As a photographer living in Tokyo, I often crave a bit of fresh air and new surroundings. Fortunately, there’s an abundance of great day trips one can do from Tokyo. This is a list of my personal favourites. Initially, I planned to put them all in one blog post, but since 6000 words would probably be a bit too long, I decided to split it into two posts. For the second part, please click here.
Nikko
This cosy little town, famous for its many temples and shrines, is located in Tochigi Prefecture, roughly two hours from Tokyo Sky Tree. While most visitors seem to follow a pretty straightforward route that takes them to the cluster of religious sites located within walking distance from the train station. This area of Nikko is absolutely packed with great photo opportunities, especially for those looking for classic Japanese subjects such as beautiful wooden structures, lush forests, red bridges and parts of Japanese life that hasn't changed much in the last few hundred years.
How to get to Nikko: Trains to Nikko runs from both Asakusa/Oshiage and Shinjuku/Ikebukuro. They are operated by Tobu Railways, and the one-way trip takes roughly two hours and cost approximately 2450 JPY. There are discount tickets that can bring the travel cost down somewhat, for more information click here: https://www.tobu.co.jp/foreign/en/access/nikko_kinugawa.html
Takao
I've already written a long post about this mountain, located just one hour from Shinjuku, before. As there's no need to repeat everything in that post once again, I'll just give you the tl;dr here.
Takao is one of the most famous mountains in Japan, mostly thanks to its proximity to Tokyo. In fact, even its peak is located within the city limits of the Japanese capital. There are several hiking trails of varying difficulty, as well as a cable car and lift, that takes you up to the peak. From there, you'll get a beautiful view of Tokyo and the vast Kanto plain spreading out below.
How to get to Takao: Easy, just take the Keio line from Shinjuku, and go to the last stop, Takaosanguchi. The trip takes 50 minutes if you use an express train. Please note that not all Keio Line trains are bound for this station. You can also use the JR Chuo Line from Tokyo Station, and change to the Keio Line at Takao Station. Walking between these two stations is certainly doable too, but it's a pretty dull walk that takes 30 minutes. Personally, I think that time would be better spent on the mountain.
Keio corporation sells a discount ticket that includes both the roundtrip between Shinjuku Station and Takaosanguchi, as well as a ticket for the Cable Car that will take you up the mountain, all for a 20% discount. More information here.
Oyama
Another mountain, and one that I personally prefer over Mt. Takao for its great views and photo opportunities, is Oyama, located in Kanagawa Prefecture. This mountain and its gorgeous views were awarded two stars in the Michelin Green Guide as recent as 2017. The last time I went there myself was during peak autumn season back in 2018, and at that point, the number of tourists was still not particularly high, which is a good sign.
Photographers visiting Oyama will likely enjoy the charming area at the foot of the mountain, where there's a bit of commercial bustle, but still within comfortable limits. It feels old, cosy and genuine, rather than like a tourist hotspot. I strongly recommend paying a little extra attention to the smaller streets too, not just the main approach that leads up to the cable car and the hiking trails that will take you up the mountain. There are a few points of interest before even reaching those, such as a few charming shrines with great photo opportunities even before you start climbing the mountain.
How to get to Mt. Oyama: Take the Odakyu line from Shinjuku to Isehara station (1hr, express train is recommended). From there, head to the local bus terminal and hop on bus #4, bound for "Oyama Cable" (25minutes).
Kawaguichko
One of the best views of mt. Fuji can be had from this cosy town, located next to a lake at the foot of Japans biggest mountain. During peak times, particularly during the autumn foliage season, the town can get uncomfortably crowded. Still, for the rest of the year, it's generally an enjoyable destination. While certainly doable as a day trip, I personally recommend that you spend the night here, as the sunrise views of mt Fuji are spectacular. A great place to stay that I'm very fond of is a stylish and newly refurbished hostel called Kagelow (https://kagelow.jp/). They offer both private rooms as well as dormitory beds, for surprisingly reasonable prices.
Kawaguchiko is one of the "Fuji Five Lakes", located in an area full of scenic spots and cosy communities. Photographers wanting to get the best views of mt Fuji are recommended to rent a car for maximum flexibility. Still, there is also a relatively extensive network of local buses that can be used to get around the area.
How to get to Kawaguchiko: While accessible via train, buses from central Tokyo are both cheaper and more convenient. A one way trip from Shinjuku takes 1 hour and 45 minutes and costs 2000 Yen. Buses also depart from Shibuya, Tokyo and Futako-Tamagawa station. There are also a few direct trains running between Shinjuku and Kawaguchiko every day, These take about 2 hours and cost 4000 yen each way. To get around the Fuji Five Lakes area, a local bus pass is recommended. It will set you back 1500 yen for two days of unlimited use.
Mt. Mitake
Mitake is another mountain located within relative proximity from Tokyo, that can be experienced in a day trip. The mountain is a part of the Chichibu Tama Kai National Park, to the west of central Tokyo, but somewhat further north of Takaosan. Just like Tokyo's most famous mountain, Mitakesan too is located within the city limits of Tokyo. Its a bit less commercialized than Takao, and sees significantly fewer visitors, partly because the trip from Shinjuku will take almost twice as long - First roughly 90 minutes on a train, then another 10 minutes by bus, to reach the cable car and the "entrance" to the mountain.
Once you managed your way up the mountain, either on foot or by the cable car, you have a few shrines and temples to explore. There's also the cosy little village on the mountain called Oshi-shuraku, where you will find a handful of restaurants as well as souvenir shops.
There are several hiking trails on the mountain that will take you through lush forests to other points of interest, such as waterfalls and smaller shrines. The region is also famous for its wasabi, and there are a few small shops selling wasabi flavoured snacks as well as small packages of freshly grated wasabi. If you want to stay overnight, there are several options, ranging from small minshuku (guesthouses) to onsen lodgings.
How to get to Mt. Mitake: Take the JR Chuo Line to Mitake Station, most likely you'll have to make a transfer in Ome. The train ride takes roughly 75-90 minutes. Once you reach Mitake station, take bus #10 and get off at the cable car stop, a trip that will take you about 10 minutes. As far as I know, there are no discount tickets available.
Kawasaki industrial area
A different kind of day trip is to head out to the outskirts of Kawasaki city, where you will find one of the most prominent and dramatic industrial landscapes in the Tokyo region. Visit after sunset, and you'll be surrounded by massive factories and facilities that will look as if they were taken straight out of a Sci-Fi movie. Kawasaki city itself seems to be so proud of this part of the town, as it's even touted as a destination on their official English language website.
While it's undoubtedly doable to experience it on your own, by using local transport from Kawasaki Station, there are also companies offering both bus- and boat tours of the area. If you are a photographer like me, you will most likely opt for experiencing it privately, to have time to capture exactly the photos you want. Or you can hire me, as your personal guide, during a private photo workshop - contact me for more information!
How to get to the industrial area in Kawasaki: Take any train to JR Kawasaki Station (25 minutes from Tokyo Station), and change to either bus #5 or bus #7, bound for Higashi Ogishima. An excellent place to start is Kawasaki Marien (30 minutes from Kawasaki Station), a high-rise building where you can get a birds-eye view of the entire area.
Kawasaki Daishi
If industrial landscapes aren't your thing, how about one of the most beautiful and impressive temples in the Kanto Region? Kawasaki-Daishi dates back almost 900 years and is one of the most important sites for the followers of Kobo Daishi, the closest thing you'll ever get to a superstar in the world of Japanese Buddhism. Worth noting though is that most of the structures standing there today are much newer, dating back from the last century.
Despite its relative newness, this temple is one of the most photogenic ones I've come across in the Kanto region and one that is significantly less crowded than Senso-Ji in Asakusa, at least as long as you don't visit on a weekend or holiday. The temple is open until 18:00 in the summer (April to September) and closes at 17:30 during the rest of the year.
How to get to Kawasaki Daishi: Take the Keikyu Daishi line from Keikyu Kawasaki Station. The ride takes roughly five minutes. The temple grounds are located another five minutes on foot from the station.
Sagamiko
Sagamiko is a man-made lake (or more precisely a reservoir) located in a valley just west of where the border of the city of Tokyo ends. It used to be a popular day-trip destination back in the bubble area. Today it's more of an off-the-beaten-track destination. Visitors will be greeted with a great deal of Showa-era charm in the shape of old entertainment facilities next to the lake itself. If retro game centres and slightly worn down shops are your thing, you'll feel right at home. I wrote a longer piece about this place for Navitime a few years ago. Please have a look if you would like to know more.
How to get to Sagamiko: Just hop on the JR Chuo Line and go to Sagamiko station. You'll most likely have to change to a local train at JR Takao Station. The entire ride takes about one hour.
Sarushima (Monkey Island)
This tiny little island, located off the coast of Yokosuka in Tokyo bay, used to be a navy fortress until the end of World War 2, and many traces of its military past can still be seen once you arrive at the island. Tunnels and small structures dot the island and have today been overgrown by wild plants, turning the entire island into something akin of a real-world studio ghibli movie. There's a small beach where people can swim and have barbecue parties during the summer months, and not that much else. Ever since my first visit, I've been thinking that the traces of the islands military past could be used as really cool backdrops for a photoshoot, but I still haven't been able to turn those plans into reality.
There's also a nice little observatory area at the peak of the hill that makes up a large portion of the island. From there, you'll get a great view of the surrounding area, including the Kanagawa coastline with Yokohama in the distance.
How to get to Sarushima (Monkey Island): Take the ferry from Mikasa Park in Yokosuka, located 15 minutes on foot from Yokosuka Chuo Station (approximately one hour from central Tokyo). The ferry ride takes about 15 minutes.
Hayama
The Miura Peninsula, located just south of Yokohama, is another region full of appropriate day trip destinations. One which is incredibly popular, especially during the summer months, is Hayama, a small beach town that is home to some of the best beaches in the entire Kanto region. During the beach season, countless small huts and stands dot the coastline, offering refreshments in the form of food and drinks, rental surfing boards and/or entertainment in the form of live venues or DJ performances.
Hayama houses plenty of charming shops and restaurants that operate throughout the year, so it's by no means only worth visiting during the summer months. On crisp and clear winter days, the many beachside restaurants and cafés offer stunning sunset views across the Sagami Bay, with the snow-capped peak of Mt. Fuji in the far distance.
How to get to Hayama: The nearest station is Shin-Zushi on the Keikyu line, located roughly one hour from central Tokyo. From there, local buses will take you around the seaside town of Hayama. However, many parts of it are accessible on foot as well. The Hayama Excursion ticket offers a round trip train ride from Shinagawa (3500 JPY) or Yokohama (3300 JPY), unlimited ride on local buses as well as a free meal and a selection of one local souvenir. More information about the ticket can be found here.
Misaki/Jogashima
Venture further south along the Miura peninsula, and you'll reach Misaki, another charming little town, where the tiny central area houses a really lovely shopping street where you will find a few izakayas, cafés and also an adorable doughnut shop called Misaki Donuts http://misakidonuts.com/.
Although Misaki is at the tip of the Miura peninsula, the fun doesn't end there. Head across the big bridge (by bus), and you'll reach Jogashima, a rugged little island that houses a small fisherman's town, a flower garden and some rugged cliffs that almost makes you feel like you on an alien world. The rock formations here impressed the editors of the Michelin Green Guide so much that it was awarded two stars.
Misaki and Jogashima are famous for the quality of its tuna, and you'll find plenty of restaurants serving it as fresh as it can be, for prices way lower than it would cost in central Tokyo.
How to get to Misaki and Jogashima: Take the Keikyu line from Shinagawa to Misakiguchi, where you change to a bus bound for Misakiko (Misaki Harbour). From there, another bus will take you across the bridge to Jogashima. The entire trip takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Keikyu railways sell a "Misaki Maguro Ticket", that includes both the roundtrip from Tokyo, free rides on local buses as well as a visit to one of a handful of activities, such as an underwater sightseeing boat. The deal also includes a meal ticket valid for a fresh tuna meal at participating restaurants. The price of the ticket is 3570 Yen.
Narita
Many international visitors to Japan arrive via Narita Airport but pay little attention to the rest of the city of Narita, which is something of a bummer. Other than housing one of the weirdest/creepiest train lines and stations that I've written more about here, the town of Narita is also home to Naritasan, one of the most impressive Buddhist temples in the Tokyo region. The temple grounds houses a beautiful garden park, where one can spend hours just walking around enjoying the serene surroundings. The Omotesando, or approach to the temple, is noteworthy as well, as it houses countless restaurants and plenty of other shops, in a gorgeous traditional Japanese setting. The history of Naritasan as an important place of worship dates back for over a thousand years, so if you are interested in Japanese history, a stop here is highly recommended.
How to get to Narita: Take the train to either JR Narita Station or Keisei Narita station. If you're coming from central Tokyo, I recommend starting the trip at Ueno, where you can hop on the Express Keisei Line that will take you all the way to Narita in one hour and minutes, for the bargain price of 850 Yen. Naritasan is located 15-20 minutes on foot from the station.
Okutama
Okutama is the westernmost part of the border of Tokyo metropolis, and worlds apart from the bustling downtown of the worlds largest city. In Okutama, the nature reigns supreme, and the small settlements and towns around here are more or less devoid of people. In fact, depopulation has gone so far in Okutama that there are even areas that give out abandoned houses for free.
But as a day trip destination for lovers of nature, its a great place to visit. There are countless hiking trails around the area, mostly running parallel to the Tama River, which originates around here. There are also a few mountains you can hike up to, as well as activities such as canoe trips along the river and caves that you can enter.
Okutama is also home to the Okutama reservoir, an artificial lake that supplies downtown Tokyo with water. There used to be a cable car running across this lake, but it was abandoned in the late 1960s. I've written more about that here.
How to get to Okutama: Take the JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku or Tokyo Station and change to the JR Ome line at Ome station. The trip takes around two hours. Local buses will take you from Okutama station to Okutama dam, as well as to the other villages in the area.
Manazuru
In the south-western edge of Kanagawa, just at the beginning of the Izu Peninsula, lies Manazuru, a charming little town where one can enjoy both dramatic mountain walks as well as a stroll along the coast. The city is located on a small peninsula in itself, which gives it quite a unique character.
While this town too, is suffering from depopulation, there has been a bit of an influx of young Japanese looking for a slower pace of life in recent years, that in turn means that there are a few interesting shops, cafes and restaurants in operation in this otherwise sleepy fishing town.
How to get to Manazuru: Take the JR Tokaido Line from either Tokyo, Shinagawa or Yokohama stations. The trip from Tokyo station takes 90 minutes and cost 1660 JPY. If you are departing from Shinjuku, you can take the Odakyu-line to Odawara and change to the JR line there.
Mt. Hiwada
Hiwada is another decent choice for those craving a bit of (light) hiking in the mountains, without having to stay overnight. This mountain is located in Hikada City in the western part of Saitama and can be reached within an hour or so from central Tokyo.
The hiking trail that I went for took me to three different mountaintops (Mt. Hiwada, Mt. Takahashi and Mt. Monomi), in little less than two hours (and that was in a leisurely pace, mind you). The first lookout point you will reach, just 20 minutes or so after starting reaching the foot of the mountain, has a scenic view framed with a torii gate. On the day of my visit, I was lucky enough to see the tip of Mt. Fuji, somewhat obstructed by layers of the other mountains at the western side of Tokyo.
The other mountain peaks didn't exactly give much in terms of spectacular views, but at least I stumbled across a cute little shop selling ice cream and beer roughly 30 minutes or so past the first mountaintop, where many local elderly seemed to be having a good time.
Next to Mt. Hiwada, you'll also find Kinchakudamanjushage Park, a famous spot for thanks to its countless spider lillies.
How to get to Mt. Hiwada: Take the Seibu Ikebukuro line to Hanno station, where you change for the local Chichibu line and travel two more stops, get off at Koma station. The ride from Ikebukuro takes about one hour. If you want to explore the region further, I recommend purchasing one of the various discount passes sold by Seibu Railways: