The 7 Best Day Trips from Tokyo in Winter

Last Updated on November 9, 2025 by Audrey

Looking for the best day trips from Tokyo in Winter?

If you’re visiting Tokyo during the winter season, you might want to add on a day trip. But what are the best day trips from Tokyo when the snow falls and the temperatures drop? We don’t want to show up to a landscape that attracts tons of visitors during the summer, only to be disappointed that it’s bare for snow season! 

Don’t worry, you have a lot of options. I’ve compiled the best day trips from Tokyo that are even better during the winter time. 

Take your pick from skiing down powdery slopes, steaming onsen, or even the chance to catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji under a clear winter sky. Here are my favorite day trips from Tokyo!

SHORT ON TIME? Use these shortcuts to plan your Tokyo Winter Trip

Under 1 Hour From Tokyo

Yokohama

• Distance from Tokyo: 30 minutes

I had so much fun visiting Yokohama (横浜), and it’s very conveniently located since it’s so close to Tokyo. You’d think that the two cities are similar because Yokohama is the second largest city in Japan after Tokyo, but it has a completely different atmosphere. 

Yokohama in winter is like a breath of fresh air. Walking along the waterfront and seeing the city lights reflect off the bay is a beautiful sight, and the city also has seasonal illuminations around Minato Mirai for some festive magic. 

There are lots of indoor attractions you can do, like making your own ramen at the Cup Ramen Museum or shopping at the Red Brick Warehouse, which hosts winter markets. 

Snow doesn’t fall frequently in Yokohama, so you can also enjoy activities outdoors. One of my favorite things to do in Yokohama was walking around Chinatown at night, sipping steaming soup dumplings that taste like they're straight from China. This is coming from someone who just came back from China!

How To Get To Yokohama From Tokyo

It’s incredibly easy to get to Yokohama from Tokyo! You can depart from either Tokyo Station, Shinjuku Station, or Shibuya Station.

Take the JR Keihin Tohoku Line, Tokaido Line, or Yokosuka Line to Yokohama Station or Shin-Yokohama Station and you’ll get there in 30-45 minutes.

💡 Pro tip: Take the Air Cabin from Shin-Yokohama to the Cup Ramen Museum! It’s a fun aerial trip, and you can buy a combo ticket to ride the Cosmo World Ferris Wheel too for 1,700 JPY. To get there, stay on board past Yokohama Station and get off at Sakuragicho Station instead.

Alternatively, you could take the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo Station and get to Shin Yokohama Station in 17 minutes. All these routes are covered by the JR Pass!

👉 Click here to book your tour to Yokohama AND Kamakura with FREE cancellation!

1-2 Hours From Tokyo

Kamakura and Enoshima

• Estimated travel time: 1 hour 15 mins

Kamakura is one of the most popular day trips from Tokyo year-round, and it’s one of the best trips even in winter.

Kamakura’s most famous landmark is the Great Buddha of Kamakura, an 11.4-meter bronze statue built in 1252. During winter, snow decorates the giant statue and provides a striking background. 

You can start at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, Kamakura’s most important Shinto shrine, before heading to Kotoku-in Temple to see the iconic Buddha with fewer crowds in the off-season. 

For the most optimal use of your time, you should pair Kamakura with Enoshima for a full-day winter trip. Enoshima (江の島) is only a short train ride away, and while it attracts visitors more often in the summer, during winter you can enjoy clear coastal views and quieter streets. 

You can visit Enoshima Shrine, stroll around the beaches, or duck into the Iwaya Caves to warm up while learning about the legendary fire-headed dragon that used to terrorize the island.

In the winter, from late November to February, Enoshima Island is the main venue of the award winning winter illumination event Jewel of Shanon (Shanon no Hoseki). The entire island lights up with glittering illuminations.

My personal favorite is the Shonan Chandelier, a tunnel of lights and a giant chandelier made of Swarovski crystals!

How To Get To Kamakura From Tokyo

There are two direct lines that connect directly from Tokyo to Kamakura.

JR YOKOSUKA LINE

From Tokyo Station, you can hop on the JR Yokosuka Line and ride directly to Kamakura Station. The trip takes about an hour with no transfers.

JR SHONAN SHINJUKU LINE

If you’re starting from Shinjuku, the JR Shonan Shinjuku Line is another option. Trains bound for Zushi will take you straight to Kamakura, but if not, you may need to transfer once at Ofuna Station.

Kamakura To Enoshima

After visiting the Great Buddha, it’s an easy ride to Enoshima. Just take the Enoden Train from Hase Station, and you’ll be on the island in less than 20 minutes.

✨ Click here to book your spot to Kamakura and Enoshima with 900+ 5-star reviews! ✨

Karuizawa 

• 1 Hour by Shinkansen

Karuizawa is a mountain resort town just 1 hour away from Tokyo that offers a mix of snowy landscapes, outdoor activities, and steaming onsen. 

The town is best known for Karuizawa Prince Snow Resort, a ski area right next to the station that makes it one of the most accessible ski spots from Tokyo. 

If you’ve been to a ski resort before, then you know that sometimes the only thing to do there is ski. Luckily, that’s not the case in Karuizawa. There are also tons of other things to do here for non-skiers, like sledding, shopping, or soaking in an onsen. 

Karuizawa Ginza is the town’s cute shopping street, where you can stroll through boutiques and cafes. 

You could also visit Shiraito Falls, which looks especially beautiful in winter when the waterfall freezes over to create an incredible ice sculpture. 

Lastly, Karuizawa has a number of onsen to warm up your muscles before heading back to Tokyo. While Tokyo has limited places where you can relax in a private bath, onsen are abundant here.

One of the best things I ever experienced was soaking in a hot spring as snow gently fell around me, and I guarantee you'll love it too. 

❄️ Click here to book your tour to Karuizawa with FREE cancellation! ❄️

2-3 Hours From Tokyo

Nagano

•  1.5 hours by Shinkansen from Tokyo Station

Want to see snow monkeys bathing in hot springs? Then Nagano (長野市) is your best option for a winter day trip from Tokyo. 

Buried in snow for almost one third of the year, this city is famous for the Japan Alps and world-class ski resorts. However, its number 1 attraction is undeniably Jigokudani Monkey Park, where you can watch wild Japanese macaque monkeys soak in the steaming baths during the winter.

After watching the monkeys soak in the steaming baths, you can warm up yourself at Shibu Onsen, a traditional hot spring town with lantern-lit streets.

Nagano is also home to Zenkoji Temple, one of Japan’s most important temples, which looks especially striking under a blanket of snow.

If you have more time, take a side trip to the samurai-era villages of Tsumago or Narai, or you could even head to Matsumoto Castle, one of Japan’s most beautiful original castles that is less than an hour away. 

💡 Pro tip: Wear sneakers, as it’s a moderate hike through snowy terrain to reach the monkeys.

How To Get To Nagano From Tokyo

You can take the bullet train directly from Tokyo Station to Nagano Station and arrive in under 1.5 hours.

To get to the snow monkeys, you’ll have to take a bus from Nagano Station to Jigokudani Monkey Park. For easier transportation, join a full-day tour to Nagano from Tokyo and enjoy a traditional Japanese hot pot lunch. 

Click here to book your tour to Nagano with FREE transportation and lunch!

Mt Fuji & Lake Kawaguchi

• Estimated travel time: 2-2.5 hours

One of the biggest items on my bucket list was to see Mount Fuji, and that wish finally came true when I visited Lake Kawaguchiko (河口湖), one of the beautiful Fuji Five Lakes. 

It really is majestic when you finally see Fuji-San, and you have the best chance to spot it during winter due to clear skies. 

There are a ton of things to do around here, so make sure to dedicate a full day to get here and explore the area.

My must-see sights in Kawaguchiko are the iconic Chureito Pagoda in Arakurayama Sengen Park, Oishi Park, which has some of the best views of Mt Fuji, and my personal favorite, the Gotemba Premium Outlets where you can find insane shopping deals. 

There’s also Oshino Hakkai, a collection of eight crystal-clear ponds nearby formed by Mount Fuji’s ancient eruptions.

In every single one of these attractions you’re just blasted with incredible views of Mount Fuji all around. It really is a must see spot and easily my #1 pick for a day trip from Tokyo!

However, if you have extra time, then I would encourage you to combine Kawaguchiko and Hakone and stay for a few nights. 

💡 Pro tip: You need to try the muscat grape ice cream at Oishi Park, it tastes like grape heaven. 

How To Get To Kawaguchiko From Tokyo

While there are train lines to Kawaguchiko, to be honest, it’s pretty hard to get there and around the area without a car, and if you rent a car during the winter, you face unpredictable conditions and will need snow tires. 

I recommend booking a tour for personal safety and easier transportation. 

However, if you prefer to take public transportation, the only way to get to Kawaguchiko Station via train is by the Fujikyu Railway Line. 

JR CHUO LINE

You can take the JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku Station to Otsuki Station, then transfer to the Fujikyu Line and go to Kawaguchiko Station. In total, it’ll take around 2.5 hours.

JR PASS

If you have the JR Pass, you can take the Fuji Excursion Limited Express train that runs directly from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko. There are two round trips a day, so it’s a bit more limiting.

⭐ Click here to book your spot on this highly rated tour with over 5,000+ 5-star reviews! ⭐

Hakone

• Estimated travel time: 1.5 hrs from Shinjuku

Hakone (箱根) is one of the most popular day trips from Tokyo, and Hakone in winter feels especially magical. Here you’ll find art museums, onsen, and the iconic Hakone Shrine overlooking Lake Ashi. It can be a little touristy, but I loved visiting and think it's worth your time.

I was unlucky and didn’t see Mt Fuji when I visited Hakone in spring, but with clearer skies during winter, you have a much better chance.

Our favorite things that we did in Hakone were the Hakone Open-Air Museum and visiting a day use onsen. During the winter, the outdoor sculptures take on a whole new atmosphere against the snowy mountain background.

If you’d rather stay cozy indoors, you could go to the POLA Museum where you can see Impressionist works.

Hakone is famous for their hot springs, many of which allow day visits! We loved our time at Hakone Yuryo, a day use resort where we enjoyed a private open air hot spring in a forest.

Afterwards, we had an amazing sukiyaki dinner and got to try irori, specialized cuisine grilled over a hearth. It was the perfect ending to our day trip to Hakone in winter! For more details on what we did in Hakone, click here.

💡 Pro Tip: You may want to look into getting the Hakone Free Pass for unlimited use of public transportation as well as local discounts. 

How To Get To Hakone From Tokyo

Getting to Hakone from Tokyo is easy, with two main train routes departing from Shinjuku Station. You can either hop on the Odakyu Line’s Romancecar or use the JR Tokaido Line.

ROMANCECar (Odakyu Line)

Most travelers prefer the Romancecar since it takes you directly from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto Station without transfers. Try to grab the special observation seats at the front or back for the best views of the mountains and countryside along the way.

 💡 Pro tip: If you want the observation seats, make sure to reserve tickets months in advance, because they sell out quickly.

JR TOKAIDO LINE

If you’re traveling with a JR Pass, you can take the JR Tokaido Line. Take the train from Tokyo to Odawara Station, then transfer to the local line for a quick 15-minute ride to Hakone-Yumoto. The whole journey takes about an hour.

 💡 Pro tip: If you want to go to Hakone Shrine and Lake Ashi, change trains at Yugawara instead and get off at MotoHakone Port. It’s a longer ride at around 2.5 hours, but you’ll be closer to the lake. 

🗻 Click here to book your spot on this HIGHLY BOOKED tour to Hakone and Mount Fuji! 🗻

Nikko

• Estimated travel time: 2 hours from Asakusa (Tobu Line)

Nikko (日光市) is one of the best winter escapes from Tokyo if you’re a nature lover. With snow-covered forests, frozen waterfalls, and the lavish Toshogu Shrine, the UNESCO World Heritage Site feels worlds apart from Tokyo despite being only 2 hours away. 

The must-see landmark is undeniably Nikko Toshogu Shrine, the most lavish shrine in the country and the resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu. With intricate carvings and opulent halls, the shrine is a dazzling golden structure amongst the snowy background.

You can also check out Rinnoji Temple and Futarasan Shrine, or explore Nikko National Park. In the winter, Kevon Falls, one of Japan’s top three waterfalls, freezes over into dramatic icicles for an incredible view. 

Lastly, Nikko has eight different onsen for you to experience, all with individual special qualities. Kinugawa Onsen and Yumoto Onsen both offer day use onsen, so you can enjoy a warm soak before returning to the city. 

How To Get To Nikko From Tokyo

You can reach Nikko from Tokyo Station, Shinjuku Station, or Asakusa Station by limited express trains, the JR Shinkansen, or even highway buses. Travel time varies depending on your route, but usually take about 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours. 

The most straightforward option is the JR Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station, transferring at Utsunomiya for the JR Nikko Line (about 1 hour 40 minutes total). 

Another good choice is taking the Tobu Railway Express from Kitasenju Station to Shimo-Imaichi Station, which takes around 2 hours.

For a more convenient journey, you can also book a private tour with free  transportation from Tokyo, which saves you multiple transfers and gives you more time to explore Nikko.

🚗 Click here to book your private tour with FREE transportation! 🚗

Skiing in Tokyo

Thinking about skiing or snowboarding around Tokyo? While you won’t get much snow in Tokyo, there are some spots close to the city where you can get some great runs in. 

While Niseko in Hokkaido is regarded as the best ski area in Japan, you definitely can’t get there from Tokyo on a day trip. So here are the best ski resorts within a few hours Tokyo.

Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort (Niigata)

• 🚆Distance from Tokyo: 1 hour 15 minutes by train

⛷️ Click Here to Book Your Lift Ticket with Ski Rentals! ⛷️

Kagura Ski Resort (Niigata)

• 🚆 Distance from Tokyo: About 1.5 hours by train and shuttle bus

Fujiyama Snow Resort Yeti (Shizuoka)

• 🚆 Distance from Tokyo: 2 hours by train and bus

🏂 Click here to book your ski ticket with FREE transportation from Tokyo! 🏂

Day Trips from Tokyo in Winter FAQs

Does it snow in Tokyo in winter?

Not really, Tokyo will only see a few days of snow per year, and it’s quite light. 

Where can I find snow near Tokyo?

If you head up from Tokyo, you’ll find tons of snow! Yuzawa, Nikko, and closer to Mount Fuji will all have inches of snow. 

If you go north from Tokyo, you’ll find plenty of places that boast truckloads of the white stuff each year. 

Is it worth going to Tokyo and Japan in the winter?

Yes, completely! Japan has an amazing snow season, especially in Hokkaido. You can enjoy snowy landscapes, or soaking in a steaming onsen as you watch snow fall. 

Also the skies are usually clearer in the winter, so you have better chances of spotting Mount Fuji (with fewer crowds, too!)

Conclusion: Day Trips from Tokyo in Winter

First time visitors will have enough to do exploring Tokyo’s neighborhoods and attractions, but if you have extra time, then you should definitely take a day trip and explore Japan in winter!

While I think the best day trip is Kawaguchiko if you can only choose one, you can visit this post for even more day trip options from Tokyo by train. While some of the destinations may seem far away, Japan’s rail system is so advanced that it really won’t feel like a long ride at all. If you’re a little nervous to navigate by yourself, you can always book a guided tour!

Additionally, if you’re thinking about visiting Hokkaido’s fresh powder during your Japan winter itinerary, you should check out my 5 day Hokkaido itinerary for the best winter activities and things to do! 

As always, if you need any help planning your trip I offer custom itinerary services! You can email me at audrey@getlostinjapan.com with any questions and I’ll help you out! Happy travels to Tokyo this winter! 🙂 

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