Day Trips from Tokyo: Nikko, Hakone and Kamakura

Kamakura — The Great Buddha and Zen Gardens

Kamakura is 60 minutes south of Tokyo by train and probably the most satisfying day trip for first-timers. The Kotoku-in temple houses a 13-metre bronze Buddha cast in 1252, sitting serenely in the open air since the hall that once enclosed it was washed away by a tsunami in 1498. Beyond the Buddha, the Engaku-ji and Kencho-ji Zen temple complexes offer tranquil gardens and stone pathways through cedar groves.

Hakone — Fuji Views and Onsen

Two hours from Shinjuku station on the Romancecar express, Hakone is Japan's most famous hot spring resort town. On a clear day — more reliably in winter — Mount Fuji fills the horizon across Lake Ashi. The Hakone Open Air Museum combines sculpture with natural landscape beautifully. Spend an evening soaking in a ryokan onsen and the day trip becomes an overnight.

Nikko — Mountains and Mausoleums

Three hours north of Tokyo, Nikko contains some of the most ornate shrine and temple architecture in Japan. The Tosho-gu mausoleum complex is a riot of gold leaf, lacquerwork and carvings, built to honour the first Tokugawa shogun. The surrounding cedar forests and waterfalls make the journey worth it even in poor weather.

Getting There

All three destinations are accessible by train from central Tokyo. A Japan Rail Pass covers Nikko and Kamakura. For Hakone, the Hakone Free Pass (available at Odakyu stations) covers the Romancecar and local transport within Hakone itself.