked us up directly from our hotel in Tokyo, with our affiliate partner, GetYourGuide. Our private driver was pretty flexible on the itinerary, taking us to locations around Fuji Five Lakes with the best views of Mt. Fuji on that given day, while a guided tour typically has a more rigid itinerary.
While we did not love our private driver as we felt rushed in a few spots in Fuji Five Lakes, we did appreciate the service he provided and it made traveling between Tokyo and Fuji Five Lakes a breeze! A few of the highest rated private drivers offering this service, as well as more affordable guided bus tours, are listed below.
We were incredibly fortunate to have crystal-clear views of Mt. Fuji during our visit in January 2024. The winter skies were crisp and cloudless, offering uninterrupted views of Mt. Fuji. While the weather in the Fuji Five Lakes region was significantly colder and windier than Tokyo, the dramatic drop in temperature was a small price to pay for seeing Mt. Fuji in all of its snow-capped glory, right before our eyes. It is hard to describe just how moving it is to stand before something so iconic, especially on a day when visibility is practically perfect.
Now that we have experienced Mt. Fuji and explored the Fuji Five Lakes area, I would likely opt to take public transportation on a return trip, probably by train and bus from Tokyo to Lake Kawaguchiko. It is a scenic and well-connected route, and now that we are familiar with the Fuji Five Lakes area, it feels more approachable. That said, I am still glad we chose to hire a private driver for our first visit. It took the stress out of navigating unfamiliar transit routes and allowed us to focus entirely on the experience, which made our day trip feel effortless and incredibly rewarding. I am already dreaming about going back to see Mt. Fuji again. If you find yourself in Tokyo during the winter months, particularly November through February, I would highly recommend a day trip from Tokyo to see the majestic Mt. Fuji!
Looking for more information about visiting Mt. Fuji and Fuji Five Lakes? Check out our Mt. Fuji & Fuji Five Lakes Travel Guide for a list of things to do, public transportation information, and more!
Tokyo Disney Resort opened its doors in 1983 and has since become one of the most popular day trips from Tokyo. The resort encompasses two distinct theme parks: Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. Tokyo Disneyland, mirroring the classic Disney park design of Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World in Florida, features seven themed lands, including Adventureland, Westernland, and Fantasyland with iconic attractions such as Splash Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Jungle Cruise.
Meanwhile, Tokyo DisneySea is one of the newest Disney theme parks, having opened in 2001, and offers a unique nautical-themed experience divided into "ports of call," including Mediterranean Harbor, Mysterious Island, and the Arabian Coast. Notable attractions include Journey to the Center of the Earth, Tower of Terror, and Nemo & Friends SeaRider. In June 2024, Tokyo DisneySea unveiled Fantasy Springs, its eight themed port. The addition brings to life the worlds of Frozen, Tangled, and Peter Pan with new, immersive rides and experiences.
Tickets for Tokyo Disney Resort are extremely affordable compared to the cost of the Disney theme parks in the United States, with tickets starting at $56.85 USD per person. Tokyo Disney Resort does have dynamic pricing, so weekends and holidays will see higher prices compared to off-peak times. Tokyo Disney Resort is open from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, daily.
Tickets for Tokyo Disney Resort are available beginning two months in advance of the date of your visit. Park tickets are date-specific; however, you can change the date of your ticket using the official Tokyo Disney Resort app, as long as you purchased your ticket directly from Tokyo Disney Resort. Park hopper passes do not exist at Tokyo Disney Resort, meaning that if you are interested in visiting both theme parks in one day, you will have to buy two separate admission tickets.
Tickets for both Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea can be purchased directly through the official Tokyo Disney Resort website. I recommend purchasing your tickets directly from the Tokyo Disney Resort website, particularly if you may need to change the date of your ticket. If you run into any difficulties purchasing tickets through the official Tokyo Disney Resort website or wish to pay for your tickets in U.S. dollars (USD), you can also purchase tickets for Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea via our affiliate partner, GetYourGuide. For Tokyo Disneyland, check out the Tokyo Disneyland 1-Day Passport and for Tokyo DisneySea, check out the Tokyo: DisneySea 1-Day Passport.
The most direct route to Tokyo Disney Resort leaves from Tokyo Station. The train runs from Tokyo Station to JR Maihama Station (the station for Tokyo Disney Resort). If you are not staying walking distance to Tokyo Station, I recommend using Google Maps to determine the most efficient way for you to get to Tokyo Station. From Shibuya and Shinjuku, you can expect the journey to Tokyo Disney Resort to take approximately one hour. Otherwise, the journey from Tokyo Station to JR Maihama Station takes approximately 30 minutes.
The train to Tokyo Disney Resort operates on the JR Keiyo Line. Tickets do not need to be purchased in advance. You can use your IC card to pay for your journey. Additional information regarding the JR Keiyo Line can be found JR Rail Pass website.
After arriving at JR Maihama Station, you have the option to either walk to the parks or take the monorail. The Resort Gateway Station is the closest to JR Maihama Station and is likely where you will board the monorail for the first time. There are three other stations on the monorail: Tokyo Disneyland, Bayside Station (the station serving the official Tokyo Disney Resort hotels), and Tokyo DisneySea. The entire monorail loop takes 13 minutes. The Tokyo Disney Resort monorail system is not free to use, like the monorail at Disneyland in California and Disney World in Florida. The monorail can be paid for using your IC card. Fares for adults cost ¥300 ($2.00 USD) and for children under the age of 11 cost ¥150 ($1.00 USD).
When Brian and I visited Tokyo in January 2024, we only had time to visit one theme park, so we opted for Tokyo DisneySea since it is a totally unique Disney concept and park. It was a really fun experience and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. However, even though these are Disney theme parks, they are very different from the Disney theme parks that we are accustomed to in the United States. For example, you may need a Standby Pass for various gift shops across the parks, especially those selling limited edition or exclusive merchandise. Also, rides do not exit through gift shops like they do in the United States. Instead, the largest gift shops are located at the front of the park, with smaller kiosks and shops spread throughout the parks in various locations. One other notable difference: Japanese women are obsessed with Duffy, a Disney bear, and the official mascot of Tokyo DisneySea. We saw Duffy and Duffy merchandise more frequently around Tokyo DisneySea than the traditional Disney characters, like Minnie and Mickey Mouse.
Despite these differences, we really loved Tokyo DisneySea. It was a really nice theme park and the staff were so wonderful, even though many did not speak English. (Google Translate was our saving grace!) Overall, the rides were fun, but do not make our mistake - arrive to the park early, at least an hour early! Once you arrive, get in line before the park opens so you can snag Priority Pass on the Tokyo Disney Resort app for the rides you want to experience during your time in the park. (Priority Pass is free, unlike the Disney Premier Access passes.) We got to Tokyo DisneySea around opening time and unfortunately had slim pickings for Priority Pass by the time we entered the park. While we still got to ride plenty of rides during our day at Tokyo DisneySea, we still had to wait in some pretty long lines.
I also recommend paying for Disney Premier Access for select rides and attractions to make the most of your day at Tokyo Disney Resort. We paid for the Disney Premier Access for Journey to the Center of the Earth and it saved us 90 minutes of waiting in line! The cost of Disney Premier Access differs based on the attraction, but prices start at ¥1,500 yen (approximately $10.50 USD), per person. Unfortunately, for us, the new Fantasy Springs area was yet to open when we visited Tokyo DisneySea, but from everything I have seen online, the rides, especially the Tangled-themed ride, Rapunzel's Lantern Festival, looks absolutely unreal! Since this is a brand new area with some extremely popular new rides, paying for the Disney Premier Access for the three big attractions in this area is going to help you make the most of your day in the park!
The food was also INCREDIBLE at Tokyo DisneySea. I regularly think about the curry we had for lunch at the Casbah Food Court and the Green Alien Mochi! I wish we had more time to visit Tokyo Disneyland and experience the food there too, but that will just have to wait until our next trip to Tokyo. Overall, we would definitely recommend a day trip to Tokyo Disney Resort, even more so if you are traveling with children or are just a big kid at heart!
Looking for more information about visiting Tokyo Disney Resort? Check out our Tokyo Disney Resort Travel Guide for hotel information, park information, and more. Interested in reading about what we ate in a day during our trip to Tokyo DisneySea? Check out our Tokyo Disney Food blog post!
Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort, located in Yuzawa in Niigata Prefecture, is the closest ski resort to Tokyo and one of the best day trips from Tokyo. It is actually the only ski resort in the world with its own Shinkansen (bullet train) station, allowing travelers to visit directly from Tokyo Station in as little as 90 minutes, without having to step outdoors. The ski resort offers a wide range of trails for all skill levels, gear rentals, and even an English-language school for skiing and snowboarding lessons.
The ski season in Yuzawa opens in late December and goes until early May. The peak powder that Japan is famous for, JAPOW as it is affectionately called, can be found in Yuzawa in January and February. The ski resorts in Northern Japan, such as in Hokkaido, start their season earlier, usually sometime in November, depending on snowfall amounts. If you are visiting Japan in early December, you may want to reconsider a day trip from Tokyo to Yuzawa and instead consider heading further north to Hokkaido.
Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort still enjoys a generous blanket of snow throughout the winter season, despite not being as far north as the more famous Japanese ski resorts. January is the snowiest month, with the area receiving over 176 inches (447 centimeters) of fresh, powdery snow over the course of the month. However, the snowfall does not stop there as Yuzawa continues to see near-daily snow well into the season! This frequent snow creates the light, fluffy powder that has made Japan a world-renowned skiing destination.
Beyond skiing and snowboarding, Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort has a variety of additional amenities and activities. Visitors can take part in everything from sled rentals and snowmobile tours, to relaxing in traditional onsen (hot springs), ensuring that there is something for everyone to enjoy!
Lift tickets for Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort can be purchased on the Gala Yuzawa website, in advance of your visit, for a discount. Lift tickets can also be purchased in-person once you arrive at Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort.
The resort offers both ski and snowboard lessons in English, for different levels, in private and small group settings. If you are interested in booking lessons, visit the Canyons website. Brian and I opted for private lessons and our instructor was really great. He was actually a college student from New Zealand!
In the event that you do not want to lug your ski gear all the way to Japan, you can rent snowboards, skis, boots, helmets, goggles, clothes, and more directly from Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort. We selected all of the gear we needed in advance online and it was ready and waiting for us when we arrived. Know that if you are unsure on sizes, as I was, I was able to swap out the boots for my correct size without any issues. Additional information regarding gear rentals, including prices, can be found on the Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort website.
Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort is the easiest ski resort to reach from Tokyo thanks to its convenient Shinkansen station inside the resort. To reach Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort by train, travelers can take the Shinkansen from either Tokyo Station or Ueno Station. The journey takes approximately 90 minutes. The trains on this route have ample space to store any snowboards, skis, or other gear you might need for a day on the slopes. Unlike the regular Shinkansen, you do not need to make advanced reservations for oversized luggage storage. Train tickets do not have to be purchased in advance and can be purchased at the station. To view train schedules and fares, visit the JR East website.
Once you arrive at Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort, you are quite literally inside of the ski resort! The Shinkansen station makes it extremely convenient for a day trip from Tokyo. In the event that you are looking to travel from Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort into Yuzawa Onsen Town, Echigo-Yuzawa Station, or other ski resorts and hotels in the area, there is a free shuttle bus. More information about the shuttle bus in Yuzawa can be found on the Yuzawa Town website.
I am a very beginner snowboarder and I say that with earnest. We booked a day trip to Gala Yuzawa Ski Resort because Brian really wanted to hit the slopes (he grew up skiing but had not been since before the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020), but we failed to take into consideration the fact that Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort does not really have bunny hills (bunny slopes) that were suitable for my skill level. Most of the courses and runs were really geared more towards intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders. Regardless, we still made do, and had a really great day in the Japanese Alps! The scenery itself made the day trip from Tokyo worthwhile. It was absolutely beautiful seeing the mountains blanketed in snow! We also really appreciated how Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort had everything from gear rentals, a ski/snowboard school, shops, and restaurants all in one place. Brian will tell you that it was easily the most convenient ski trip that he has ever taken!
Beyond the ski resort, Niigata Prefecture is famous for its sake. So after hitting the slopes, there is no better way to après-ski than by enjoying a refreshing glass of locally produced sake! We also picked up a couple of small bottles of sake to take back with us to Tokyo. We did not take time to explore much else in Yuzawa, outside of the resort, since the snow started getting pretty heavy by mid-afternoon. However, I would definitely consider returning to Yuzawa, except next time, I will leave Brian on the slopes while I enjoy the onsens in town. If you are traveling to Tokyo in winter and enjoy skiing/snowboarding, then I definitely recommend a day trip to Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort! The available amenities and convenience of the Shinkansen station make it an awesome place for a day out on the slopes!
Looking for more information about Yuzawa, Japan? Check out our Yuzawa Travel Guide for additional things to do, train information, and more.
Whether you are chasing panoramic views of Mt. Fuji, stepping into a world of fantasy at Tokyo Disney Resort, or carving fresh powder on the slopes of Yuzawa, these day trips offer unforgettable experiences just a short distance from Tokyo. What makes these day trips truly special is how well they complement your time in Tokyo. While Tokyo is an incredible city, Japan has so much more to offer, and stepping outside of Tokyo's city limits really gives you the opportunity to learn more about the Japanese culture while making some truly amazing memories. So if you are planning a visit to Japan's capital, be sure to leave room in your itinerary to explore beyond the city—Tokyo's surroundings are every bit as magical as the city itself.
Looking for more help in planning your trip to Tokyo? Check out our Tokyo Travel Guide for hotel recommendations, things to do, restaurant suggestions, and more!