Best Day Trips from Tokyo: Kamakura, Hakone and Nikko
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If you only have one free day, choose by travel time and interest. Kamakura is the shortest trip and has a famous Great Buddha, Hakone is built around an easy rail route and a pass system, and Nikko is the longest but is described by the tourism organisation as an outing for one or two days.
This guide compares the three using the Japan National Tourism Organization's own pages for each place. Every time and route below comes from those pages, linked in the Sources box. Where we give an opinion, we label it as our view.
How to choose in one minute
Kamakura: the shortest trip
The tourism organisation's itinerary page says that you take the JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo Station to Kita-Kamakura Station (55 minutes)[1]. From Kita-Kamakura Station, it notes that Kamakura is just one train stop away, and it lists the Great Buddha (Daibutsu) of Kotoku-in Temple among the most popular destinations.
On the Great Buddha itself, the official spot page says a visit to the Kamakura Daibutsu is an easy day trip from Tokyo, and the statue is a bronze statue of Amida Buddha[2]. It adds that you can pay a small donation and explore inside the statue, and gives the route by Enoshima Electric Railway to Hase Station followed by a 7-minute walk.
Our view: Kamakura is the easiest first day trip because the journey is short and the main sights are close together, so you can fit a temple visit and a walk by the sea into one day. The itinerary page also mentions Yuigahama Beach and traditional vegetarian Buddhist cuisine called shojin-ryori.
Hakone: scenery and a pass system
The tourism organisation describes two routes from Tokyo. One is that the direct Odakyu Railway Romance Car (1 hr 20 min) runs between Shinjuku Station and Hakone-Yumoto Station[3]. The other is that the Tokaido Shinkansen to Odawara Station followed by the Hakone Tozan Railway is another route to Hakone[4].
It also says that the Hakone Free Pass is sold in various combinations and will save you money[5]. Read the pass details on the operator's page before you buy, since the combinations and prices are set by the operator and can change.
The tourism organisation's Hakone itinerary lists highlights such as strolling through breathtaking modern art in the fresh air and unwinding at a historic hot spring hotel[6]. Our view: Hakone suits travellers who like the journey itself and the scenery, and it can feel more planned than Kamakura, so decide your route before you leave the hotel.
Nikko: the longest day trip
The tourism organisation says that the park is about 125 kilometers from Tokyo and easy to reach for one- and two-day outings[7]. It gives two main ways to reach it from Tokyo. First, JR and Tobu Railway jointly operate limited express services between JR Shinjuku Station and Tobu Nikko Station, taking about two hours (reservations necessary)[8]. Second, from Tokyo Station you can take the JR Tohoku Shinkansen and transfer at Utsunomiya Station for the JR Nikko Line, around 1 hour 40 minutes in total[9].
Our view: Nikko is a long day if you return the same evening, so it suits travellers who start early and are comfortable with a full day on trains. If you want a slower pace, the official page's description of one- and two-day outings is a reason to consider staying overnight.
Comparing the three
| Kamakura | Hakone | Nikko | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Route from Tokyo (official) | JR Yokosuka Line to Kita-Kamakura | Odakyu Romance Car, or Shinkansen to Odawara | Limited express from Shinjuku, or Shinkansen with a transfer |
| Main draw (from the official pages) | The Great Buddha and temples | Modern art and a hot spring hotel | Shrines, temples and nature |
| Our view | Easiest first trip | Best for scenic travel | Best for a long or overnight trip |
Practical advice
- Reserve where required. The tourism organisation notes that reservations are necessary on the Nikko limited express service from Shinjuku.
- Check the operator's page for your date. Timetables and fares are set by the operators and can change.
- Plan luggage. Travel light on a day trip. If you are moving hotels, consider leaving your bags at your Tokyo hotel.
- Pick one place per day. Our view is that trying to combine two of these in one day leaves little time to enjoy either.
If you prefer a guided day with transport arranged, you can compare tours on Klook, Viator or GetYourGuide. Check what is included and the cancellation terms before you book.
Where this fits in your trip
Day trips work best from a convenient base; our Tokyo area guide covers where to stay. For a full week, see our 7-day itinerary, and set up train payments with our IC card guide. If you will use bullet trains for a longer route, run the numbers in our rail pass guide.
FAQ
Which day trip from Tokyo is the easiest?
Our view is Kamakura. The tourism organisation says it is about one hour from Tokyo by the JR Yokosuka Line to Kita-Kamakura Station, which takes 55 minutes.
How do I get to Hakone from Tokyo?
The tourism organisation lists the direct Odakyu Railway Romance Car from Shinjuku Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station, or the Tokaido Shinkansen to Odawara Station followed by the Hakone Tozan Railway.
Is Nikko possible as a day trip?
The tourism organisation describes the park as easy to reach for one- and two-day outings. By limited express from Shinjuku the journey takes about two hours, so it is a long day if you return the same evening.
Do I need a pass for Hakone?
The tourism organisation says the Hakone Free Pass is sold in various combinations and will save you money. Check the pass details on the operator's page before buying.
Can I do two of these in one day?
We do not recommend it. Each trip involves a journey of an hour or more each way, according to the official pages, so combining them leaves little time at either place.
Sources
- Kamakura by JR: Japan National Tourism Organization: Culture on the coast in Kamakura
- Kamakura Daibutsu: Japan National Tourism Organization: Kamakura Daibutsu (Great Buddha)
- Hakone by Odakyu: Japan National Tourism Organization: Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, how to get there
- Hakone via Odawara: Japan National Tourism Organization: Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, how to get there
- Hakone Free Pass: Japan National Tourism Organization: Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, how to get there
- Highlights of the official Hakone itinerary: Japan National Tourism Organization: Hakone itinerary
- Distance to Nikko: Japan National Tourism Organization: Nikko National Park, how to get there
- Nikko by limited express: Japan National Tourism Organization: Nikko National Park, how to get there
- Nikko via Shinkansen: Japan National Tourism Organization: Nikko National Park, how to get there