Photo: Suicasmo · CC BY-SA 4.0
Iheb · Day trips
Day trips from Tokyo: Mt. Fuji, Hakone or the coast?
Three classic days out, lakes, a volcano valley and the seaside, with the trains, the times and what to know.
Three day trips from Tokyo are easy: the Fuji Five Lakes around Kawaguchiko, about 2 hours from Shinjuku on the direct Fuji Excursion train; Hakone, with Lake Ashi, the ropeway and the volcanic Owakudani valley, about 1 h 20 from Shinjuku on the Romancecar; and the Yokohama, Kamakura and Enoshima coast, about an hour from Tokyo Station on the JR Yokosuka Line. Pick one area per day: getting from the Fuji lakes to Hakone takes about 2 hours by bus. Iheb, a private guide who lives in Japan, plans the day for your group in English.
1. Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi
- Getting there: the direct Fuji Excursion train from Shinjuku, about 2 hours (or an express bus).
- Lake Kawaguchi: the easiest of the five lakes, with Fuji reflected in the water on calm days.
- Oshino Hakkai: a village of ponds fed by Fuji’s spring water.
- Fuji-Q Highland: the theme park for roller-coaster fans.
2. Hakone: lake, ropeway and hot springs
- Getting there: the Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku, about 1 h 20 to Hakone-Yumoto.
- The loop: a boat across Lake Ashi and the ropeway over Owakudani, the steaming volcanic valley (access is sometimes restricted depending on volcanic activity).
- Hakone Open-Air Museum: an outdoor sculpture museum.
- Onsen: Hakone is a hot-spring area, a good way to end the day.
3. The coast: Yokohama, Kamakura-Kokomae and Enoshima
- Getting there: the JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo Station, about an hour to Kamakura with no change, passing near Yokohama.
- Yokohama: the port, the Minato Mirai waterfront, the Cup Noodles Museum and Chinatown.
- The Enoden line: a small coastal train past Yuigahama beach and the Kamakura-Kokomae railway crossing made famous by the anime Slam Dunk.
- Enoshima: a small island linked to the shore by a bridge, with sea views and, on clear days, Mt. Fuji.
Which one?
| Fuji lakes | Hakone | Coast (Enoshima) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From Tokyo | About 2 h from Shinjuku | About 1 h 20 from Shinjuku | About 1 h from Tokyo Station |
| Best for | Seeing Fuji up close | Lake, volcano, onsen | A calm day, anime, the sea |
Fuji often hides in the clouds: winter mornings are usually the clearest. On request, the day can be done by private vehicle with licensed partners.
FAQ
Can I do Mt. Fuji and Hakone in one day?
Not recommended: it takes about 2 hours by bus, with a change at Gotemba, to go from one to the other. Pick one area per day.
What is the easiest day trip from Tokyo?
The Yokohama and Enoshima coast: about an hour by train from Tokyo Station, with no change to Kamakura.
When is Mt. Fuji most visible?
Winter mornings are usually the clearest; in summer it is often in the clouds.