Tokyo is a city unlike any other, filled with busy neighborhoods, major shrines, and some of the best food in the world. But even the most exciting city can feel overwhelming after a few packed sightseeing days. If you are looking for an easy escape, these day trips from Tokyo offer a refreshing change of pace while still getting you back to your hotel by evening.

Tips Before You Head Out

No matter where you’re heading, keep in mind that the further you get out from the city, the less frequent and reliable things like trains tend to be. Be prepared for some extra walking and waiting, and make sure to take everything you need with you.

In general, expect to start and end your day a bit earlier if you want to make the most of it. With that said, here are some easy trips you can try next time you’re looking to get out of the city.

Three Best Day Trips from Tokyo

Kawagoe: Historic Little Edo and Local Life

If you’re looking for quaint streets, a slower, more peaceful atmosphere, and the chance to eat at shops that have been operating for hundreds of years, Kawagoe is the day trip for you. This is a great chance to get to see more of the local side of Japanese life.

This is not a city like Tokyo, where you can find things to do at all hours of the day. If you decide to come to Kawagoe, we recommend arriving extra early, that way you can take things at a slower pace and still get to see all this city has to offer. Depending on where you’re staying, it should take about 45-90 minutes to get here from Tokyo.

The History of Kawagoe

Kawagoe was a popular commercial hub back in the 1600-1800s, and to this day remains one of the best-preserved Edo-period towns, earning it the nickname “Little Edo.”

Here, you can see centuries-old buildings and historic shrines like Kawagoe Hikawa and Kumano.

The Toki no Kane Bell Tower is one of the most iconic sights in the neighborhood, originally built in the 1600s, and still rings daily at 6am, 12pm, 3pm, and 6pm.

What to Eat in Kawagoe

First start off by visiting Matsumoto Craft Soy Sauce Factory, where you can taste various styles of soy sauce, and even get a tour of the factory depending on the day and time. Kurazukuri Street and Kashiya Yokocho are great places to shop for sweets, and traditional Japanese items like kimonos, festival merch, or even custom-made chopsticks.

Food-wise, Kawagoe is famous for homemade croquettes, delicious sweet potatoes, and mouthwatering unagi (freshwater eel).

One of the best places to get their famous unagi is at Ogakiku, serving eel on rice bowls for 7 generations, with a secret sauce passed down since the restaurant’s founding in 1807. Though weekdays allow reservations in advance, on weekends you’ll have to arrive at least 30-60 minutes before their morning or evening start times and grab a ticket for the queue. Either way, this tender, sweet, and savory meal is well worth the wait. If lines aren’t your thing, nearby Ichinoya or Hayashiya also serve fantastic unagi bowls.

Ashikaga: Home to One of the World’s Most Beautiful Flower Parks

As far as massive metropolises go, Tokyo actually does a pretty good job of integrating nature where it can. Areas like Yoyogi and Ueno Park offer great places to take a break and feel more in touch with nature, from cherry blossoms and Japanese maples to flower gardens in open areas. However, if you want to get further off the beaten path and see some truly breathtaking flowers, Ashikaga is a fantastic option.

Depending on your home station and train line, it should take around 1.5-2.5 hours to get to the breathtaking Ashikaga Flower Park. Spend a day here completely surrounded by flowers, from small gardens to massive floral displays. This park is most famous for its wisteria, a huge canopy-like centerpiece that’s over 160 years old. It is a striking view both in the daytime and illuminated after sunset.

If you want to catch the wisteria, it’s best to go mid-April to mid-May, but this park is still beautiful year-round! In the summer months, you can catch hydrangeas or water lilies, fall is great for amethyst sage and autumn roses. The park lights up with incredible illuminations for winter. Spring brings tulips and, of course, gorgeous cherry blossoms.

Ashikaga Flower Park is open every day of the year except the third Wednesday and Thursday of February and December 31. Standard hours are 10am-5pm (last entry 4:30pm), with extended hours during the winter illumination.

Kanagawa: Shrines, Shopping, and Retro Vending Machines

While Kanagawa Prefecture’s capital of Yokohama is a very popular place to explore, other areas of Kanagawa most tourists speed past on their way to Hakone. Just 45-60 minutes south of Tokyo, these areas carry genuine historical weight. Here I'll introduce you to Samukawa, Ebina, and Sagamihara, three areas in Kanagawa worthy of a day trip.

Visiting Samukawa Shrine

One place with a great local feel is Samukawa, home to Samukawa Shrine. Founded in the 400s, this shrine is the only one in Japan dedicated to happō-yoke, a form of protection from bad luck, disasters, and other misfortunes. This shrine is often visited by people going through big life changes or seeking success in things like new business endeavors.

Priests even perform purification ceremonies here daily, usually between 8am-5pm. Bring something you need purified, and then you can purchase an omamori charm that wards off misfortune from all eight directions. If you’re not in need of spiritual cleansing, Samukawa Shrine also has lovely gardens.

Shopping in Ebina

If you’re more of a shopper or collector, Kanagawa also has some great options for that, and for much better deals than you’d find in Tokyo. Up toward Atsugi and Ebina, you can find malls in and around the stations with tons of second-hand merch and clothing.

While the store names will be the same as in Tokyo, these areas are less frequented, so you can discover rare finds for incredible prices at Book-Offs, Animates, and 2nd Streets in places like Hon-Atsugi Station and LaLaport Ebina. There’s also great food around here like Ebina Service Area’s beloved Ebina Melon Bread and handmade soba at Kokubunji.

Exploring Retro Vending Machines in Sagamihara

If you’re into a different kind of snacking experience, Sagamihara is home to a completely one-of-a-kind spot. Next to a used tire shop is a parking lot area completely filled with retro vending machines. Japan is known for being a country with an almost absurd number of vending machines, with some statistics claiming one vending machine for every 30 people.

Nowadays, they serve mostly drinks, but in the 1970s-1980s, you were often able to get a quick hot snack. The owner of Chuko Tire Ichiba has been collecting these old retired vending machines, fixing them up, and letting them live in this very quirky vending machine corner.

From hot hamburgers and cup ramen to bakery sweets and toasted sandwiches, this is a fun spot that offers a unique glimpse into Japan’s retro past with options that you don’t see much of anymore.

Do come prepared with the right types of cash and change. The coin changer is only accessible during the tire shop’s business hours, and most of the machines don’t accept the newly redesigned bills that entered circulation in 2024. Is the food mind-blowing? No, it’s just packaged food. But if you’re coming to Japan in search of its quirkier side and vending machines, this is quite a cool stop to make.

How to Make Day Trips from Tokyo Easy

Plan ahead – You don’t need a full itinerary, but checking train times and shop hours in advance can save you a lot of backtracking.

Check your last train – Your last train might be earlier than expected. Use Google Maps to your advantage and input your anticipated arrival time to your hotel to make sure you don’t get stuck in a small town.

Charge your IC Card – You may be taking buses or trains at stations without recharging stations, so it’s better to make sure your Suica/Pasmo is full.

Coin lockers are your friend – If you have a lot of luggage, or did too much souvenir shopping, leave some extra bags in coin lockers at the station you’ll use to get home. Just don’t forget to take them with you when you leave!

Avoid the crowds – Most people crowd the 9-10am trains, so leaving before 8am can save you a lot of hassle and maybe even land you a comfy seat to start your journey.

More Day Trips from Tokyo to Add to Your Itinerary

These three destinations are only the beginning. There are so many wonderful day trips from Tokyo depending on the experience you're after. Whether it’s exploring the castle town of Odawara, taking in grand views at Mount Fuji, or relaxing on the beaches of Kamakura, there are plenty of options when it comes to day trips from Tokyo. If you need help planning your next holiday to Japan, whether in or out of Tokyo, Japan Food Travels would love to help you plan your trip!