How to get there: Less than one hour by train 

Often referred to as the “Kyoto of the East”, Kamakura is a relaxed town of temples, shrines and beaches south of Tokyo. Seaside restaurants deliver the freshest local seafood and serene views of nearby Enoshima Island (and Mount Fuji in the distance). Visit the colossal 11.3-metre-tall Great Buddha of Kamakura that has watched over Kotoku-in Temple and the surrounding forest since the 13th century.

How to get there: About two hours by train

The five-storey red pagoda at Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine frames one of the country’s most iconic views of Mount Fuji. Visit in spring for fluffy clouds of cherry blossoms or in autumn for fiery red maple leaves. Stroll back to Shimoyoshida Station along Fuji-Michi (Honcho Street) for another perspective of Fuji as it rises above the streetscape.

How to get there: About 45 minutes by bullet train

During the 1980s, Atami became a popular beach getaway for Japanese tourists. Today, it still has kitsch hotels with gold chandeliers and retro cafés such as Pinetree, with its Space Invaders arcade machines from the ’70s. On Hatsushima, just a 30-minute ferry ride from Atami, you can soak up the island vibe with seafood barbecues, diving and snorkelling.

How to get there: About 30 minutes by train 

South of Tokyo, this historic port city was one of the first to admit foreigners in the mid-19th century. As a result, Yokohama offers a mix of international influences alongside the traditional. Stroll from the country’s largest Chinatown to the futuristic shopping malls and hotels of Minato Mirai 21, or the “Harbour of the Future”. Yokohama is also the birthplace of jazz in Japan, with classic bars such as Bar Bar Bar serving stiff drinks and smooth grooves most nights of the week.

How to get there: one hour by train

Step back in time to Japan’s feudal past in the old merchant town of Kawagoe, north-west of Tokyo. The distinctive black mud-walled warehouses were built to protect valuable goods from fire. Today, they house cafés and craft shops. Stroll along the historic streets, sampling local Coedo beer and the town’s famed sweet-potato snacks in Kashiya Yokocho (“Candy Alley”), which is lined with confectionary shops.

How to get there: About 1.5 hours by train and bus

The sprawling Japanese garden of Sankeien, just outside Yokohama, features traditional buildings arranged near ponds and waterways like a fairytale village. Once the estate of a wealthy silk merchant, the garden was opened to the public in 1906. With an ancient pagoda, waterfalls, a bamboo grove and several tea houses and restaurants, you can easily spend a day here. 

How to get there: About 50 minutes by bullet train

A gateway to the hot springs and snow resorts just outside the city, Takasaki is watched over by an imposing 42-metre-tall statue of Byakue Dai-Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy. The city is known for its hearty food, including spaghetti Bolognese topped with a crisp fried-pork cutlet. Takasaki is also the production centre for Japan’s daruma dolls – handpainted papier-mâché symbols of good fortune. Shorinzan Darumaji Temple is full of these whimsical red figures, which adorn almost every surface.

How to get there: 1.5 hours by train

A classic romantic getaway for Tokyoites, Hakone is one of the hot-spring towns closest to the capital. Soak in the soothing pools, ride a cable car over a volcanic landscape of billowing sulphur vents, explore the sculpture gardens of the The Hakone Open-Air Museum or simply admire majestic Mount Fuji in the distance. For hot-spring bathing without the nudity, Yunessun has a variety of indoor and outdoor baths and a swimwear zone in which couples and families can bathe together.

How to get there: two hours by train

About 110 kilometres north of the capital, Nikko is situated on the edge of a national park and offers hiking trails, mountain views and the stunning Kegon falls, which cascade 97 metres down from Lake Chuzenji. Visit UNESCO World Heritage-listed temples and shrines, including the elaborate Nikkō Tōshogū Shrine built in the 17th century. The road to the shrine is lined with more than 12,000 towering cedar trees.

How to get there: About two hours by bullet train and express train

The Izu Peninsula, south-west of Tokyo, is a popular beach destination in summer and a hot-spring escape in winter. It’s also one of the best diving spots near the capital, with warm currents bringing a variety of tropical fish – including yellow-striped butterfish and red cherry anthias. Visit the city of Shimoda on the eastern side of the peninsula for its excellent surfing spots and impressive sunsets.

How to get there: About 1.5 hours by train

To the south-east of Tokyo, Mount Nokogiri is perfect for an easy day hike. Halfway up the mountain is a 31-metre-tall seated stone Buddha, while trails lined with Buddhist statues will lead you to another large bodhisattva carved into the rock face on your way to the summit. Looking at these huge figures and then across Tokyo Bay to the distant city will make you appreciate the scale and craftsmanship. 

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