Hiking

Resources for hiking in Japan:

  • YAMAP – a mapping, tracking, and reporting app/website used by most hikers in Japan. The app has an English interface option, though much of the content is in Japanese. It offers the most detailed maps and the latest updates. It’s useful for viewing recent trip reports to check trail conditions.
  • Hikes in Japan – a comprehensive list of hiking routes in Japan
  • Hikemaster Japan – a good list of very detailed hiking routes (limited number of free visits)
  • The Japan Alps – a very detailed info about hiking routes in the Japanese Alps
  • Kanto Adventures – an American mountain guide offering mountain trips of various difficulty levels

Best Hikes Near Tokyo

Fuji is located near Tokyo, but while it’s a popular hike, I would not recommend climbing it during the climbing season. There are better options for views and a variety of landscapes.

For a great day trip: Tanigawa – the closest dramatic mountain near Tokyo. Very well connected with Shinkansen and ropeway, although it is expensive to get to.

For a cheap day trip: Tanzawa – offers less dramatic views and more forest walking, but it’s much cheaper and has a very long hiking season.

For rock formations: Mizugaki and Kinpu – interesting geology and good views. Overnight.

For swamps and meadows: Hiuchi in Oze – a unique landscape and is relatively easy. You can do the hike without reaching the peak, simply enjoying the scenery. An overnight stay is required.

For some technical sections: Yatsugatake – Very nice ridge with extinct volcanoes and interesting geology. Will require an overnight stay.

For A LOT of technical sections: Myogi – an exhilarating climb, not high in elevation but very challenging. Not for beginners! A helmet and via ferrata set are recommended.

Best Hikes in the Japanese Alps

All of these hikes will require an overnight stay in a mountain hut or campsite. They take a few hours to get to from Tokyo, so it’s a good idea to arrive a day in advance and sleep at the trailhead or a nearby town. You can combine them with nearby mountains or do a massive hike like The Ultimate Northern Alps Traverse.

For landscapes: Shirouma – a long hike with crazy views. Possible to do via the Daisekkei snowfield (will need crampons or snowspikes) or Tsugaike ropeway. Favorite hike of Hannah who did a great video on it.

For a ridge full of technical sections: Daikiretto or Gendarme – pretty much the hardest stuff you can do in Japan that would not classify as rock climbing. Helmet is a must and via ferrata set recommended.

For a slightly technical peak: Tsurugi – a beautiful mountain with some interesting technical sections, considered by some to be the most technical peak in Japan. A helmet is highly recommended. This hike can be combined with hiking Tateyama.

For volcanic landscapes: Tateyama – a rather easy mountain with rather long access and unique views. Possible to combine with Tsurugi.

For a non-technical ridge and Fuji views: Kitadake – arguably the best campsite and Fuji views, a flowy ridge with several nice peaks.

The Ultimate Northern Alps Traverse (10 days)

In my opinion, this is the best mountain traverse of Japan. It is one of the longest hikes you can do in Japan without descending down to the valleys. It is a combination of Omote Ginza Panorama and Ura Ginza Panorama routes connected to Yakushi, Tateyama and Tsurugi.

AllTrails route is here.

The best time to do it would be August, while July and September might be OK as well.

It is a long traverse for advanced hikers – you have to be ready for adverse weather, injuries, long days, slightly technical sections (no rock climbing). Better to have several extra days if the weather goes bad. Helmet is advisable. Will need to bring all your water between the huts. No need to bring much food if you are staying in the huts, but will need quite a bit if you are camping (sometimes the huts don’t serve hot food for campers). You will need to book the huts far in advance, some online, some by phone – might need a Japanese speaker to help you. If you are camping, preferably you book the campsites as well, but often it is possible to do without the booking. Fast hikers or trail runners can skip some huts like Otensho and Sugonokoshi.

  • Day 1 Tokyo – Matsumoto – Hotaka train – bus to Nakabusa onsen, hike to Enzan-so hut
  • Day 2 Summit Tsubakuro, hike to Otensho hut
  • Day 3 Otensho hut – Yarigatake hut
  • Day 4 Summit Yarigatake, hike to Sugoroku hut
  • Day 5 Sugoroku hut – Yakushidake hut
  • Day 6 Summit Yakushi, hike to Sugunokoshi hut
  • Day 7 Sugunokoshi hut – Ichinokoshi Hut
  • Day 8 Summit Tateyama – hike to Kenzanso hut
  • Day 9 Summit Tsurugi – descend to Murodo – take a bus, cable car and train to Toyama (or stay in Murodo Sanso if you are late)
  • Day 10 Toyama – Tokyo train

From Yarigatake it is possible to divert south towards Okuhotaka via the quite scary Daikiretto ridge. Then possible to descend to Kamikochi or continue onwards to other scary peak called Gendarme and then down to Kamikochi or onwards to Nishihotaka and down the the ropeway towards the Gifu side.

The Peakbagger (14 days)

This is an intense itinerary focused on hiking the best peaks of Nagano, Toyama and Kyushu. The best time to do it would be June-September, the most reliable weather-wise being August. However, Kyushu in summer will be very hot and humid. All of this is doable by public transport, but the Kyushu leg would be much less stressful with a rental car.

You will need to book the huts far in advance, some online, some by phone – might need a Japanese speaker to help you. If you are camping, I suggest to book the campsites as well, but often it is possible to camp without the booking.

  • Day 1 Tokyo (Shinjuku) – Matsumoto train, bus to Kamikochi, walk to Dakesawa hut, sleep there
  • Day 2 Hotaka hike: Dakesawa – summit Okuhotaka – sleep in Hotakadake hut
  • Day 3 Descent to Karasawa, then Kamikochi – bus to Matsumoto, overnight there
  • Day 4 Matsumoto – Toyama train – train+ropeway+bus to Murodo. Tsurugi hike: stay at Kenzanso hut (easier alternative is Tateyama via Ichinokoshi hut)
  • Day 5 Summit Tsurugi – Murodo – Toyama, stay there
  • Day 6 Toyama – Tokyo train, fly Haneda – Kagoshima – Yakushima
  • Day 7 Miyanoura hike (Yodogawa to Shin-Takasutska hut)
  • Day 8 Shin-Takasutska hut – Arakawa bus stop
  • Day 9 Morning: Hirauchi Kaichu Onsen (on low tide). Yakushima – Kagoshima flight, stay in Maruo Onsen
  • Day 10 Kirishima hike
  • Day 11 Maruo onsen – Kumamoto
  • Day 12 Kumamoto – Aso hike – Kurokawa onsen
  • Day 13 Kurokawa onsen – Kuju hike – stay in Hokkein Onsen Sansou hut
  • Day 14 Hokkein Onsen Sansou hut – Makinoto trailhead – Oita airport – Tokyo