5 of the Best Walking Trails in Japan

Japan boasts plenty of drawcards and travellers flock here for the culture, cuisine, cityscapes, rich history and incredible natural beauty. These varied landscapes are a haven for hikers and offer some of the most exquisite surroundings woven...
22 July, 2019Mt Fuji, Japan

Japan boasts plenty of drawcards and travellers flock here for the culture, cuisine, cityscapes, rich history and incredible natural beauty. These varied landscapes are a haven for hikers and offer some of the most exquisite surroundings woven with walking trails and fascinating narratives. If you are considering a walking tour in Japan, here are some trails to consider.

Hike Mt Fuji

Japan’s iconic Mt Fuji is a sight to behold. It goes without saying, the view from its summit is just as breathtaking as the sight of the towering mountain itself. On many guided tours of Japan travellers enjoy a stop at Station Five, part way up the mountainside which you can access by vehicle, and if you are lucky to visit in a cloudless moment, you’ll enjoy spectacular views here. However, there are four main trails that continue up the mountain to the summit which you can reach on foot.

On a walking tour like Exodus’ Mt Fuji and Japanese Alps itinerary, the journey to the summit is broken up over two days to maximise your time on the mountain. On this itinerary, the first leg from Station Five to Station Eight takes roughly four to five hours and is a challenging trek, albeit well-marked. Hikers will rest here overnight in a mountain hut ready for an early morning start which rewards with sunrise at the summit.

The summit of Mt Fuji is not a classic peak, but instead a crater spanning roughly 500 meters in diameter and plunging 250 meters deep. Rest your legs on the caldera and watch a warm golden glow spread across the landscape. A fitting experience to have in the “Land of the Rising Sun”. You can also get a dose of the Japanese way of doing things a little differently while you’re feeling on top of the world. You won't be surprised to find some unique experiences at the summit - send a postcard boasting of your achievement from the summit post office, steal a quiet moment at the mountaintop shrine, or sit back and enjoy a warm noodle soup.

Yarigatake, Japan

Hike Mt Yari (Yarigatake)

If it is conquering peaks that you are after, then on the very same itinerary you can also tackle the popular Yarigatake Trek. Often referred to as the ‘Japanese Matterhorn’ Mt Yari can be seen protruding from the Alps like a shard of glass beckoning hikers with its commanding presence.

Those who heed the call and join Exodus’ guided tour through the Japanese Alps will start off in the Yarisawa Valley ambling through the pine and birch forests of the valley floor before turning things up a notch. Not for the faint hearted, the hike to the summit has steep and challenging stretches but rewards with awe inspiring views on a clear day. If you’re lucky, you’ll even spot Mt Fuji standing proud to the southeast.

Reaching the peak will involve six to eight hours of challenging hiking, followed by a descent taking roughly eight to ten hours the following day. On the way back down, you’ll have to keep an eye on the uneven ground, but be sure to tear your gaze away every now and then to catch sight of the verdant valleys sprawling below.

Kumano Kodo, Japan

Walking Kumano Kodo

Nestled on the Kii Peninsula, Kumano Kodo is a network of pilgrimage trails that weave their way through ancient forests, past bubbling waterfalls, below giant camphor trees, and across mountain passes blanketed in mist. This series of routes connects Hongu Taisha, Nachi Taisha, and Hayatama Taisha, three great Buddhist shrines, and you get the feeling of being somewhere truly special as you follow in the footsteps of emperors and samurai who trod this path before you.

This incredible puzzle of natural landscapes, spiritual hotspots and interwoven paths is one of only two pilgrimage routes in the world garnering World Heritage status. UNESCO beautifully captures the essence of why this special place is considered one of Outstanding Universal Value. “Together, the sites and the forest landscape of the Kii Mountains reflect a persistent and extraordinarily well-documented tradition of sacred mountains over the past 1,200 years.”

Want to discover this delightful marriage of nature and spirit? You can spend five days on the Kumano Kodo trail with Explore as well as enjoy other iconic hikes in Japan on the same journey. Alternatively, if you just want to get a taste of this smorgasbord of trails, then you can spend one day sightseeing Nachi Taisha on Intrepid’s Hike, Bike and Kayak itinerary or one day on the trail to see Hongu Taisha on an active Hike Bike and Kayak itinerary with G Adventures.

Cherry blossoms lining the canal, Japan

Walking Kyoto and the Philosopher’s Path

Home to over 2,000 temples and shrines and a wealth of culture, Kyoto is the perfect place to explore on foot and offers an easier option for those wanting a leisurely walking experience in Japan. One of the most popular routes to take is the Philosopher’s Path that stretches roughly two kilometres from the Silver Pavilion to Nanzen-ji along a cherry tree lined canal. Along the way you can detour to shrines and temples or stop off to indulge at the restaurants and cafes.

Follow in the footsteps of Philosopher Nishida Kitaro who ambled this path during his daily meditation, and after whom this trail is named, on an optional stroll with Intrepid in Kyoto on their 12 day active adventure. It will give you time to quietly contemplate your visit to the incredible Silver Pavilion, where you’ll spend some time before hitting the trail and, if you are travelling in cherry blossom season, you’ll be in complete awe of the colours that adorn the trees and dust the path along the way.   

If you want to spend more time pounding the pavements around Kyoto, you can combine this iconic route with a more in depth exploration of the Higashiyama District on foot during Explore’s Walk Japan tour. On this itinerary you can spend a whole day meandering the narrow lanes lined with wooden buildings, sightseeing temples and shrines, and stretching your legs with roughly 12 kilometres covered throughout the day.   

Magome, Nakasendo Trail, Japan

Walking the Nakasendo Trail

This historic route winds its way from Tokyo to Kyoto and dates back to the Edo period in the early 1600s. Post towns peppered the trail and offered travellers a place to rest along the way and the modern day route is still broken up into stretches that hikers can tackle in stints, stopping at beautifully preserved post towns en route.

One of the most popular legs of the trail is that between Tsumago to Magome, roughly eight kilometres winding through the Kiso Valley. Lace up for a lovely hike through mossy forests, past quaint villages, and through fields being tended to by local farmers. You can walk this stretch with Intrepid or hit the trail on an Exodus tour in conjunction with hiking the Alps or walking the Kumano Kodo.  

Along the way you will fall in love with the scenery and narratives that carve their way through the Japanese countryside. This route is just one example of the historic, cultural or spiritual value that most of the popular hiking trails in Japan hold to this day. When blended with the unrivalled natural beauty of the Japanese landscapes, it is no wonder walking and hiking in Japan is finding its way on to so many travellers’ bucket lists.

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