Walking in Japan guide
The wise words of Japan’s most celebrated writer ring true for any traveler, especially walking wanderers. However, if any walking trails in the world are going to shake off the shadow of self, then Japan’s will. The combination of ancient history, spirituality and remote mountain landscapes is not only uplifting but unique.
No matter how far you travel, you can never get away from yourself. It’s like your shadow. It follows you everywhere.![]()
– Haruki Murakami
Follow in the footsteps of Samurai warriors as they covered the country from Tokyo to Kyoto on the Nakasendo Trail. Or ancient and modern day pilgrims on the spiritual, shrine bedecked Kumano Kodo Trail. The mountains are a spiritual place in Japanese culture, with Mount Fuji being the holiest of holies. However, Mount Koya on the Nakasendo Trail is the site of one of Japan’s most revered Buddhist monasteries, and Mt. Gassan, Mt. Haguro and Mt. Yudono, collectively known as the Dewa Sanzan, are all sacred peaks. Religious beliefs aside, there is no getting away from the fact that Japan is hiking heaven.
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Japan self guided trekking vacation, Nakasendo Trail
Self-guided walking along Japan’s ancient Nakasendo trail
From
US $1150 to US $1805
5 days
ex flights
Kumano Kodo trekking vacation, Japan
Village to village walking in the sacred Kii Peninsula
From
US $3395
9 days
ex flights
Nakasendo Trail walking tour, Japan
Village-to-village walking on the historic Nakasendo trail
From
US $4420
12 days
ex flights
Shikoku Pilgrimage self guided walking tour, Japan
Shikoku 88 Pilgimage route self-guided walking
From
US $1395 to US $4000
10 days
ex flights
Nikko and Yumoto Onsen walking tour, Japan
Explore Nikko and hike in the beautiful Oku Nikko plains.
From
US $1385
4 days
ex flights
Japan ancient capitals self guided walking tour
Ancient Capitals, historic trails and cultural treasures.
From
US $1280 to US $1560
5 days
ex flights
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What walking in Japan entails
Guided or self-guided?
Japan is so efficient in terms of transport, accommodation and food stops, it is very easy to go hiking here without a guide and so there are plenty of self guided and tailor made options open to you. Organised by experts in Japan, they will give you a good idea of which trails to take on, how much you can do in a day and so on. If you want all decision making taken out of your hands, however, then join a guided, small group walking vacation. Be it on the Nakasendo, Kumano Kodo or summiting Fuji trails. Many people enjoy traveling with like minded hikers especially in a country that is so culturally exciting and unique, and where it is rewarding to have a local guide on tap to help navigate both landscape and culture.
How tough are they?
Japanese walking vacations are often as much about experiencing local history and culture as they are about the hikes. Check the number of days of full walking in the itinerary, because sometimes it might only be for half of the actual trip, if it is a guided trip. If it is tailor made, then you can hike as much as you like. And generally the walking is not too strenuous. On Nakasendo Trail walking vacations, there are only about four days of walking, and outings vary from two to five hours in length on mainly flat-ish, well trodden mountain paths that twist and turn through ancient forests. On Shikoku Island hikes, you will walk on gently rising mountain paths, a bit rough underfoot but nothing too taxing. On the Kumano Kodo Trail, the mountains are a bit tougher and on a guided hiking tour you will walk for about five days, between two and six hours a day, but with more climbs. So, although it is not Kilimanjaro by any means, a good level of fitness is required to tackle up to 1,000m ascents some days. But they are always interspersed with easier days, so don’t panic.If you are going to take on the summits of Fuji or Yari, however, it is a different story. Some days involve six to eight hours of trekking, with challenging climbs and descents on Yari for two days. Indeed the final summit involves a scramble, ladders and chains. This is not for people with knee issues – nor vertigo, for that matter. Fuji is not as challenging but you still need to be ready to hike for two days, get up early to summit at sunrise and have a good level of fitness.
Centre based or nomadic?
Most walking vacations in Japan are nomadic, given the linear nature of the famous walking trails. On the Nakasendo and Kumano Kodo Trails you generally walk from one ‘post town’ to the next, stay in traditional ryokan or minshuku inns. On the Nakasendo Trail, you may have an opportunity to stay overnight at the Mount Koyo monastery, sleeping in the traditional temple lodgings known as shukubo. When taking on the summits of Fuji or Yari you will spend a night or two in basic mountain huts with lots of other fellow trekkers waiting to summit, or celebrating their having just done it.Most walking vacations in Japan also make the most of the country’s brilliant public transport system and use the bus service or bullet ‘shinkansen’ trains to transit from one walking location to another. Or one city to another. And of course your vacation company will organise these for you.
Walking in Japan activities
Climb a peak
Many mountains are considered sacred in Japan, with Mount Fuji being the most revered. Japanese people parade up to its various stages in pilgrimage, some to the summit at 3,776m and others to the 1,000-year-old Murayama Sengen Jinja Temple, just before the final level of the climb. The official climbing season is early July until mid September when the mountain huts are open. There are various routes up to the summit, and your vacation company will advise on the best one for your abilities, which are less crowded, and so on. But, in short, you need two days to climb it if you want to do the traditional summit at sunrise.
The other iconic peak is Mt. Yarigatake, or Yari, at 3,180m, located in the Hida Mountains. It has a sharp, jagged peak and is sometimes called the Matterhorn of Japan. Indeed, you make the final ascent using mountain ladders. The ascent takes a full day and people either spend the night after summiting at Yarigatake Mountain Hut, or the night before, and then summit at dawn. The hot springs back down at the foot of the mountain in Kamikochi will never feel so good.
The other iconic peak is Mt. Yarigatake, or Yari, at 3,180m, located in the Hida Mountains. It has a sharp, jagged peak and is sometimes called the Matterhorn of Japan. Indeed, you make the final ascent using mountain ladders. The ascent takes a full day and people either spend the night after summiting at Yarigatake Mountain Hut, or the night before, and then summit at dawn. The hot springs back down at the foot of the mountain in Kamikochi will never feel so good.
Traditional inns
On many of Japan’s walking trails you will have an opportunity to stay in a traditional rural ryokan inn. These would have hosted people on the pilgrim or samurai trails over the years, and their sparse architecture feels unchanged with time. The room has little furniture, bar some tatami mats and a low table for drinking tea. Your futon bed will be rolled out on the tatami mat at bedtime, often when you are taking your bath, which is also part of the traditional ryokan ritual. The food is nearly always off-the-scale superb. There are sometimes options to stay in a minshuku, which is a smaller, budget version of the traditional inn, with more basic food. Although basic is usually beautiful in Japan.
Don’t miss Uji, a small town south of Kyoto famous for green tea. With loads of cafes selling green tea desserts, green tea ice cream and so on.![]()
Food
In general, the food is just superb in Japan. And not as expensive as you might think. Budget bento box lunches are great for hikers, and sushi will fill up hollow hiking legs. And an okonomiyaki omelette will definitely get you to the next post town. Just try everything. Except whale meat (unesu or onomi) which is a big ethical no no.
Don’t panic about getting the bathing etiquette wrong. Just ask a Japanese person. They are always so helpful and delighted to help.![]()
Hot springs
Public bathing at the sento bath houses is very Japanese and, after a day of hiking even the most body shy are stripping off to enjoy this most warming of traditions. There are codes of practice to be aware of. Men and women bathe separately, yes you do go in naked, and always soap and rinse before you get in the tub.
More Japan walking articles
Avoid the crowds and the rain; read on for more tips on getting your hiking timing right.
Featuring the iconic Nakasendo and Kumano Kodo long distance walking trails, and the top of Mount Fuji.
500km of feudal forays through mountains and valley, along ridges and through forests.
The epic Shikoku Pilgrimage trail loops around the smallest of Japan’s major islands.
a fantastic way to delve deeper into the culture and traditions of Japan’s largest island.
Explore some of Japan’s most attractive landscapes in a national park north of Tokyo.
The biggest walking in Japan travel tip is to start reading all about it as soon as you can.
