Tokyo Travel Guide
Discover where to stay in Tokyo for smooth rail connections to Japan’s most rewarding day-trip destinations.
December 7, 2025
5 mins read
Tokyo sits at the heart of a vast rail network, and the wrong base can add hours of transfers to your out-of-town excursions. This page helps you choose a neighbourhood based on where your day trips depart. For an overview of other considerations like nightlife and accessibility, see the main Tokyo base guide.
Day-trip math
When you plan an excursion, don’t just count the time on the limited-express or shinkansen train. Getting to the right platform in Tokyo can be a journey. Shinjuku Station handles 3.6 million passengers daily and comprises six interlinked stations with 53 platforms. Tokyo Station is also enormous, though its signage was improved during a 2012 renovation. Transfers through these complexes often involve long underground corridors, elevators and staircases.
Direct trains save time not only on the track but also by eliminating cross-town transfers. Below are the main departure points for popular day trips and the best areas to stay near them.
Pick your base by where you'll depart
Nikko and northeastern escapes: Tobu Railway offers 1–2 limited express trains per hour from Asakusa to Tobu-Nikko Station, taking roughly two hours. Direct limited express trains from Shinjuku run only once or twice per day. If Nikko is a priority (or you want easy access to the Keisei Skyliner at Ueno for Narita), Ueno/Asakusa tends to minimize backtracking.
Hakone, Enoshima and Mt Fuji: Shinjuku is the cleanest departure point for popular western day trips. The Odakyu Romancecar runs reserved-seat limited express service to Hakone-Yumoto in about 80 minutes. The FUJI EXCURSION service also offers direct trains from Shinjuku toward Kawaguchiko via the Fujikyuko Line.
Kyoto, Hiroshima and the south/west: Tokyo Station is the shinkansen hub and the simplest base for early departures and late returns. It’s the terminus for multiple shinkansen lines (including the Tokaido Shinkansen toward Kyoto/Osaka, plus other lines in multiple directions).
Disneyland (Maihama) and bayside attractions: Tokyo Disney Resort is on the JR Keiyo Line. Basing near Tokyo Station (or along the Keiyo Line corridor) usually keeps the route simplest; from Shinjuku or Shibuya you’ll need to transfer, so you should budget extra time.
Best bases
Tokyo Station / Marunouchi
Best for: Travellers with day trips by shinkansen to Kyoto, Hiroshima, Nagano or Sendai. Tokyo Station’s central location and multiple shinkansen lines make it the city’s intercity hub.
Avoid if: You crave a neighborhood vibe or nightlife—Marunouchi is a business district that quietens in the evening.
Transit reality: The Narita Express reaches Tokyo Station from the airport in about 53 minutes, and the station connects to the Yamanote, Chuo and multiple subway lines. Still, crossing the station can take 5–10 minutes even when you know where you’re going.
Gotcha: The maze of ticket gates and underground passages can confuse first-timers. Signage is good, but you need to allow extra time.
Workaround: Stay near the Marunouchi or Yaesu exits to reduce walking distance. Use the station’s online map to pre-plan your path to the correct shinkansen platforms before departure.
Ueno / Asakusa
Best for: Day trips to Nikko and other destinations on the Tobu or Tohoku lines. Asakusa’s Tobu limited express trains run 1–2 times per hour to Nikko. Ueno’s smaller station feel (plus Yamanote/Ginza/Hibiya access) often makes transfers less exhausting.
Avoid if: You plan multiple western day trips or seek upscale nightlife; Ueno and Asakusa are more traditional and tend to be quieter at night.
Transit reality: The Keisei Skyliner from Ueno reaches Narita Airport quickly. The Ginza and Hibiya lines also give direct routes to Ginza and Roppongi, though some Asakusa-area transfers can involve stairs.
Gotcha: Limited express services from Shinjuku to Nikko only operate once or twice daily. If you miss them, you’ll be transferring anyway.
Workaround: Base near Asakusa if Nikko is a priority and buy limited-express tickets in advance. In Ueno, hotels near the Park Exit can make Skyliner mornings feel much smoother.
Shinjuku
Best for: Day trips to Hakone, Enoshima and Mt Fuji via the Romancecar and FUJI EXCURSION services. Shinjuku also puts you on the Chuo Line for places like Kofu and Matsumoto.
Avoid if: You find crowds stressful. Shinjuku handles 3.6 million passengers daily and contains six interlinked stations. Navigating it with a backpack (especially during commuter peaks) can be a lot.
Transit reality: The Romancecar offers reserved seats and a direct ~80-minute ride to Hakone. FUJI EXCURSION connects Shinjuku directly toward the Fujikyuko Line. Regular JR and subway lines also converge here.
Gotcha: Odakyu, JR and Keio are effectively separate “stations within the station,” so you may traverse long underground corridors between operators.
Workaround: Stay near the south or west exits for shorter walks to Odakyu/JR access, and buy Romancecar tickets online to skip lines and secure seats.
Two-base strategy (only if 6+ nights)
If you have a week or more and plan excursions in multiple directions, consider splitting your stay. For example, spend the first half near Shinjuku to tackle Hakone and Mt Fuji, then move to Ueno or Asakusa for Nikko and north-bound trips. This reduces daily backtracking and lets you experience two very different neighbourhood atmospheres.
When guided help actually makes sense
Coordinating multiple day trips, navigating ticketing systems, and timing transfers can feel like solving a puzzle—especially if you’re juggling family needs, accessibility constraints, or tight morning departures. If you want a clearer sense of what a private guide can and can’t help with (without committing to a packaged tour), see our Tokyo private tours planning guide.
Still deciding?
If you’d like to weigh nightlife, family-friendliness or other factors alongside day-trip convenience, use the same lens: minimize transfer friction, keep station navigation predictable, and bias toward departure points you’ll actually enjoy using early in the morning.
