Best Day Trips From Tokyo – Family Guide With Kids
Tokyo is an adventure all by itself, but the moments your kids remember for years are often the ones where you leave the city: pirate ships on mountain lakes, shrines in cedar forests, seaside trains and ferris wheels over the harbor.
This guide gathers the most realistic, kid friendly day trips from Tokyo into one place and shows you how to book them in a few clicks using family friendly platforms and flexible tickets. You will see where each destination shines, what ages it suits, and how to keep costs, transfers and meltdowns under control.
- Best for: Families using Tokyo as a home base who still want shrines, mountains, beaches and theme parks.
- Ages: Works from stroller age through teens with the right mix of stops and snacks.
- Travel time: Roughly 30–120 minutes each way from central Tokyo by train or bus.
- Good pairings: Use with the Tokyo 3 Day & 5 Day Family Itinerary and the Tokyo Metro & JR Pass Guide With Kids.
Open these in new tabs so you can check prices while you read. Some of these are affiliate partners I trust with my own trips – booking through them helps keep this guide free at no extra cost to you.
How to use this guide without getting overwhelmed
There is no prize for squeezing in every day trip. Most families are happiest with one to three big days outside Tokyo, mixed in with playgrounds, museums and slower neighborhood walks.
- First, choose your Tokyo base using Best Areas to Stay in Tokyo – Family Guide With Kids.
- Then check how many free days you really have using the Tokyo 3 Day & 5 Day Family Itinerary.
- Use the “Fast answers” box below to shortlist two or three day trips that match your kids’ ages and interests.
- Open the relevant tours on Viator in new tabs so you can compare routes, inclusions and reviews without losing this page.
- As soon as you decide on a day trip, lock in your train times and take 60 seconds to screenshot them and email yourself a copy.
Day trip overview – what counts as “easy” from Tokyo
For this guide, “day trip” means you can:
- Leave after breakfast, not at 4:00 a.m.
- Have a full, fun day with nap or snack breaks built in.
- Be back in Tokyo in time for dinner or bedtime without midnight trains.
All of the destinations below sit within about 30–120 minutes of Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ueno, Tokyo Station or Shinagawa by train, bus or a tour pickup.
- First visit, mixed ages: Hakone, Kamakura & Enoshima, Yokohama.
- Culture & nature: Nikko.
- Theme park families & train lovers: Fuji Five Lakes and Fuji Q Highland / Thomas Land.
- Shorter days with toddlers: Yokohama, Kawagoe.
- Cherry blossom season: Kamakura, Enoshima, Nikko and Kawagoe all shine in different ways.
Hakone – pirate ships, ropeways and onsen views
Hakone is the classic Tokyo escape for families who want mountain air, lake views and a taste of onsen towns without dragging suitcases across half of Japan.
Why families love Hakone
- Lake Ashi cruises on colorful “pirate ships” that feel like a ride even for toddlers.
- Ropeways and cable cars soaring over valleys and volcanic landscapes.
- The Hakone Open-Air Museum, a huge outdoor art park with a children’s pavilion and lots of space to run around.
- Plenty of onsen baths if parents want a soak while kids rest.
Sample Hakone day trip with kids
- Morning train to Odawara, then onward by Hakone Tozan line or bus.
- Ride the ropeway for views, stop at volcanic viewpoints if your kids are into “science and steam,” then cruise Lake Ashi.
- Spend a couple of hours at the Hakone Open-Air Museum in the afternoon.
- Early dinner in Hakone or back in Tokyo near your base.
- Compare small group and private Hakone day trips on Viator – many bundle ropeways, cruises and shrines into one easy package.
- If you decide to stay overnight, scan family friendly Hakone ryokan and hotels via your favorite booking platform and filter for private onsen and extra beds.
- Back everything up with SafetyWing travel insurance so bad weather or delayed trains don’t derail your budget.
Tip: Pair Hakone with a quieter Tokyo day the next morning. Your legs will thank you.
Nikko – world heritage shrines, cedars and waterfalls
Nikko is where you go when you want to show kids big history and bigger trees. It’s a longer day, but for older kids it can feel like stepping straight into a storybook.
Family highlights
- Toshogu Shrine complex – intricate carvings, bright colors and stone steps through towering cedars.
- The Shinkyo Bridge – perfect for “we really went to Japan” family photos.
- Optional extension to Okunikko for lakes and waterfalls if your crew can handle more bus time.
Nikko with kids – keep it realistic
- Plan one big focus (shrines) and one “maybe” (waterfalls) instead of trying to tick every box.
- Pack layers – Nikko is cooler than Tokyo even in warmer months.
- Bring snacks to bridge gaps between temple areas and cafes.
- Use the Tokyo Metro & JR Pass Guide to compare JR options with Nikko-specific passes.
- Look at Nikko family tours on Viator if you want a guide to handle bus timings and history while you manage snacks and photos.
- Layer your trip with the Tokyo Budget & Safety Tips guide so you know meal and souvenir prices ahead of time.
Kamakura & Enoshima – giant Buddha, seaside trains and island views
Kamakura and Enoshima give you temples, street snacks and sea air in a single day. It’s a favorite for families who want something gentler than Nikko but more scenic than another mall.
Kamakura with kids
- Visit the Great Buddha of Kamakura at Kotoku-in temple – the scale alone impresses most kids.
- Explore side streets full of snack shops and small temples at kid pace.
- On warmer days, add a quick stop at nearby beaches for sand play and shell collecting.
Adding Enoshima Island
- Ride the retro Enoden line along the coast – trains + ocean views is an easy win.
- Walk across to Enoshima Island for viewpoints, cafes and lighthouse views.
- On clear days, look for Mt Fuji in the distance – instant postcard.
- Search Kamakura & Enoshima tours on Viator to find family friendly options that include shrines, trains and beach time.
- Pick a Tokyo base with a simple route to Tokyo Station or Shinjuku using Best Areas to Stay in Tokyo.
- During cherry blossom weeks, book one sit-down lunch ahead so you’re not searching with hangry kids in busy streets.
Yokohama – harbor fun, Cup Noodles & Chinatown
Yokohama is one of the easiest family day trips from Tokyo: short train rides, stroller friendly promenades and plenty of indoor backups for bad weather.
Kid favorites in Yokohama
- Cup Noodles Museum for build-your-own-cup fun and interactive exhibits.
- Cosmo World amusement area with ferris wheel and kid sized rides.
- Waterfront malls with food courts, toy stores and city views.
- Yokohama Chinatown for colorful gates and easy noodles and dumplings.
Pair Yokohama with a slower Tokyo morning or evening from the 3 Day & 5 Day Itinerary. It’s perfect for mid-trip slumps when you want something big and fun that still feels logistically easy.
- Check Yokohama harbor cruises on Viator for low-effort evening views.
- Use the Budget & Safety guide for quick notes on food court pricing and small souvenir budgets.
Kawagoe – Little Edo streets and sweet shops
Kawagoe is a great “low pressure” day trip for families who like older streets, snacks and shorter transportation days.
What kids enjoy in Kawagoe
- The atmospheric Kurazukuri (warehouse) district with its traditional buildings.
- The Toki no Kane clock tower – a simple but memorable landmark.
- Candy Alley, where kids can browse old fashioned sweets and choose a few inexpensive treats.
Kawagoe pairs especially well if you are staying near Ikebukuro or Shinjuku, as outlined in the Ultimate Tokyo Family Travel Guide – Central Neighborhoods.
- Add Kawagoe to the “flex day” in your 3 or 5 day itinerary so you can decide based on energy and weather.
- Search Kawagoe walking tours on Viator if you want a local to guide you through the back streets and food stalls.
Fuji Five Lakes & Fuji Q Highland – big rides, big views
For thrill seekers and train obsessed kids, a day toward the Fuji Five Lakes region can become the single biggest memory of your Japan trip.
Fuji Q Highland & Thomas Land
- Fuji Q Highland is known for some of Japan’s most intense roller coasters – ideal for older kids and teens.
- Thomas Land inside the park offers gentle rides, character theming and photo ops for younger train fans.
- On clear days, rides and lakes are framed by Mt Fuji, turning even simple snapshots into screensavers.
When Fuji works best
- You have kids who genuinely love rides and are tall enough for the coasters they’re eyeing.
- You can place the Fuji day mid-way through the trip, with a slower morning in Tokyo the following day.
- You’re visiting outside of peak Golden Week / New Year crowds.
- Compare Fuji Q tours on Viator – many bundle round-trip transport, park entry and a few key viewpoints.
- If you’re tempted to stay overnight, look for family rooms with lake or Fuji views via your usual hotel platform and use your Tokyo hotel as a luggage base.
- Protect big-ticket days like this with SafetyWing insurance in case of illness or sudden weather changes.
How to choose the right day trip for your family
Match destinations to ages
- Under 6 / stroller age: Yokohama, Kawagoe and Hakone (with lots of snacks and naps) tend to be the best fit.
- 6–11 & curious: Add Nikko and Kamakura/Enoshima to the list.
- 12+ & teens: Consider Fuji Q Highland, longer Hakone loops and Nikko with waterfalls.
Anchor everything to your Tokyo base
Revisit Best Areas to Stay in Tokyo and Best Family Hotels & Resorts in Tokyo. Choose day trips that keep transfers simple from your closest big station (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ueno, Tokyo Station or Shinagawa) so you’re not zig-zagging the whole city before you even leave it.
Layer day trips into your itinerary
- Keep your first full day and last full day in Tokyo itself.
- Put your longest or most intense day trip in the middle of your stay.
- Use the Budget & Safety Tips post to set realistic daily budgets so that surprise snack runs and souvenir stops don’t sting.
Trains, passes, timing & simple safety habits
Do you need a rail pass
- For one or two day trips, many families are fine with IC cards and single tickets.
- If you’re also riding shinkansen between cities, compare national and regional JR passes using the Metro & JR Pass Guide.
- Always compare the pass price to your actual planned journeys, not just a dream list.
Timing, packing & backups
- Leave earlier than you think – an 8:00–8:30 departure usually beats crowds and keeps afternoons flexible.
- Pack water, snacks, simple medicines and one comfort item per child.
- Screenshot train times, tour confirmations and maps into a “Day Trip” album on your phone.
- Build in one unstructured hour in every trip for slow walks, playground breaks or extra ice cream.
Easy safety routines with kids
- Give each child a card with your hotel name, phone number and your full name.
- Pick a clear meeting point at every big station (for example “under this sign” or “next to this kiosk”).
- Teach: “If we get separated, stop where you are, and look for a staff member in uniform.”
- Share your rough plan with a friend or family member at home and keep SafetyWing details handy for emergencies.
Build your full Tokyo family plan
Use this day trip guide alongside the rest of the Stay Here, Do That Tokyo series to build a full, balanced itinerary:
- Ultimate Tokyo Family Travel Guide – Central Neighborhoods
- Ultimate Tokyo Family Attractions Guide With Kids
- Tokyo 3 Day & 5 Day Family Itinerary With Kids
- Tokyo Budget & Safety Tips With Kids
- Tokyo Haneda Airport Guide With Kids and Tokyo Narita Airport Guide With Kids
- Best Family Hotels & Resorts in Tokyo With Kids
Some of the hotel, flight, car rental, tour and insurance links on this page connect to trusted partners like family friendly booking platforms, Viator and SafetyWing. When you reserve through those links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
That support keeps stayheredothat.blogspot.com online and lets me keep building deep, honest guides for real families spending real savings on big trips.
Was this day trip guide helpful
If you use this guide to choose your day trips from Tokyo, I’d genuinely love to hear how it went:
- Leave a comment with your kids’ favorite destination and one thing you’d do differently next time.
- Share this post with a friend or family member who is quietly panic-planning their first Japan trip with kids.
- Save or pin the Pinterest image at the top so you can find this guide again when you’re packing at midnight.
