Tokyo Day Trips

Looking for a great day trip this time of year? Head to Nagatoro river rafting and grape picking in Saitama!  If you are looking for a fun one day get away to enjoy the crisp air and beautiful mountain and river scenery do visit Nagatoro River and surrounding area of …

Zushi Beach Water Park is holding their 3rd annual beach water park opening an inflatable water park at the beach now until Sunday, September 2, 2018. Zushi, close to Enoshima Islands and Caves (25 min by car), is a great day trip from Tokyo. It is the closest natural beach to Tokyo, …

If you are looking for a great day or weekend trip from Tokyo, I highly recommend Minami Boso (the southern area of Chiba) and the Kamogawa Sea World. Kamogawa Sea World is a 1.5-2 hour trip from central Tokyo where you can enjoy the sea breeze, beach and learn about …

If you are heading to the beach in Japan, here is our Family Beach Bag Packing List.  This list will differ slightly depending on the age of your kids, but I have four kids 19-6, and we still pack the same stuff. Most beaches in Japan have convenience stores and …

Space Athletic Tondemi just opened (July 12, 2018) their second location in Heiwajima, Tokyo. This is following the huge success of Space Athletic in Makuhari Chiba (トンデミ). Space Atheletic is a great indoor activity center to spend 90 mins bouncing, climbing and running. The Tondemi in Heiwajima is 2X as …

Fuji Safari Park is a lovely place to see and experience animals from around the world living freely. Fuji Safari Park offers visitors 4 options to experience their safari park 1) Self-drive option where visitors can progress through the park in their own car at their own pace, 2) Jungle Bus …

May and June are the most popular months of the year to go clam digging「潮干狩りshiohigari 」in Japan. It took about one hour for each member to dig about 2 Kilos of Asari clams (Japanese littleneck clams). Check out the four recommended clam digging recommendations below. Note: Clam digging is very …

On a sunny day escape central Tokyo and head for the huge Showa Kinen Park 昭和記念公園.  Showa Memorial Park is approximately a 50-70 min trip from central Tokyo via car or train. Biking, hiking, climbing nets, bouncing on huge white soft blobs and hiding from dragons can keep the little ones …

Enjoy Ginza With Kids At The Very Hungry Caterpillar Cafe I write many guides here on Best Living Japan, but what you may not know about me is that I have a serious sweet tooth. My daughter is now one year old and loves cruising Tokyo with me, so I’m …

Karuizawa, Nagano is our favorite mountain resort getaway. Best part? It`s only a 1 hr Shinkansen ride from Tokyo. Step off the train, take in the gorgeous mountain views, and enjoy the numerous activities Karuizawa has to offer from outdoor sports, onsens, shopping, play areas, food and more. *** The …

Amazing World Kohoku is an indoor play center for kids ages 0 to 12 years. Amazing world branches house plasma cars, inflatable castles, climbing equipment, slides, educational toys like the Trix Track, Wammy and building blocks. They have large drawing walls, kitchen town, crafts, baby room and nursing area, and rest areas for …

If you want to take a 1-2 hour hike while adventuring to find Buddhas, Arafat, and views of Tokyo Bay and Mt. Fuji I recommend Nokogiryama, Chiba (Mt. Sawtooth). I have very mixed opinions of Nokogiriyama, Chiba since I felt that although it was interesting to see the sights, I …

Jiyugaoka is a lovely area filled with boutiques, restaurants and cafes. If visiting the area with kids we recommend these restaurants and play areas to visit between shopping breaks. Open from 8:00 Lupicia Tea Shop is a great spot to start the morning with a delicious cup of tea and …

Here are our Top Recommended Ski / Snowboard Day Trips from Tokyo. Great for families, offers lessons for kids and easily accessible. We will be adding more in the coming weeks. Do you have one to add? Please let us know in the comments section below. * Please check each website …

From late December to late March is a great time for a family trip for strawberry picking in the Tokyo area. Here is our updated 2017-2018 list of top strawberry picking gardens you can enjoy in the Tokyo area on a half-day or one-day trip. I have chosen six gardens; …

GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort is one of the most convenient snow resorts to visit with little ones outside Tokyo. It`s a 75-min shinkansen ride (Max-Tanigawa or the Tanigawa) from Tokyo station and the train drops you off right inside the base of the GALA Yuzawa Resort making it ultra convenient if traveling with small …

This time of year is perfect for a Mt. Takao Hike. The trip to Mt. Takao takes about one hour from Shinjuku station on the Keio Line. Mt. Takao has been a location of worship for more than 1,000 years. The main temple Yakuoin is located near the summit and is a popular place …

Zoorasia Japan is by far our favorite zoo outside Tokyo. It`s more like a walking safari than a zoo. It`s spacious and beautifully maintained with a variety of animals from around the world. For 800 yen per adult, 300 yen for middle & high school aged kids, 200 for elementary and …

A beautiful autumn day so Baby and I headed out west to Tama Zoo. If you love animals and walking in the outdoors, you will love the Tama Zoo. Tama Zoo is huge at 129 acres (52H) which is about four times Ueno Zoo size. If you were to see …

Escape the city with these Top Recommended Family Friendly Day Trips from Tokyo. Do you have a day trip to recommend? Leave in the comments section below. 1. Little Edo Kawagoe –  30 minutes by train from Ikebukuro. The people of Kawagoe have preserved their city for all to experience the …

Late June to early September is blueberry picking season in Japan – so here are our recommended Tokyo Area Blueberry Picking Locations 2017.   We have chosen six gardens for great half-day or one-day trips; two in Chiba-ken, two in Saitama-ken and two in Kanagawa-ken. Many of these gardens run through September, …

Sanrio Puroland is an adorable indoor amusement park for Sanrio character fans, young children and adults who are kids at heart. You are surrounded by cute food and attractions, and dynamic, well-produced shows. We visited on a Friday and spent half a day exploring the various floor and attractions. Our …

Thomas Land is one of our favorite theme parks for young kids on our list of TOP Theme Parks in Japan. Thomas Land, in Yamanashi, Japan, is the world’s first Thomas & Friends Theme Park. Located a 1.5 hour drive from central Tokyo, and within the Fuji-Q Highland Theme Park, it`s a great …

** Presently the caves are closed due to damage from Typhoon #12 in October 2017, but they will reopen Golden Week 2018. We will post new information as available. Thanks Lauren and Sandra. One hour from central Tokyo you can ride the waves, smell the sea air and explore the …

Iijima Flower Garden is a quaint farm centrally located in Kanagawa. They offer 30 minute all-you-can-eat strawberries that are pesticide-free. Picking is at ground or planter levels. They also offer 13 other types of fruits and vegetable picking over the year. Strawberries (Jan-May), Cabbage (Dec-May), Daikon (Nov-April), Carrots & Turnips (Nov-Mar), Sweet Potatoes …