Quick Answer
The best road trips from Tokyo are Hakone (90–100 km, 1.5–2 hours), the Fuji Five Lakes (100–110 km, about 2 hours), the Izu Peninsula (100–180 km, 2–4 hours), Nikko (about 150 km, 2 hours), Kusatsu and Karuizawa (160–200 km, 2–3 hours) and the Boso Peninsula (60–130 km, 1–2 hours). For a first drive in Japan, choose Hakone or the Fuji Five Lakes: expressway most of the way and easy in one or two nights. At weekends, leave Tokyo early, as traffic out of the city builds from about 7 a.m.
Tokyo is surrounded by some of Japan’s best driving country. Within two hours you can reach volcanic lakes, mountain shrines, surf beaches and hot-spring towns, and within four you are deep in the Alps or at the tip of the Izu Peninsula. These nine road trips are the ones we recommend most, with honest notes on drive times, the best season for each and when the train is the better choice.
Road trips from Tokyo compared
| Destination | Distance | Drive time | Best for | Best season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hakone | 90–100 km | 1.5–2 h | Onsen, Fuji views | Oct–Mar |
| Mt. Fuji Five Lakes | 100–110 km | 1 h 45–2 h | Fuji views, lakes | Oct–Feb |
| Izu Peninsula | 100–180 km | 2–4 h | Coast, seafood, onsen | Feb–Jun, Sep–Nov |
| Nikko | about 150 km | about 2 h | Shrines, waterfalls, autumn colours | May–Nov |
| Kusatsu and Karuizawa | 160–200 km | 2–3 h | Onsen, highland air | All year |
| Boso Peninsula | 60–130 km | 1–2 h | Beaches, easy coast drive | Mar–Jun, Sep–Oct |
| Chichibu | about 80 km | 1.5–2 h | Mountains, shrines, short trip | Apr–Nov |
| Hitachi Seaside Park | about 130 km | about 2 h | Flower fields | Late Apr, Oct |
| Nagano and the Alps | 200–220 km | about 3 h | Mountains, snow monkeys | May–Oct, winter with care |
Times are without traffic. Check tolls on NEXCO Drive Plaza.
1. Hakone: the classic first road trip
Hot springs, Lake Ashi, the steaming Owakudani valley and Mt. Fuji from the Ashinoko Skyline. Hakone is compact, well signposted and close enough for a relaxed overnight stay. The Tomei Expressway gets you there in under two hours; the scenic Hakone Turnpike is the best way up. Avoid Route 1 into Hakone-Yumoto on weekend mornings. Read the full Tokyo to Hakone guide.
2. Mt. Fuji and the Five Lakes
The north side of Mt. Fuji, two hours away on the Chuo Expressway. A car lets you chase the clearest view at sunrise, from the Chureito Pagoda to Lake Motosu, the view on the ¥1,000 note. Best from late October to February, when the air is clearest. See the Tokyo to Mt. Fuji guide.
3. The Izu Peninsula
A coastal loop of volcanic cliffs, white beaches and seaside onsen, with Mt. Fuji across the bay from the west coast. The east coast is on the train line; the west coast and the interior really need a car. Allow three days. See the Izu Peninsula road trip.
4. Nikko and Okunikko
UNESCO-listed shrines and temples at Toshogu, then a climb up the Irohazaka, two one-way roads (one up, one down) with 48 hairpin bends between them, to Lake Chuzenji and the 97-metre Kegon Falls. Take the Tohoku Expressway and the Nikko-Utsunomiya Road; about two hours from Tokyo. Autumn colours in October make Irohazaka spectacular but very congested; go on a weekday and start early. Okunikko, beyond the lake, has marshland walks and the Yumoto onsen.
5. Kusatsu Onsen and Karuizawa
Kusatsu is one of Japan’s most famous hot spring towns, built around the steaming Yubatake in the town centre. Drive the Kan-etsu Expressway to Shibukawa-Ikaho IC (stopping at Ikaho Onsen’s stone steps on the way), or combine it with the cool resort town of Karuizawa. In summer and autumn you can continue over the Shiga-Kusatsu Road into Nagano, one of the highest drives in Japan.
6. The Boso Peninsula
The easiest coast drive from Tokyo. Cross Tokyo Bay on the Aqua-Line, a tunnel-and-bridge route of about 14 km with the Umihotaru rest area in the middle of the bay, then explore the Chiba coast: the giant carved Buddha and cliffs at Mt. Nokogiri, the surf beaches of the Pacific side and the fishing town of Katsuura. Mild in winter, with early flowers from January. Ideal for a first day getting used to driving in Japan.
7. Chichibu
Forested mountains, old shrines and river gorges only 1.5–2 hours north-west of Tokyo. Visit Mitsumine Shrine high in the hills, the river rocks at Nagatoro and, in mid-April to early May, the pink moss phlox at Hitsujiyama Park. A good half-day or one-night trip, with easy driving.
8. Hitachi Seaside Park
A huge coastal park in Ibaraki, two hours north-east on the Joban Expressway. It is best known for the blue nemophila hills (usually late April to early May) and red kochia bushes (October). Go early: the car parks fill on peak weekends.
9. Nagano and the Japan Alps
The longest drive on this list and the most rewarding: Karuizawa, Zenko-ji temple, the snow monkeys at Jigokudani, Matsumoto Castle and the mountain roads of Shiga Kogen. Three hours from Tokyo, best over 3–5 days. See Tokyo to Nagano by car.
How to choose by season
- Winter (December–February): Fuji, Hakone and the Izu and Boso coasts. Clear skies, few crowds, no snow on the coast. Avoid mountain passes without winter tyres.
- Spring (March–May): early cherry blossoms in Izu, then Fuji and Hakone in early April, and flower fields at Hitachi and Chichibu. See the cherry blossom road trip.
- Summer (June–August): go high. Karuizawa, Kusatsu, Nagano and Okunikko are 5–10°C cooler than Tokyo.
- Autumn (October–November): Nikko, Nagano and Hakone for autumn colours, the best driving season of the year. See the autumn road trip.
Tips for leaving Tokyo by car
- Pick up outside the centre. Collecting your car in western or suburban Tokyo saves you the Shuto Expressway at rush hour.
- Start early. At weekends, leave before 7 a.m. and come back after 7 p.m. or on a weekday.
- Get an ETC card. Your rental company can provide one; it speeds up toll gates and gives you ETC discounts.
- Use service areas. Expressway service areas (SA) and parking areas (PA) have clean toilets, good food and EV chargers.
- Know the paperwork. You need an International Driving Permit under the 1949 Geneva Convention, or for some countries an official Japanese translation. See our Driving in Japan guide.
Linking trips together
Many of these destinations connect: Hakone, Fuji and Izu form a natural loop south-west of Tokyo, and Kusatsu, Karuizawa and Nagano link to the north-west. Our 7-day and 14-day itineraries combine them. For a month or more of trips from a Tokyo base, a long-term car rental is usually the simplest option.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest road trip from Tokyo for a first-time driver in Japan?
The Boso Peninsula or Chichibu: short distances, light traffic and simple roads. Hakone is next, if you avoid peak weekends.
Is it worth renting a car in Tokyo?
Not for the city itself, where trains are faster and parking is expensive. It is worth it for the destinations above, especially with luggage, children or more than one stop.
How much are expressway tolls from Tokyo?
Most trips on this list cost roughly ¥2,000–6,500 each way with ETC. See the Japan road trip cost guide for a full breakdown.
Related: Driving in Japan Guide
Planning a longer road trip in Japan?
For stays of several weeks or more, a monthly rental can be simpler than booking a new car every few days.
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