Day Trips Inside of Japan Seishun 18 Tickets Tokyo Travel Tips

With JR Special Pass, 3 Best Day Trips from TOKYO



With Seishun 18 Kippu, how far can we travel from Tokyo?  This Pass is valid only for three limited durations of time (Winter, Spring, and Summer, explained in this post), but if you happen to be in Japan during these periods, no travelers, domestic or international, should miss this wonderful opportunity to cut down their travel expenses.  

Explained in our previous post, you COULD use this Pass for a long jorney, literally from Tokyo to Hiroshima (16 hours).  However, Tune In Nagoya recommends that the Pass should be used in its combination with the major travels, such as ones between major cities, by Shinkansen (English: Bullet Train).

Photo by Albin Berlin used under CC
This means that this Pass is good for one- or two-day trip from your base City, like Tokyo, Osaka, or Nagoya.  After short trips to the neighboring city/cities in such metropolitan areas, you can move to another destination by other transportation means, such as  Shinkansen (Bullet Train).  This way is the most effective in terms of both time and money.

Here are THREE recommended day trips from Tokyo:

1) A one-day Hot Spring Trip from Tokyo to Atami/Ito in Izu Peninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture

To feel Japanese culture, you should experience hot-spring  bathing.  Soaking your body in hot springs, especially in open-air hot springs near the seaside, gives your extreme relaxation for sure.  Here are 3 hot spring resorts which you can visit just for one- or two-hour's bathing, and then do some more sight-seeing there.

Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom used under CC




How to get to Atami/Ito in Izu Peninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture

With Seishun 18 Kippu (the Pass), take JR Line from Tokyo Station to Atami Station, where you change trains to reach the following three hot spring destinations.  It takes 1 hour and 50 minutes from Tokyo Station to Atami Station.   Once you change trains at Atami bound for Ito Station, you do not have to get off the train, just keeping riding it on until your destination (Izu Kogen Station, Izu Kitagwa Station, or Izu Atagawa Station), where you pay extra fare for the Izu Kyuko Line by showing the Pass.  This Izu Kyuko Line requires extra fare (about 1000 yen), but these three hot spring resorts are worth visiting.

Three recommended hot springs 

Train Stop: Izu Kogen Station (about a 44-minute train ride from Atami Station)
15-minute complimentary shuttle rides from Izu Kogen Station (the shuttle reservation is necessary ahead of time) are available
Price: 1200 yen
IF you have extra time around the Izu Kogen Station area, you can visit Jyogasaki Kaigan (Jyogasaki Seaside), which is a must viewing-spot in Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Train Stop: Izu Kitagawa (about 59-minute train ride from Atami Station)
7-minute walk from Izu Kitagawa Station (see the map)
Features: An open-air hot spring on the foreshore
Train Stop: Izu Atagawa Station (about 1-hour train ride from Atami Station)
15-minute walk from Izu Atagawa Station
Features: the open-air hot spring with the ocean view
Price: 600 yen, but 700 yen for the summertime

A Model Trip from Tokyo to the above three hot spring destinations

Here is info about train schedule given to get some sense of the train ride.    
Outbound:
1) Tokyo Station (07:41) on July 20th  (by Ueno Tokyo Line)
2) Atami Station (09:31)
AND
3) Kogen Station (10:22); Izu Kitagawa (10:37); Izu Atagawa (10:40) 

Time at hot spring resorts (for 2 or 3 hours)
You can enjoy fresh Shrimp and/or Sashimi (raw fish) Bowl called Kaisen Don (Japanese:海鮮丼) and do sightseeing there (click the above info provided by their local tourist info sites). 
Kaisen Don (海鮮丼)
Inbound:
1) Atagawa (19:04); Izu Kitagawa (19:06); Izu Kogen Station (19:18)
2) Atami Station (20:07) .
Then, a direct train back from Atami Station to Tokyo Station by Ueno Tokyu Line
3) Tokyo Staion (22:59)

2) A one-day trip from Tokyo to Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture

Nikko is located to the north of Tokyo, in Tochigi Prefecture.  It has a beautiful national park called Nikko National Park, a pristine lake called Chuzenjiko (Lake Chuzenji), and a waterfall called Kegon No Taki (Waterfall Kegon).  These three places are not an easy access by train, but Nikko Tosho-gu (English: Nikko Tosho-gu Shinto Shrine) is easily accessed by train and a MUST place to visit.  It is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites and shows Japanese history.  It enshrines Ieyasu Tokugawa, who started Tokugawa Shogunate/ Era in 1603.



How to get to Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture

With Seishun 18 Kippu (the Pass), take JR Line from Tokyo Station to Utsunomiya Station (by UenoTokyo Line, for 1 hour and 37 minutes), where you change trains.  Then, take another train of JR Nikko Line for 49 minutes to reach Nikko.  All this route requires ONLY the Pass.  One way to Nikko (2592 yen) exceeds the one-day travel cost by The Pass (2370 yen). 

What to see at Nikko Tosho-gu Shinto Shrine and its vicinity

  • 2 shrines (Nikko Tosho-gu Shrine; Nikko Futarasan Jinja Shrine)  and 1 temple (Nikkosan Rinjoji Temple)
  • Historical architectures, sculptures, and pagodas designated as natural treasures and assets
Nikko Tosho-gu Shrine, the most famous and splendid of the three temples and shrines, is what you have to visit first and the most.  Once you step into its sanctuary through the black/gold decorative gate, you will be greatly amazed at the breath-taking gorgeous architectures and sculptures.


The three wise monkeys are those who cover its mouth, ears, eyes, respectively.  This exemplifies Japanese teaching that "we should not speak ill of someone, listen to gossip, or see what we are not supposed to see."  It is said that their mother monkey disciplined her baby monkeys, which show their learning by their cute gestures.  Sleeping Cat is said to mean hope for peace. 
Three wise monkeys

A Model Trip from Tokyo to Nikko Tosho-gu Shinto Shrine

Here is info about train schedule given to get some sense of the train ride.    
Outbound:
1) Tokyo Station (07:50) on July 20th (by Ueno Tokyo Line)
2) Utsunomiya Station (09:27)
AND
2) Utsunomiya Station (09:32) (by JR Nikko LIne)
3) Nikko Station (10:21)

Exploration at Nikko Tosho-gu Shinto Shrine (for 3 or 5 hours)
You can enjoy lunch and sweets there.  (click the above info provided by their local tourist info sites). 

Inbound:
1) Nikko (19:35) (by JR Nikko LIne)
2) Utsunomiya Station (20:19)
2) Utsunomiya STation (20:25) (by Ueno Tokyo Line)
3) Tokyo Staion (22:21)

3) A one-day trip from Tokyo to Kamakura, Enoshima, and Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture  

Buddha Statue in Kamakura
In this trip, you explore Kamakura first, and then Enoshima (the most popular beach resort in Tokyo metropolitan area), and visit Yokohama and eat dinner on the way back to Tokyo.  Since these three places are not far away from Tokyo, you can make a short, but amazing trip from Tokyo for sure.  On the map below, only Kamakura is shown, but Enoshima is pretty easy access from there and provides scenic beauty. 

How to get to Kamakura, Enoshima, and Yokohamain Kanagawa Prefecture

1) To Kamakura: With Seishun 18 Kippu (the Pass), take JR Line from Tokyo Staiton to Kamakura Station (by Yokosuka Line, for 55 minutes).  And take a 20-minute bus ride from JR Kamakura Station and get off at Daibutsu Mae bus stop.  OR take another train (of Enoden) and get off at Hase Station.  It is only about 5-minute walk from there.  

  2) To Enoshima from Kamakura: You cannot use the Pass for this short ride (260 yen for the 24-minute ride, operated by Enoshima Dentetsu), but you would not regret it because you experience an exciting train ride, which goes through rows of houses before the magnificient ocean view comes into your eyes.  

  3) To reach Yokoham from Enoshima, you have to get on Enoden again (260 yen) to get back to Kamakura Station.  Then with the Pass, take a JR train to Yokohama.  


What to see at Kamakura, Shonan (Enoshima), and Yokohama

Have you ever heard of Buddha Statue in Kamakura?   This famed huge bronze Buddha Status (Japanese: Kamakura Daibutsu) is in Kotokuin, Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture.  You can walk into the inside of the Statue as if you were a baby of this sacred Buddha.  It has some resemblance to the Status in Nara Prefecture, but unlike the one in Nara, this Status sits outside and welcomes visitors.  You would surely gasp with excitement once you glance at its head from a distance.    

 This Shrine was worshiped as a guardian shrine for Genji Clan, who established Kamakura Shogunate in 1192. It has a long relationship with another famous shrine, Iwashimizu Hachiman-gu, in Kyoto.  Two aligned vermilion shrines have long stairs leading to their main gates, with beautiful green trees on both sides.  It is 10-minute walk from Kamakura Station.  
  • Exciting train ride through rows of houses and a magnificent ocean view.
  • The Shonan Beach, the best beach for surfers and Enoshima Island
Enoden trains run along the seaside, which has splendid views of the ocean and surfers.  After the train ride, you could visit Enoshima Aquarium.  Or, you could directly start walking to the Enoshima Island.  From Chigogafuchi (40 to 50 minutes hike from Enoshima Station), weather permitted, you can view Mt. Fuji.
  • Yokohama Chinatown in Yokohama
Yokohama is the second largest city and the largest port in Japan.  Since this City is one of the best tourist destinations after Tokyo, please refer to other sites which promotes this City.  In Yokohama Marine Park, you can just sit on the bench viewing the ocean, or enjoy swimming in the ocean or jogging there.  The only place we strongly recommend is Yokohama Chinatown which has a lot of Chinese restaurants and shops.  It would be great to finish your one-day excursion with authentic Chinese dishes there.   

A Model Trip from Tokyo to  Kamakura, Enoshima, and Yokohama

Here is info about train schedule given to get some sense of the train ride.    
Outbound to Kamakura:
1) Tokyo Station (07:35) on July 20th (by Yokosuka Line)
2) Kamakura Station (08:30)
3) Either take a bus or another train, as explained above.  
Exploration in Kamakkura  (for 2 to 3  hours)
You can enjoy lunch and sweets there.  (click the above info provided by their local tourist info sites). 

Outbound to Shonan and Enoshima & Inbound to Yokohama
Take a train of Enoshima Dentetsu (for 24 minutes, one way)
Exploration at Shonan Beach and Enoshima (2 to 3 hours, depending on what you want to do there, such as hiking as far as to Chigogafuchi (we would recommend this place IF you have extra time).  

Inbound:
1) Kamakura (17:57) (by JR Yokosuka LIne)
2) Yokohama Station (18:21)
Exploration in Yokohama and dinner (for 2 to 3 hours)
3) Yokohama  (21:32) (by Ueno Tokyo Line)
4) Tokyo Station (21:59)

Regarding OTHER possible Passes for the trip(s) from Tokyo, we will introduce some trips with those Passes.  

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