Day Trips from Tokyo

A seaside town with giant Buddha statues, bamboo gardens and hiking trails. Add the little Enoshima Electric Railway for a beach-town finish. Weekends are crowded, so go midweek if you can.

Toshogu Shrine is ornate to the point of ridiculous, and the surrounding mountains hold waterfalls and lakes. Autumn colour here arrives earlier than in Tokyo. The Tobu line from Asakusa runs direct.

Onsen, lake cruises, an open-air museum and, on a clear day, Mt Fuji. A day trip works; an overnight ryokan stay works better. Hakone sells regional passes that bundle trains, cable cars and boats.

The lake town of Kawaguchiko has the classic view of the mountain. Clear mornings are best, and winter has the sharpest visibility. A guided day tour removes the risk of getting stranded by the last bus.

Harbour views, a big Chinatown, brick warehouses and the Cup Noodles Museum. Easy, relaxed and a useful rainy-day option.

A merchant town with old warehouses, a bell tower and a sweet-potato snack habit. Quieter and cheaper than Kamakura, and a good option for a slow Sunday.