The Best Bullet Train Day Trips from Tokyo: 7 Places to Visit from Tokyo With the JR Pass

Don’t be scared to get out of the city – here are the best bullet train day trips from Tokyo.

If you’re planning to visit Japan, be prepared to be impressed at every turn – especially if it’s your first time in Japan.

Japan takes organisation and efficiency to a whole new level, especially with its transport systems.

The Japan rail network isn’t just impressive and bound to inspire awe in every visitor. It also makes travelling Japan SO much easier, allowing you to fit a surprising amount into a single trip.

Whether you have as little as one week in Japan or many weeks to explore, you’ll certainly want to make the most of the trains (not least because they’re an experience in themselves!).

And, even if you plan to base in several places throughout your Japan trip, it still often makes more sense to take day trips to other nearby (and not so nearby) cities, rather than constantly packing up and moving all your things. .

In this post, we’re focusing on the best bullet train day trips from Tokyo – a city that almost every visitor finds themself in.

We’ll cover some of the best places to visit from Tokyo via train, plus some tips for making the most of your time in Japan.

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Choosing which places to visit from Tokyo

If you’re anything like me, you’ll arrive in Japan with a bucket list as long as your arm and only a fraction of time to squeeze it all into.

Luckily, Japan is one of the easiest countries to travel around thanks to the bullet train.

It may surprise you just how much of Japan you can see by taking some Tokyo day trips – especially if you buy a Japan Rail pass before you go.

The shinkansen makes it possible to travel hundreds of kilometres in just a few hours, so nothing is really off limits.

This is why a Japan Rail pass will be your best friend during you Japan trip, even if you spend every night in Tokyo!

With a Japan Rail rail Pass, you can visit some of Japan’s coolest spots without needing to stay overnight.

Unlike other countries, where you’ll have to prioritise one or two areas to explore, it’s possible to choose a base in Japan and cover a lot of ground in a short space of time.

And Tokyo is the perfect base for that!

Where to stay in Tokyo

If you plan on visiting other places from Tokyo, staying near a station should be your priority.

Most of the best bullet train day trips from Tokyo connect to Tokyo station, but Shinjuku station is a possible option too – especially if you want to explore lots of Tokyo!

Whichever you choose, staying close to the station will save you a bunch of travel time and help you make the most of your trip.

The best bullet train day trips from Tokyo

As you’ll quickly find, travelling around Japan from a Tokyo base is incredibly easy – even if you don’t speak to the language!

With a Japan Rail Pass, you’ll also be able to get to many places at no extra cost. You’ll also make sure you get more than your money’s worth on your pass!

Taking day trips is also a great way to save money on hotels (and time on travelling between them!).

If you want to take some of the stress out of organising, it’s also possible to join guided trips to most of the places listed below.

On these types of trips, the host will usually meet you at a bullet train station since most visitors will have a rail pass – and therefore you won’t be paying for the train twice by taking an organised tour

Whether you go with a guide or venture out on your own, here are the best bullet train day trips from Tokyo.

#1 Visit Kyoto for one day

Is it possible to see Kyoto in one day? If you’re short on time – definitely!

With the high-speed bullet train running directly between them, you don’t have to choose between Japan’s two most popular cities.

Despite the 365km (227-mile) distance between the two cities, a Kyoto day trip from Tokyo is easier than the map would make you think.

The trip from Tokyo to Kyoto takes just 2 hours and 40 minutes on the Shinkansen Hikari.

That means if you leave Tokyo on the 8am bullet train, you can be in Kyoto before 10:40am.

(Note: It takes 20 minutes less on the Shinkansen Nozomi, the fastest bullet train of all, but it’s not covered by the JR pass.)

Kyoto is a large city, so head to the Hokanji Temple and surrounding area if you’re only there for the day. Or, if you want to maximise your time in Kyoto, take a tour with government-licenced guide.

While I’d always recommend spending at least one night in Kyoto in order to experience the unique Kyoto nightlife, a day trip is still very much worthwhile if it’s all that’s possible.

Even on a day trip from Tokyo, you’ll get a great feel of Japan’s former capital city and may even spot a geisha of Gion.

#2 See the bowing deer in Nara

Nara is usually presented as one of the best day trips from Kyoto or Osaka, but it’s also possible to visit on a day trip from Tokyo!

Nara was one of the places I was most excited to visit in Japan. We’d heard that the deer in Nara Park, in the most Japanese way possible, bow to park-goers to ask for food.

And let’s face it, who could resist the idea of bowing deer?

What we didn’t hear about was how amazing the park itself is! Whether bowing deer pull at your heartstrings or not, Nara is a beautiful park well worth visiting on a day trip.

If you visit during sakura season, the cherry blossoms make for a truly magical backdrop behind the Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and stunning natural scenery.

It’s going to be a long day trip from Tokyo, but you could combine it with a quick stop in Kyoto if you’re short on time.

If you want to explore as much as possible, it would be worth booking a hotel in Kyoto and heading back to Tokyo the next day. That way, you can explore both without feeling rushed.

If you decide to stick to a one-day trip, hiring a local guide is the best way to make the most of your time in Nara (and make sure you don’t get lost – it’s huge!).

If you really want to maximise your time – and have a little fun – a cycling tour such as this one is the absolute best way to experience Nara.

#3 See the bathing snow monkeys

Have you heard about the Japanese monkeys who like to bathe in hot springs?

Seeing the bathing snow monkeys was one of my highlights of our month in Japan and nearly always the first thing I mention when people ask.

So of course I’m going to recommend a trip to see them!

Fortunately, you won’t need to go out of your way (too much) to see them for yourself because it’s possible to visit from Tokyo.

In fact, this may just be the best of the best bullet train day trips from Tokyo – even if it requires an early start.

The snow monkeys live just outside the remote town of Shibu Onsen, an onsen town near Nagano.

It’s a lengthier day trip from Tokyo, but is easier than you might think (do you see a theme here?).

The Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagano takes less than two hours and runs very frequently with several trains per hour.

And hey, that also means it’s super easy to take a Nagano day trip from Tokyo if wildlife travel isn’t your kind of thing.

If you can time it well, the express bus from Nagano station will take you directly to the monkey park in less than an hour.

If time isn’t on your side, however, you can hop on the Nagano Dentetsu express train to Yudanaka (40 minutes). Then, it’s just a short 10-minute bus ride from there.

Alternatively, you can leave the planning to someone else and take a Jigokudanai Monkey Park tour from Tokyo.

Alternatively, it’s also possible to spend a night in Shibu Onsen. As an onsen town, taking a dip in the hot springs is of course the top activity to do here – and there isn’t much else.

However, if you want to break up the travel, it can make for a relaxing break from the city or a great inbetween stop on your way to Kyoto or Osaka.

Check in to Senjukaku for the complete ryokan experience complete with open-air hot springs.

#4 Visit Hitachi Seaside Park

Of all the places on this list, Hitachi Seaside Park is one of the easiest day trips from Tokyo.

With a short transfer time from the city, it can be a quick day trip if you wish.

For this reason, it’s also one of the best bullet train day trips from Tokyo for visitors that don’t have tons of time to explore.

That means it’s perfect if you’re looking for an easy-going day out of the city that won’t leave you exhausted for the rest of your trip!

It’s also great if you want to spend most of your time (and energy!) soaking up everything Tokyo has to offer.

Hitachi Seaside Park changes with the seasons. By that, I mean the flowers in the iconic flower hill change throughout the year.

Every month or so, a new colour paints its lawn as a different type of flower comes into bloom. You can see the calendar of blooms on the official website.

That means it’s the kind of place you could go back to time and time again, and have a different view every single time.

It’s also a great reason to go back to Japan in the winter (or another month, depending on when you visited)!

To get to Hitachi Seaside Park from Tokyo, simply take the JR Joban Line directly to Katsuta station.

Once you’re there, step outside the station and hop on a bus that will take you there.

The bus stop is right outside the station and the journey takes 10-15 minutes down a completely straight road, so there’s very little room for error!

#5 Marvel at Mount Fuji

While many travellers choose to spend a night at Mount Fuji in order to hike for sunrise, it’s totally possible to visit on a day trip from Tokyo. In fact, it’s one of the most popular day trips from Tokyo!

This is an especially good option during the winter months, when the hike isn’t possible due to the snow that covers Fuji’s peak.

It’s only a short trip from central Tokyo by shinkansen, but it’s still worth making a full day of it and making Fuji just one stop on a tour around the Hakone area.

The Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park is a national park that covers Yamanashi, Shizuoka, and Kanagawa prefecture, as well as the city limits of western Tokyo.

As you’ll discover, there’s a lot to see here: castles, volcanic valleys, the Hakone ropeway, museums, a cable car, Lake Ashi and of course the famous Hakone shrine, among many more things (including Mt Fuji!).

It’s the perfect place for groups with varying interests because you can experience so many sides of Japanese culture and Japanese history is a short time.

Once again, the best option is to use your Japan Rail Pass to take one of the direct trains Odawara station and then arrange for a private guide to meet you there.

Overnight trips from Tokyo

Of course, you don’t just have to take a day trip from Tokyo.

Many of the best bullet train day trips from Tokyo also make for great extended trips, whether you’re returning to Tokyo or continuing your Japan travels elsewhere.

Lots of places are well worth spending at least a night or two if you have the time, even if it’s not essential, so don’t rule out an overnight trip from Tokyo.

If you travel out of Tokyo one day and back the following, you’ll still be getting great value for money with the Japan Rail pass.

Just make sure you set aside some other nights to enjoy the Tokyo nightlife!

Here are just a couple of my favourite overnight trips from Toyko to consider:

An overnight trip to Kyoto

If you want to see as much of Kyoto and the surrounding attractions as possible but don’t have much time on your hands, one night in Kyoto will be a worthwhile investment.

Hotels in Kyoto aren’t cheap, but you’ll be able to fit in some extra things you wouldn’t see otherwise.

Watch the sun set over Toji temple after exploring all day, then wake up early the following morning to see the sun rise at the Arashiyama bamboo forest.

It’s a magical experience that you can only get if you stay close by.

You’ll still have time to take the bullet train to Himeji Castle, another one of my favourite places in Japan (below), before hopping on another Shinkansen back to Tokyo.

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Stay in a traditional Japanese house in Kanazawa

Even if you only do it for one night, take any chance you get to stay in a traditional Japanese house.

Sleeping on a thin floor mattress doesn’t sound like the making of a great night’s sleep but I promise you’ll have the sweetest of dreams.

Kanazawa is a traditional Japanese town that’s a lot more affordable than Kyoto, and it’s where we spent two nights. Of all the places we stayed, this one felt the most authentic.

Kanazawa isn’t the most popular destination, but it has some of the most well-preserved buildings from the Edo period.

It’s a city of traditional craft, and visiting here is like stepping back in time.

In my opinion and after travelling all over Japan, there’s nowhere better to check into a traditional Japanese house.

You’ll also be able to visit the UNESCO village in the morning if you do, so it’s worth spending a night here.