These 10 places are recommended for a weekend day trip from Tokyo, from spots rich in nature to areas where you can enjoy retro cityscape views not found in Tokyo!
1, Sarushima (Kanagawa Prefecture)
The only natural island in Tokyo Bay, and the largest uninhabited island in the bay. It used to be a fortress island with gun batteries and ammunition depots as a key point to protect Tokyo Bay. Visitors can enjoy the unique scenery of the island, which is a fusion of the historical heritage left in its original state and the pristine nature. In addition to strolling around the national historic site, BBQ and playing on the shore are also recommended.
👉Official website🚇About 1 hour from Tokyo Station to Yokosuka Chuo Station, about 15 minutes on foot to Yokosuka Chuo Station Mikasa Terminal, about 10 minutes by ferry
2, Nagai Uminote Park, Soleil Hill (Kanagawa Prefecture)
An entertainment park located in a location with views of Sagami Bay, Izu Oshima Island, Mt. In addition to a wide variety of playground equipment such as large athletic facilities and zip lines, the park also offers lodging facilities such as glamping cottages and trailer cabins, hot springs facilities, and restaurants. Dogs are welcome.
📍 4 Nagai, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture
👉Official site🚇From Tokyo Station to Misakiguchi Station on the Keihin Kyuko Line takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes. From Misakiguchi Station, take the Keikyu Bus bound for “Soleil Hill” and get off at “Urushiyama” (about 20 minutes) or “Arasaki” and walk about 10 to 15 minutes.
🎟️ Admission free (playground equipment and food and beverage facilities cost extra)
3, Ashikaga Flower Park (Tochigi Prefecture)
The park is decorated with numerous flowers from season to season. The four large wisteria trees and the 80-meter-long tunnel of white wisteria are designated as a natural monument of Tochigi Prefecture. During the month of mid-April to mid-May, when the best time to view the flowers is from mid-April to mid-May, the “Fuji-no-Hana Monogatari (Tale of Fuji Flowers): Big Wisteria Festival” will be held. The “Flower Garden of Light” illumination held from late October has been selected as one of the three best illuminations in Japan by the Night View Convention Bureau.
📍 607 Sakoma-cho, Ashikaga-shi, Tochigi
👉Official site🚇About 1 hour and 30 minutes from Tokyo Station to Ashikaga Flower Park Station, about 3 minutes walk from Ashikaga Flower Park Station.
🎟️ Adults ¥400 – ¥2,300, ¥200 – ¥1,200 (varies depending on the blooming condition of flowers)
4, Nasu Senbonmatsu Farm (Tochigi Prefecture)
This ranch raises about 500 dairy cows on an expansive site the size of 176 Tokyo Domes and produces about 9 tons of raw milk per day. The ranch offers a wide variety of facilities for both adults and children, including an animal petting area where visitors can interact with a total of approximately 100 animals, including six types of sheep and rabbits, a course around the ranch where visitors can try horseback riding, a bungee trampoline, and a hot spring. If you visit in the summer, try the soft-serve ice cream made with the sweetness of raw milk.
📍 799 Senbonmatsu, Nasushiobara-shi, Tochigi
👉Official website🚇About 1 hour from Tokyo Station to Nasushiobara Station by Shinkansen bullet train, about 20 minutes by cab from the station.
🎟️ Admission free, fees differ for each facility
5, Ajigaura Beach (Ibaraki Prefecture)
Ajigaura Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Ibaraki, stretching about 1.2 kilometers in an arc. The “National Hitachi Seaside Park” and a large shopping mall are adjacent to the beach, so you can enjoy playing in the park and shopping together.
👉Official website🚇About 2 hours and 10 minutes from Tokyo Station to Ajigaura Station, about a 5-minute walk from Ajigaura Station.
6, Sawara (Chiba Prefecture)
An area with a beautiful townscape called “Hokuso no Koedo” (Little Edo of Hokuso). The main shrine of Katori Jingu, one of the oldest shrines in eastern Japan and the headquarters of the 400 or so Katori shrines in Japan, is located in the area.
👉Official website🚇About 2 hours from Tokyo Station to Sawara Station, 20 minutes from JR Sawara Station to Katori Jingu Shrine by rental bicycle.
7, Kawagoe (Saitama)
Kawagoe is dotted with many sightseeing spots, such as “Kura-zukuri no Machinami,” the symbol of Kawagoe “Toki no Kane,” which rises high above the warehouses, and “Kashiya Yokocho,” a street lined with confectionary stores that carry on the simple, old-fashioned taste of the past. 1999 saw it selected as an important traditional building preservation district.
👉Official website🚇About 1 hour from Tokyo Station to Kawagoe Station
8, Water Park Nagatoro (Saitama)
A campground where you can enjoy playing in the river and BBQ. In the auto-camping area, you can enjoy day camping as well as overnight stay. In addition, there are wood trailers where you can stay overnight in comfort, and you can also enjoy Nagatoro’s famous sightseeing such as line rafting, bait fishing, and authentic fly and lure fishing. Advance reservations are recommended.
📍 1918-1 Kanazaki, Minami-cho, Chichibu-gun, Saitama
👉Official website🚇About 1 hour and 20 minutes from Tokyo Station to Kami-Nagatoro Station, about 800m walk from Kami-Nagatoro Station.
9, Kenny’s Family Village (Saitama)
This auto campground has a “natural swimming pool” where you can enjoy playing in the river in a fun and safe way, with the water depth being only about 70cm at its deepest point. You can even use the fish you catch as food for BBQ. There is also a free playground equipped with balls, rackets, and other playground equipment, making it a great place for families.
📍 3196 Kaminaguri, Hanno City, Saitama Prefecture
👉Official site🚇From Tokyo Station to Hanno Station takes about 1 hour, from the north exit of Hanno Station take the Kokusai Kogyo Bus bound for Naguri Shako (or Nago, Yunosawa), about 40 minutes, get off at Renkei-bashi stop and walk about 5 minutes.
10, Kawai Campsite (Tokyo)
A campground featuring a large riverbank where you can casually enjoy the outdoors. There are also year-round programs such as river play, fishing, barbecue, canoeing, rafting, baumkuchen baking, and pizza making.
📍 799 Senbonmatsu, Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture
👉Official site🚇About 1 hour and 40 minutes from Tokyo Station to Kawai Station, about a 7-minute walk from Kawai Station.