Make Your Japan Trip Even Better! Recommended Day Trip Destinations from Popular Sightseeing Areas

It takes Approx. 1 hour by train from Tokyo Station to Kawagoe.
Kawagoe is a town lined with traditional kura-style buildings and strongly preserves the scenery of Japan from the Edo period (1603–1868).
While experiencing Japanese culture and history, you can casually enjoy the feeling of having traveled back in time.
The article below introduces Kawagoe’s charms in more detail, including the best sightseeing seasons and popular spots you should visit.
Be sure to read that as well.

You can reach Yokohama from Tokyo by train without any transfers.
The trip takes around 30 minutes.
Yokohama is a sightseeing destination where an international atmosphere blends into a modern cityscape filled with high-rise buildings, giving it a charm different from Tokyo.
That is because Yokohama has long prospered as an international trading port.
Its beautiful night views and many date spots also make it popular not only with tourists but with couples as well.
If you want to learn more about Yokohama’s charms and popular sightseeing spots, be sure to read the article below.

Enoshima is Approx. 1 hour 15 minutes from Tokyo by train.
A recommended route is to transfer at Fujisawa Station to the Enoshima Electric Railway, where you can enjoy views of Enoshima and the surrounding area.
Enoshima is a popular day trip destination even for people living in Tokyo.
Its biggest appeal is, without a doubt, its beautiful ocean scenery.
The coastline glowing at sunset is especially beautiful.
Another distinctive feature is its many power spots, including Enoshima Shrine, which is counted among Japan’s three great Benzaiten shrines.
Benzaiten is one of the Seven Lucky Gods, seven deities especially revered in Japan, and is a Buddhist goddess said to bring blessings for academic success and prosperous business.
If you want to enjoy beautiful ocean scenery and experience Japanese culture, be sure to add Enoshima to your Tokyo sightseeing plan.

If you take the train, you can reach Kyoto from Osaka in around 30 minutes.
It is great that you can get to one of Japan’s leading tourist destinations in such a short time.
Kyoto is known for its many shrines and temples and its historic cityscape, allowing you to fully experience its rich historical atmosphere.
Before Tokyo, Kyoto served as Japan’s capital for a long time, making it a great place to explore Japanese history and culture in depth.
Kyoto is also famous for its delicious local cuisine, especially kyo-ryori made with dashi broth.
Be sure to experience Kyoto’s food culture as well.
If you are actually planning to visit Kyoto, the article below, which carefully selects the must-see sightseeing spots, will also be helpful.

Wakayama is about 1 hour from Osaka by limited express train.
It is also accessible by rapid train, although that takes about 30 minutes longer.
Blessed with the sea, mountains, and rivers, Wakayama is known for its magnificent natural scenery and hot springs.
The mystical Kumano Kodo, where you can feel a unique spiritual energy, is also recognized as a World Heritage site.
Kumano Kodo is a pilgrimage route to the shrines known as the Kumano Sanzan, and depending on the course you choose, it can be fully enjoyed on a day trip.
The article below introduces many sightseeing spots in Wakayama, so try finding places that match your interests.

Nara is about 1 hour from Osaka by rapid train.
As Nara was once Japan’s capital, many buildings, Buddhist statues, and other treasures designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties still remain.
There are many spots where you can feel its deep history, and in autumn you can also enjoy beautiful fall foliage.
Many tourists visit it together with neighboring Kyoto.
Its breathtakingly solemn buildings are well worth seeing.
If you read the article below, you are sure to feel the charm of Nara, a city full of historical atmosphere.
Be sure to check it out before your visit.

Osaka is about 30 minutes from Kyoto by train.
Depending on the train you use, however, it may take around 45 minutes, so keep that in mind.
Osaka is a sightseeing destination famous for its food, so much so that it is called the city of kuidaore, or “eat till you drop.”
Takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushikatsu are especially well known and are flavors you should try at least once.
Osaka is strongly associated with gourmet food, but it also has many leisure spots such as amusement parks and aquariums.
It is difficult to fully enjoy it in a short time, but Universal Studios Japan is definitely a must-visit spot in Osaka sightseeing.
Use the article below, which introduces places you should visit in Osaka, as a guide when planning your trip.

By train, Hyogo is about 1 hour 30 minutes from Kyoto without any transfers.
Although it involves more transfers, you can also get there in around 50 minutes.
With attractions such as Himeji Castle, a World Heritage site, famous hot spring areas represented by Arima Onsen, and Kobe with its international atmosphere, Hyogo is a destination full of diverse appeal.
Kobe in particular is a popular area among tourists, where you can enjoy famous local foods such as Kobe beef and shop at large commercial facilities.
With its wide variety of attractions, Hyogo should let you enjoy sightseeing that suits your tastes.
The article below carefully introduces sightseeing spots in Hyogo.
Be sure to check it out as well.

To get from Kyoto to Shiga, take the train. With 1 transfer, the trip takes around 30 minutes.
The biggest attraction in Shiga is Lake Biwa.
With an area of 670 square kilometers and a water storage volume of 27.5 billion tons, it is the largest lake in Japan, with scenery so vast it can be mistaken for the sea.
Be sure to enjoy the spectacular views of Lake Biwa found throughout Shiga.
There are also many other attractive sightseeing spots besides the lake, such as Hieizan Enryakuji, a World Heritage site.
There are especially many shrines and temples, and it can be fun to compare them with those in Kyoto.
The article below introduces sightseeing spots to help you enjoy Shiga to the fullest.
Please use it as a reference when planning a day trip to Shiga.

To get from Nagoya to Shizuoka, taking the shinkansen is recommended. You can get there in around 1 hour.
Shizuoka has a wide variety of sightseeing spots, including spectacular views of Mt. Fuji, a symbol of Japan, as well as theme parks and one of the country’s largest outlet malls.
Because it offers different ways to enjoy it depending on the occasion, it is easy to add to your sightseeing plan.
Shizuoka is also known as one of Japan’s leading tea-producing regions.
Be sure to buy some tea, one of Japan’s iconic flavors, as a souvenir.
Please also refer to the article below, which introduces classic sightseeing spots, and enjoy Shizuoka on a day trip.

Gifu is about 25 minutes from Nagoya by train. Since you can get there without any transfers, access from Nagoya is excellent.
Surrounded by magnificent nature such as the Hida Mountain Range and the Kiso Three Rivers, it is a place of scenic beauty.
Gero Onsen, selected as one of Japan’s three most famous hot springs, is one of Gifu’s popular sightseeing spots.
Shirakawa-go, recognized as a World Heritage site, is also not to be missed.
In Gifu, you can experience uniquely Japanese culture and landscapes shaped by life alongside beautiful nature.
The article below introduces Gifu’s sightseeing spots in more detail, so be sure to use it as a reference as well.

To get from Nagoya to Mie, take a train from Kintetsu Nagoya Station.
You should be able to get there in around 1 hour 15 minutes.
Mie is a sightseeing destination known for its rich natural scenery and local gourmet foods such as Matsusaka beef.
Its most popular and famous sightseeing spot is Ise Jingu.
It is one of the shrines many Japanese people wish to visit at least once and is known as an especially powerful power spot.
The article below introduces classic sightseeing spots in Mie, including Ise Jingu.
Use it as a guide to plan a day trip centered around Ise Jingu.

If you are going from Hakata Station in Fukuoka to Oita, it takes around 2 hours 30 minutes by train.
Oita has plenty of leisure spots such as aquariums and zoos, but hot springs are probably what it is most famous for.
Oita is known as one of Japan’s leading hot spring regions, with so many hot spring areas that it is even called a hot spring paradise.
Beppu Onsen and Yufuin Onsen are especially popular.
Each hot spring has different water qualities and benefits, so it can be fun to compare them while visiting several. Of course, there are also many hot spring facilities you can enjoy on a day trip.
If Oita interests you, please also refer to the article below, which introduces its charms and sightseeing spots.

If you are traveling from Fukuoka to Kagoshima, flying is recommended, as you can get there in around 1 hour.
That said, airfare tends to be expensive, so it is also worth considering the train.
Kagoshima is known for its beautiful natural scenery, with Sakurajima and Yakushima being especially popular sightseeing spots. Yakushima is also recognized as a World Heritage site.
There are many places where you can feel the power of magnificent nature, making it an ideal destination to refresh both body and mind.
It also has many famous fall foliage spots, so if you visit in autumn, be sure to enjoy those too.
Use the sightseeing spots introduced in the article below as a guide, and definitely consider extending your trip to Kagoshima.

To get from Fukuoka to Miyazaki, flying is recommended. Although it tends to be more expensive, you can get there in around 45 minutes.
Miyazaki’s rich natural scenery is one of its main attractions.
Takachiho Gorge, formed over tens of thousands of years, offers spectacular scenery and is also a popular photo spot loved by many photographers.
It is a land that served as a setting for Japanese mythology, and with many sightseeing spots connected to these myths, you are sure to feel a mystical energy there.
It is also full of local specialties such as jidori chicken, Miyazaki beef, and mangoes, so be sure to enjoy the delicious food as well.
If it is your first time visiting Miyazaki, please also refer to the article below, which carefully selects its sightseeing spots.

To get from Sapporo to Otaru, it takes Approx. 50 minutes by train. With no transfers required, access is very convenient.
Otaru’s greatest charm is the beauty and atmosphere of its townscape.
Many buildings from the Meiji period (1868–1912) and Taisho period (1912–1926) still remain, allowing you to immerse yourself in nostalgia amid retro scenery.
Otaru Canal is especially one of the sightseeing spots you should visit in Otaru.
It no longer serves as a canal today and has become a walking path lined with 63 gas lamps.
The gas lamps light up at dusk, creating a beautiful and fantastical view.
It is one of Otaru’s top sightseeing spots and is also very popular as a photo spot.
The article below introduces Otaru’s popular sightseeing spots in greater detail.
Be sure to check it out when you visit.

Furano is about 2 hours from Sapporo by limited express train and other rail services.
Furano is best known for its beautiful flower fields that spread across its vast landscape.
Its lavender fields, said to be at their best from late June to late July, are especially famous and are considered Furano’s signature scenic view.
The sight of seasonal flowers filling your entire field of vision is something uniquely Furano.
If you want to see Hokkaido’s magnificent natural scenery, Furano is highly recommended.
If you plan to visit Furano, which has many popular spots where you can fully enjoy rich nature, be sure to refer to the article below as well.

The Shakotan Peninsula is in western Hokkaido and juts out into the Sea of Japan.
If you are going from Sapporo, either combine trains and local buses or take an express bus with no transfers. Either way, the trip takes around 2 hours 30 minutes.
The Shakotan Peninsula is known for its spectacular coastline lined with sheer cliffs.
Enjoy the blue sea, considered one of the most beautiful in Hokkaido.
The waves are high, creating dynamic scenery, and at sunset you can also see a romantic view as the sun sinks beyond the coastline.
The Shakotan Peninsula is known for delicious seafood, and its specialty sea urchin is especially outstanding.
Its best season is said to be around July, so if possible, try to visit the Shakotan Peninsula in summer.

Located to the northwest of Okinawa Main Island, Iejima is known for its beaches of white sand and highly transparent blue sea.
Its symbol is Gusukuyama, located in the center of the island, which is affectionately known by people from outside the island as Tacchu.
Though it is a small island of about 23 square kilometers, it is a hidden sightseeing destination dotted with beautiful beaches.
You can reach Iejima by ferry in Approx. 30 minutes from Motobu Port.
To get from Naha Airport to Motobu Port, take an express bus for around 2 hours.
You can also enjoy marine activities such as diving, so it is a great place to fully enjoy Okinawa’s sea.

Tokashikijima is part of the Kerama Islands, located west of Okinawa Main Island.
To get to Tokashikijima, use 1 of the 2 types of ferries that depart from and arrive at the passenger terminal building in Naha City, commonly known as Tomarin. The trip takes up to Approx. 70 minutes, or around 40 minutes depending on the ferry.
The blue, crystal-clear sea known as Kerama Blue is one of Tokashikijima’s biggest attractions.
In summer, the island becomes lively with a variety of marine sports, so be sure to give them a try.
Diving spots are also scattered around the island, and they are highly regarded by divers from all over Japan.

Minnajima is located west of Okinawa Main Island and south of Iejima.
The island has a crescent shape and is affectionately known as Croissant Island.
To get to Minnajima, take a ferry from Toguchi Port for around 20 minutes.
From Naha Airport to Toguchi Port, take an express bus for Approx. 2 hours 30 minutes.
Minnajima is known for its beautiful sea and activities such as diving and snorkeling.
If you look into the waters around Minnajima, you will find an underwater world filled with beautiful coral and tropical fish.
It is a view unique to Minnajima, which floats among coral reefs, and something you should experience at least once.
If you are not confident about swimming, a glass-bottom boat tour is also recommended.