Day Trips in Japan

Visit Mt Fuji viewing locations and surrounding Japanese sights on this day trip from Tokyo. Check out Odawara Castle, Mishima Skywalk, and take a cruise on Lake Ashi aboard a replica of a pirate ship in Hakone. You'll have great photo opportunities of the famous snowcapped peak, plus enjoy a seafood buffet lunch.

Take a day away from the business of the city and spend a day with a local who has the same interests on this day trip to Hakone from Tokyo. Hakone is a small town in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, which is known for its hot springs and excellent views of Mount Fuji over Lake Ashinoko. As your host shares insights into local life, stroll though the national park, see the red Hakone Shrine, and soak up the rejuvenating waters of a traditional onsen (hot spring bath, at own expense).

See snow monkeys and temples on a small-group day trip by bullet train from Tokyo. In an intimately sized group of just six people, you'll travel to the Nagano Prefecture in just two hours. Visit the history-steeped Zenkoji Temple, then head to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park to see the monkeys bathing in a beautiful hot spring.

If you've got limited time in Hiroshima, ensure you tick off all of the city's top attractions on a private 8-hour tour, which includes hotel pickup and drop-off. In a small group limited to six people, you'll visit the UNESCO-listed Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island, and Kintaikyo Bridge. Opt to take a ropeway to Miyajima's highest mountain (own expense) and spend time reflecting at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.

Join a full-day guided tour from Tokyo that travels to Mt Fuji, then continues to nearby Lake Ashi and the Mt Komagatake Ropeway. Enjoy the ease of comfortable transportation and a knowledgeable guide, who will accompany you to the revered Mt Fuji's 5th Station. Take a short boat cruise on Lake Ashi and climb by aerial tram to the top of Mt Komagatake for views of Mt Fuji. Return to Tokyo by bullet train in the evening after taking in some of Japan's iconic highlights.

Spend a day in Nikko, a town nestled by the mountains and lakes of Nikko National Park. With a guide, you'll visit the elaborate Toshogu Shrine, which sits on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, having been a center of Shinto and Buddhist worship for centuries. Stop for a typical yuba gozen lunch complete with tempura and udon noodles, then travel on to Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji. The day-long tour includes all public transport and round-trip train transport from Asakusa in Tokyo. Numbers are also limited to just 10 for a small-group experience.

Hop the train from Tokyo to Kamakura on this private full-day tour of the historical city. Your experienced private guide takes you to Shinto and Buddhist temples including highlights like the Great Buddha (Kotokuin Temple), Hase Temple and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. You'll have time to explore the shops along Komachi-Dori. Kamakura is also known for its fine cherry blossom displays in April.

Tea ceremony, temple spotting and transport by train: do all three on this tour of historic Uji from Kyoto. After traveling to the city by train, walk to iconic Ujibashi Bridge with a guide, passing through Nakanoshima Park, and stop at a Taihoan teahouse to enjoy the important business of taking tea. Before your return to Kyoto, visit Byōdō-in, Uji's striking Buddhist temple, which dates to the Heian period, and hear about its history from your guide.

Travel by bus from Sapporo to Asahikawa and Biei to take in three popular winter attractions without the hassle of finding tickets and driving. See the 'penguin parade' and other animals at Asahiyama Zoo, then head to scenic Aoi-Ike (Blue Pond), and catch the light show at Shirahige Falls. Have time to take photos and enjoy the spectacular scenery before your bus returns you to Sapporo in the evening.

Enjoy sightseeing near Japan's iconic Mt. Fuji, including a Lake Ashi cruise and visit to Mt. Komagatake during this 11.5-hour day trip by coach from Tokyo. See the celebrated Mt. Fuji during a stop at its famous 5th Station, then take a laid-back boat cruise on beautiful Lake Ashi before touring Mt. Komagatake's ropeway and summit, offering amazing views of nearby Hakone National Park. This full-day excursion also includes all entrance fees, free WiFi on the bus, a guide, lunch, and pickup from select Tokyo hotels.

Experience Okinawa-style beach bliss with this independent day trip to Taketomi, a tiny isle in the Yaeyama island chain. Festooned with Ryūkyū relics and culture, Taketomi also boasts some of the most seductive beaches in Japan, making it an ideal spot for a day trip. Use your time on the island to kick back on Kondoi Beach, or scout out Taketomi's artisan shops and eateries by bike - motor vehicles are rare on this idyllic atoll. Round-trip ferry transport from Ishigaki is included.

Visit Arakurayama Sengen Park, cruise on Lake Ashi by Hakone pirate ship, and relax in an all-weather spa with this action-packed day trip from Tokyo. A good choice for families or those who just want to experience something different, the excursion includes sights of Mt. Fuji and a 5-storey pagoda as well as the chance to try a Finnish sauna or even bathe in wine. A full buffet lunch is also included at the spa.

Discover the wonders of Osaka during a full-day walking tour with an experienced guide. Travel from Kyoto on the JR train, then visit top sights including Osaka Castle and the Floating Garden Observatory - located 40 stories high in the Umeda Sky Building. After taking in the sweeping views, have lunch then join a 1-hour river cruise on the Okawa River that glides by the Twin Towers and City Hall of Nakanoshima lsle. Your tour includes lunch, entrance fees and round-trip transportation by train.

Explore the prefecture of Yamanashi on a full-day tour with an experienced guide. Go wine tasting in Koshu and visit a Katsunuma winery, then pick fresh strawberries at a fruit farm in Enzan. Admire the Erin-ji Temple, which dates back 600 years, before savoring a lunch with two classic dishes: shabu-shabu and hotpot. In the afternoon, stop in the town of Misaka, which is known for growing grapes and peaches. Your final destination is Kawaguchi Lake, which features great views of Mt Fuji.

Experience the grandeur of Mount Fuji on this day trip that starts from Tokyo and takes you to Fujinomiya's 5th station. Take a walk along Japan's longest suspended bridge, Mishima Skywalk, and ride one of the country's oldest mountain railways, the Hakone Tozan Railway, for more unbeatable views of the iconic mountain. To fuel these adventures, enjoy a delicious seafood buffet lunch en route.

Find an oasis of peace amid the hustle and bustle of Osaka. Escape the busy crowds on an intimate small group tour of Osaka's oldest and most famous shrines and temples. After making your offerings, enjoy sake and appetizers with your new friends. Then see Osaka from above at the Tsutenkakku tower. This all inclusive tour lets you relax while your guide does the navigating.

Visit one of Japan's most recognizable Buddhist monuments with ease on a full-day tour of Kamakura from Tokyo. In a small group limited to five, you'll tick off the colorful Shrine of Tsuragoaka Hachimangu; marvel at the 47-foot (14-meter) tall bronze Buddha statue of Kotokuin (Great Buddha of Kamakura); and Hokokuji Temple, home to a bamboo garden. Lunch (additional cost), and hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

Discover beautiful nature, and maybe even views of Mount Fuji, on this convenient day trip from Tokyo. At Hakone and Kamakura you'll enjoy a range of different activities, including a cruise on Lake Ashi, a delicious seafood buffet, and ancient temples. As well as being guided for most of the day, you'll also enjoy free time in Kamakura, to do as you please according to your interests.

Travel to Mt Fuji's 5th Station, situated at an elevation of 7,545 feet (2,300 meters) on the UNESCO-listed mountain. This coach tour departs Tokyo's Shinjuku Station for a full-day itinerary that includes stops at Lake Kawaguchi and Oshino Hakkai in the Fuji Five Lakes district. Snap a photo with a ninja at the Oshino Ninja Village and experience unforgettable 4D views on the Fuji Airways flight simulator. Opt to include a Japanese-style lunch if you'd like.

Take a quick nature-lover's day trip to the majestic Mt. Fuji and forest of Aokigahara, offering the perfect break from Tokyo's fast-paced hustle and bustle. Enjoy the impressive views from Mount Fuji's 7,610 foot-high (2,305 meter) 5th Station and join a guide for a one-of-a-kind visit inside an ice cave typically off-limits to the public. Your excursion includes pick-up in Tokyo (at select hotels), transport and entrance fees, local guide and evening drop-off in Tokyo's nightlife hotspot of Shinjuku.