Skip the Crowds: A Slower Day Trip From Tokyo to Hayama

Looking for a quiet, crowd-free day trip from Tokyo? Let me introduce you to Hayama, a peaceful coastal town in Kanagawa Prefecture that’s perfect for slow travel. With serene beaches, cozy cafes, garden paths, and even Mount Fuji views on a clear day, it’s a beautiful escape from the city’s pace.

I ended up visiting Hayama on a last-minute trip, hoping for a change of scenery, and it gave me more calm and clarity than I expected. In this guide, I’ll show you how to get there, what I did during my visit, and why this slower day trip from Tokyo might be worth adding to your itinerary.

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Table of Contents

How to Get to Hayama From Tokyo

Hayama is about two hours away from Tokyo (depending on which station you leave from). You want to aim for either Zushi Station or Shin-Zushi Station.

✨ Pro Tip: They’re one train stop away from Kamakura, making it easy to fit both locations into one day of your trip.

You’ll be using Keikyu Bus routes from the train station that are Suica/Pasmo/IC card compatible.

What to Do in Hayama: A Sample Itinerary

Morning Arrival: Zushi Station
- Catch the bus outside of Zushi Station to head to the next destination.

Cafe Stop for Coffee or Brunch
- 📍 Soso Hayama — a small cafe in a converted old Japanese house. The cafe is attached to a small flower shop and a market filled with small trinkets and jewelry made by local artists. This place seems like it was built to be a cozy work/study location. There’s indoor and outdoor seating, power outlets everywhere, and free WiFi!

Beach Walk & Shrine Visit
- Walk down towards the Morito Coast and the📍 Morito Daimyojin Shrine.
- After paying your respects, explore the hidden pathway and torii gates behind the shrine, where you’ll discover stunning ocean views.

Lunch
- 📍 Ali’i Drive—Hawaiian food restaurant with malasadas! The poke bowl was super fresh!! I highly recommend it, along with the wings and fried soft-shell crab.

Take the Bus & Catch Fuji Views
- A few minutes away from Ali’i Drive, there’s a bus stop where you’ll catch a bus to Hayama Shiosaki Park.
- On a clear day, you should see Mount Fuji peaking over the torii gate in the water from the bus stop.

Afternoon Wandering + Art
- Stroll through📍Hayama Shiosaki Park (entrance fee of 300 yen) and take in the calm waters along the 📍Isshiki Coast.
- Afterward, walk to the 📍 Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Modern Art Hayama, located next door.
- The museum cafe is great for resting and grabbing a snack or coffee before returning to Zushi Station.

Head Back to Tokyo (or add another stop!)
- You can catch a bus from the museum back to Zushi Station, where you can catch a train either back to Tokyo or another destination along the route.
  - Kamakura is only one stop away.
  - Yokohama is 30 minutes away.

Why Hayama Is Worth the Trip (Compared to Other Day Trips)

Hayama feels more like a mental reset than a “checklist destination.” It’s a place to slow down with fewer tourists than Kamakura or Enoshima.

What surprised me the most was the local charm and the Hawaii-like atmosphere. It’s a place to kick back, relax, and enjoy the views.

I think it’s worth taking a trip out here for a morning of peace and then stopping at either Kamakura or Yokohama on the way back to Tokyo.

➡️ Read Next: Kamakura Day Trip From Tokyo Itinerary

Tips for Visiting Hayama

Best time to visit: spring (sakura season) and autumn (fewer crowds, great weather)
Note that its peak rainy season is in June.
Not ideal for nightlife, souvenir shopping, full “itinerary cramming.”

Need help planning your Japan trip? Don’t forget to book these things BEFORE arriving in Japan.
Other quiet day trip guides:
Or, check out things to do in Yokohama (one of my favorite Tokyo day trips!)

Final Thoughts: A Quiet Escape That Stays With You

I’m not sure what I expected from this last-minute trip, but Hayama gave me what I didn’t realize I needed. It gave me a much-needed breather.

I could let my hair down for a bit and enjoy the ocean views only Japan can provide—ones filled with floating torii gates and views of the iconic Mount Fuji.

I can totally see myself renting a house or staying in a hotel room for a quiet weekend away in Hayama.

What about you? Would you add Hayama to your Japan itinerary?