Travel in Tokyo

Want to see more than Tokyo on your trip to Japan? Need a couple of days away from it all? Thanks to Japan's reliable and convenient transport system -- plus unfortunately the lack of paid holidays -- Tokyo is built for a long weekend getaway. From winter slopes to white-sand beaches, you can see a different side of Japan in just a few hours from Tokyo. We already have our extensive list of day trips from Tokyo -- and some of the featured destinations like Hakone, Nikkō, and Kawaguchiko can also be made into overnight adventures. But for spots that are well worth that extra hour or two in transit and a stay in a comfy hotel, scroll on. 1. Kusatsu Onsen Town 4 hours from Shinjuku Direct (bus) Tickets from (one way) Recommended hotel: Oyado Yukizumi Kusatsu, up high in the mountains of Gunma Prefecture, is one of the three top onsen resort towns in Japan. Here, you can sample some unique hot-spring experiences. Drawing water from Mount Kusatsu-Shirane, the town has to find ways to cool it down, as it is too hot to bathe in. In the center, you will see Yubatake -- a large cooling field -- and in local onsen, you can watch the traditional yumomi cooling method, which uses hand-held wooden troughs. The water has very high levels of sulphur though, so be prepared for a rather strong smell of boiled eggs! Buses are the simplest route to get to Kusatsu from Tokyo, with trains taking four hours (unless you go express or Shinkansen) and costing upwards of . See our full guide to Kusatsu Onsen and consider visting the town on a Tokyo Wide Pass itinerary. 2. Matsumoto 3 hours from Tokyo Station Direct (one way) (or highway bus from ) Recommended hotels: Matsumoto Marunouchi Hotel or Couch Potato Hostel Perhaps a little far for it to be an easy day trip from Tokyo, Matsumoto is definitely worth it for a two-day adventure. It's a classy spot with a famous castle, a nearby onsen town, and mountain ranges, as well as ideal for cycling around. Matsumoto is a thriving town with weekend markets and plenty of museums, including the Timepiece Museum. One of the highlights is the Yayoi Kusama permanent exhibition at the Matsumoto City Museum of Art. The wealth of artworks from the world-famous, Matsumoto-born artist and interactive elements make this an exceptional display. Crow Castle is also one of the premier historic castles in Japan. The city has plenty of temples and shrines to cycle between, as well as Nawate Street: a riverside shopping street filled with curios and treats. If you're tempted, read our Matsumoto guide to be convinced. 3. Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route 3 hours 10 minutes from Tokyo Station 1 transfer at Toyama Station (one way) Recommended hotel: Tengudaira Mountain Lodge The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is an incredible display of the Northern Japanese Alps, with each season offering a different experience. The route stretches between Toyama City in Toyama Prefecture and Omachi Town in Nagano Prefecture. There are stunning views of alpine flowers and autumn leaves along the route, which can be traversed by a combination of bus, cable car, ropeway, and foot depending on your preference. Some of the highlights are the views from Murodo, which has numerous hiking trails, and the 186-meter-tall Kurobe Dam within Kurobe Gorge. The route is most famous for the snow corridor; visitors can walk among snow walls of up to 20 meters high between mid-April and mid-June. In general, this destination is best suited for Japan Rail Pass holders, or explored on a package tour, as it can be a pricy trip otherwise. 4. Izu Peninsula (East Coast) 2 to 2 hours 30 minutes from Tokyo Station Direct (one way to Izukyū-Shimoda) Recommended hotels: K's House Ito Onsen in Ito, or Gardenvilla Shirahama in Shimoda Sun. Sea. Sand. There are several spots to stop off at on the east coast of the Izu Peninsula to satiate your ocean thirst. Start with the closest to Tokyo, Atami, and then head down using the scenic Izu Kyūkō Train Line and stop at your choice of seaside towns, beach resorts, and hiking routes. We recommend Ito, Jōgasaki Coast, Kawazu (especially during the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival), and Shimoda, where you'll find the white sands of Shirahama Beach. The best time to visit Izu is in summer -- for long beach days and the almost nightly firework displays -- and in spring -- for the blossoming early cherry blossoms. Learn more about the Izu Peninsula in our guide with a breakdown of notable stops. 5. Kamikōchi 5 hours from Shinjuku Station Direct (bus) Highway bus from Recommended hotel: Kamikochi Nishi-itoya Mountain Lodge This picturesque alpine valley in the middle of the Japanese Alps is heralded as a treasure trove of flora and fauna. Many flock to Kamikōchi in autumn for its auburn and chestnut colors, as well as for its numerous hiking trails. Due to its remoteness, no trains stop here, but that's part of the charm. It's an ideal location for camping, so there's always a place to pitch up a tent or check out some of their cozy lodges. Note that the season to visit Kamikōchi is limited due to snowfall. You can expect the season to start in April and finish in November. 6. Aizu-Wakamatsu (Fukushima) 2 hours 35 minutes from Tokyo Station 1 transfer at Koriyama Station (one-way) Recommended hotel: Ashinomaki Onsen Ookawaso If your interests lie with samurai warlords and history, then Aizu-Wakamatsu is the town for you. Here, the last fights of the samurai were fought and the remnants of the battles of Aizu can be found at Tsuruga Castle, Iimori Hill, and Nisshinkan Samurai School. Don't forget to also visit Aizu Bukeyashiki for a taste of an ancient samurai mansion. Aizu is close to lake and mountain spots, including the "Lake District of Japan" Urbandai -- known for the colorful Goshikinuma Ponds -- and Ouchijuku Village. You can visit Aizu-Wakamatsu all year round and find something to explore, but snow-dusted Tsuruga Castle in winter and its cherry blossoms in spring are both picturesque sights. Explore more of what the area has to offer and its samurai past in our article on Fukushima. 7. Karuizawa 1 hour 10 minutes from Tokyo Station Direct (one way) or use the Tokyo Wide Pass Recommended hotel: Hotel Rosso Karuizawa While the bullet train to Karuizawa Station takes only around an hour, sights are spread all over, making it more suitable for a longer two-day trip. If you want to explore farther than the station-side outlet mall and ski slope, then consider renting a bicycle -- or hopping on a bus -- to worthwhile spots like Shiraito Falls, Kumoba Pond, and Old Karuizawa Ginza Street. Find more on what to do in Karuizawa and transport options in our handy Karuizawa guide. 8. Ikaho Onsen 2 hours from Shinjuku Station Direct (bus) (train route also available) one way Recommended hotel: Mimatsukan A hot-spring town that helps you get your steps in, Ikaho Onsen is the ideal low-key weekend getaway. Situated on the slopes of Mount Haruna, the town's stone stairs -- lined with shops, traditional ryokan inns, and restaurants -- are central to its fame. Fortunately, there are plenty of baths to relax in after a hard day's stair-climbing, with two types of natural spring water on offer. The golden water gains its color from the high iron levels, while the recently discovered silver water is a more palatable option. Choose from open-air baths, private ryokan options, and public bath houses in between admiring Mt. Haruna, the stunning Kajika Bridge, and the shrines of Ikaho and Haruna. 9. Kanazawa 2 hours 30 minutes from Tokyo Station Direct (or opt for an overnight bus) (Shinkansen, one way) or (bus, one way). Recommended hotel: Soki Kanazawa Kanazawa is a treat for art lovers, garden admirers, and castle gazers alike (as well as serving up Instagram-famous golden ice cream). The city lies in Ishikawa Prefecture on the west coast of Honshu and is surprisingly easy to get to from Tokyo. On arrival, you'll find a city that's small but lively, with enough to keep you busy for a couple of days (or very busy for one!). There's the famous Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle, the samurai and tea districts and the Omicho Food Market, not to mention the 21st Century Art Museum. Whether you stroll from one to another or rent a city bike, you'll end up falling for Kanazawa whether you plan to or not. Need more information? Check out what there is to do in Kanazawa and how to get there. 10. Jigokudani Monkey Park 2 hours and 15 minutes from Tokyo Station 1 transfer (to bus) at Nagano Station (one way), or save money with a package tour Recommended hotel: Korakukan Ryokan If you haven't been obsessed with the Japanese monkeys relaxing in hot springs, then you have not lived. And what could beat scrolling endless videos of them, you ask? How about seeing them and their weirdly small bodies in real life (plus steam and everything)? If you head to Jigokudani Monkey Park in Nagano, then these creatures will be yours to behold (but don't actually hold them, they are wild after all). If transport looks daunting then consider a day tour from Tokyo; they're often cheaper than the return train trip and have none of the stress. We love monkeys here at Tokyo Cheapo, so read our detailed article that lays out the how, when, and why of getting to Jigokudani Monkey Park from Tokyo. FAQs Can you do a 1- or 2-day trip to Kyoto or Osaka from Tokyo? Japan's bullet trains make an overnight trip (or even a day trip) to Kyoto and Osaka possible (albeit expensive without a rail pass). You can get to Kyoto from Tokyo in under 2 hours and 15 minutes and to Osaka in just 10 minutes more. Although it is doable, we recommend spending more than one night in these places and using them as a base to get to other nearby cities like Hiroshima, Nara, and Kobe. How many days in Tokyo is enough? Spending 7-10 days in Tokyo is well worth it. You can make Tokyo your base for explorations around the capital (including places on this list), as well as trying all the things to do in the city itself. Do you need more than 1 day for Hakone? Hakone is one of the most popular day-trip destinations from Tokyo and so to avoid the crowds, you may want to consider spending a night in one of their many onsen hotels. Many attractions are also spread far apart from each other, so two days will also give you plenty of time to visit the volcano, lake area, as well as the museums in the mountains. This article was a collaboration between Lily Crossley-Baxter and Alexandra Ziminski.

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