Hiking in Japan: My Favorite Hikes and Walks
Hiking in Japan is one of my favorite activities. The trails are generally safe and surprisingly easy to access, thanks to the excellent public transportation network that spans the entire country. For a solo traveler who doesn’t drive, this makes things considerably easier.
With 70% of its land covered by mountains, Japan is home to thousands of hiking trails, if not more. These trails cover a wide range of selections, including famous pilgrimage routes, such as Kumano Kodo and Shikoku, multi-day mountain range traverses like Daisetsuzan Grand Traverse in Hokkaido, peak hunts through moss forests like in Yakushima, riverside walks, jungle hikes like in the southern islands of Okinawa, and even relatively little known trails in otherwise extremely well-known destinations, like Kyoto Trail – the list is extensive.
Since I moved to Japan in 2019, I have been fortunate to explore some of these trails, and below is a list of some of my favorite hikes in Japan, with links to individual posts for each trail. Most of these hikes are not very strenuous, and the list covers various types of trails, including road walks, pilgrimage routes, easy riverside hikes, and peak hunts.
The list below is not in any particular order of preference, but there is also a more recent post where I discuss some of my favorites in geographical order, starting on Iriomote Island in Okinawa and finishing on Rebun Island in Hokkaido – Hiking Japan: From Okinawa to Hokkaido.
Kyoto Trail: experience Kyoto from a different perspective
While Japan’s former capital and most visited city is best known for its cultural landmarks rather than hiking trails, the 80-kilometer-long Kyoto Trail, which circles the town through the surrounding mountains, offers the best of both worlds.
I hiked it in early November and was blown away by the diversity of the scenery and how parts of the trail, like secret passages, run just behind world-famous sites like Fushimi Inari and Kiyomizu-dera, hidden in plain sight from the thousands of daily visitors.
I wrote a diary of the five-day hike that you can check out here: Hiking the Kyoto Trail
Rebun Island hikes in Hokkaido
If I had to pick the most picture-perfect place in Japan, my vote would definitely go to Rebun Island. Home to various easy-to-moderate-level hiking trails, Rebun Island is particularly beautiful in July, with the blooming of wildflowers.
If you have time only for one hike on the island, the impossibly picturesque Momo Iwa trail would be my first choice. I wrote about my hiking trip to Rebun Island in this post, outlining trails and accommodation/dining options: Rebun Island Hikes.
Ancient Pilgrimage Paths: the Nakanechi Route of Kumano Kodo
The Nakahechi Route of the Kumano Kodo, which connects Takijiri in Wakayama to Hongu Taisha Shrine and beyond, is one of the most popular pilgrimage routes in Japan, visited by tens of thousands of visitors each year.
The trail, typically hiked over four to five days with overnight stays at family-run lodges along the way, is one of the best ways to experience Japan. It offers not only a nature-oriented but also a culturally moving experience. This is the diary of a recent four-day hike on the trail, starting at Nachi Falls and ending at Takahara village – Walking Kumano Kodo: The Imperial Route.
Mount Aso in Kyushu: Japan`s largest active volcano
The Mount Aso hike in Japan offers the best combination of the most unique aspects of hiking in Japan. The trail is easily accessible with a direct bus leaving from Aso town.
Depending on the alert level, hikers can get close to the craters, which steam in all their glory. This is a relatively easy hike with only a few short, steep sections. The small town of Aso also makes a perfect base with atmospheric eateries and a modern hostel suitable for solo hikers.
Karasawa Cirque: the most popular autumn colors hike in Japan
Karasawa Cirque trail, located in Kamikochi of Nagano, is one of the most popular fall colors hikes in Japan, if not the most. The long trail that leads to Karasawa Cirque from the Kamikochi bus stop is, however, beautiful in every season. Most people prefer to finish the Karasawa hike in two days with an overnight stay at one of the mountain huts or valley lodges. I hiked the trail in early September with a one-night stay at Tokusawa Lodge.
While there are some steep sections (lasting approximately 20-30 minutes), the hike is suitable for all levels of hikers, and the views along the way and at the summit are well worth the effort. This is easily one of the most visually pleasing hikes in Japan.
Kuju Mountain Range: hike to a mountain-top onsen
Located in the northern section of Aso-Kuju National Park, Kuju is a hike with everything. The mountain range features dozens of trails suitable for hikers of all levels. Kuju offers a greater diversity of landscape than its neighbor, Mountain Aso, where the main attraction is the active volcano.
Although all the trails in Kuju are suitable for day hikes, the main allure of Kuju is the Hokkein Onsen, where you can spend the night (and it is only accessible by hiking). The mountain cottage features an onsen and offers both private and dorm-style rooms. It is a wonderful place to unwind after a full day of hiking, mingle with other hikers, and share trail stories.
The two popular trailheads are Chojabaru and Makinoto Pass (both accessible by public bus from nearby Yufuin, Aso, and Kurokawa Onsen). If you have the chance, I would recommend exploring both trails, as each offers a very different but equally beautiful landscape. For the more detailed post: Gentle Beauty – Kuju Mountain Hikes.
Circling Yakushima – Kyushu
Where will I ever get to circle a perfectly circular-shaped island covering 100 kilometers in distance? During my second visit to Yakushima (when I stayed for two months), I sure had plenty of time to explore the trails (or roads in this case) not listed among the famous hiking trails of Yakushima: I circled the island on foot following the car route.
I started my walk in Anbo and planned my walking days based on the availability of accommodation along the route. I finished the island walk in two nights and three days.
My favorite part was walking the famous West Forest Road, where the only other creatures on foot were island monkeys and deer. You can take many detours along the route to visit some of the many waterfalls in Yakushima. I also strongly recommend an overnight stay in Nagata, one of the most picturesque towns in Yakushima, to see the sunset and sunrise. You can read a more detailed account of my Yakushima island walk, “Circling Yakushima.”
Naka Dake Onsen loop hike in Daisetsuzan National Park – Hokkaido
This is a relatively long day hike, taking around seven to eight hours, but luckily not a very strenuous one. The more difficult section involves the hike up to Asahidake (the highest peak in Hokkaido) and then the steep descent down to the valley (which takes around 3 hours).
The rest of the trail goes through a gentle terrain where you experience some of the best scenery that the largest national park in Japan has to offer. During July, the trail is covered with beautiful alpine flowers, making one feel like hiking in Switzerland. The Asahidake-Naka Dake Onsen Loop hike is definitely one of my favorite hikes in Japan. You can read the detailed account of my hike here: Asahidake to Naka Daha Onsen Loop Hike.
Magome-Tsumago Trail along Nakasendo Route – Nagano
A classic hike in Kiso Valley, which is relatively short (8 kilometers) and easy under ideal weather conditions. I did this hike a few years ago, in early March. There was no snow along the trail, and we had sunshine all day. Given that it was still early in the season, my hiking partner and I had the entire trail to ourselves and covered it in less than three hours with a long stop at an impossibly atmospheric tea house along the route.
You need to cross the car road in certain sections, but most of the walk takes you through forests ( and waterfalls) and small villages featuring traditional Japanese architecture. This is a historic trail connecting two of the Edo period’s postal towns, Magome and Tsumago, which are both well-preserved but can become a little too busy during peak travel season. We combined this hike with a stay at Takayama town in Gifu.
Mt. Miyanoura hike in Yakushima – Kyushu
Another Yakushima hike, which is sure to be more popular than circling Yakushima. I took the Yodogawa trail to reach Kyushu’s highest peak, Mt. Miyanoura, and spent the night at one of the mountain huts near Jomon Sugi. On the second day, I took the Arakawa trail to walk out of the mountains. I did the hike on two perfectly sunny days – a rare find in Yakushima.
I highly recommend this hike (long but not technically difficult) to anyone visiting Yakushima. The variety of landscape scenery that the trail is home to is incomparably rich (thus the UNESCO Heritage status). This was one of the most picturesque hikes that I have done in Japan. I wrote a separate post about this hike – Hiking Mt. Miyanoura.
Oirase Stream in Aomori – Tohoku
This is a perfect hike in any season except winter, but particularly memorable in the fall. You follow the gentle Oirase Stream until you reach Lake Towada. It is a very easy hike with almost no elevation change, yet still rewarding, with several waterfalls along the way.
The hike takes around two to three hours on average. The area is surprisingly well served by bus, with many stops along the way. The peak fall color season in the Towada and Oirase area occurs towards the end of October each year, and JR`s Tohoku Pass (which is now also available to resident foreign passport holders) is a great deal for those departing from Tokyo. In a separate post, I wrote about my visit to Lake Towada and Oirase Stream.
Yakiyama and Magose Passes along the Iseji Route of Kumano Kodo
Two very different trails in terms of difficulty. Yakiyama Pass is known to be the most difficult trail along the Iseji Route of Kumano Kodo. Since I was warned about the difficulty of this trail, I packed super light and, in the end, did not find it particularly difficult. However, I hiked on a fully sunny day under perfect weather conditions. Due to the mossy rocks (which make this trail a highly rewarding one in terms of the scenery), this is not a trail I would want to cover on a rainy day. The trailhead is located right next to the Kumano Kodo information center, right outside of Owase town.
Magose Pass, much easier than Yakiyama Pass, is known to be one of the most beautiful sections of not only the Iseji Route but the entire Kumano Kodo network. Magose Pass will always hold a special place in my heart as it was where I had my first encounter with mountain monks – yamabushis (山伏).
Magose Pass, also easily accessible from Owase town, can be walked in less than two hours (with several optional detours to turn it into a longer hike). More detailed post: Walking the Iseji Route.
Kakurunji and Tairyuji Temple hikes in Shikoku
Two steep hikes along the Shikoku Pilgrimage Route earned both temples the title of 難所 (nansyo – difficult place). The trails leading up to these two atmospheric temples are also known as possibly the most scenic hikes along the famous pilgrimage route.
Like many others, I hiked the two temples on the same day, Kakurunji Temple 20 and Tairyuji Temple 21, on a rainy day. I had no complaints as the rain made the forest even more atmospheric. I wrote more about these two trails in my Walking Shikoku post.
Walking the Southern Coast of Shikoku
Shikoku, while rightfully known for its pilgrimage route covered above, offers several other fantastic walking opportunities outside the temple route.
I recently took a week-long walking trip to Kochi to cover its rugged coastline on foot. I based myself in the picturesque town of Ashizuri and took daily long walks along the southern coast of the prefecture. You can read more about it here: Walking the Southern Coast of Shikoku (and Biking the Shimanami Kaido).
I think it is an ideal route to walk, with sidewalks and occasional nature trails that go through woods, but never wander far from the ocean, which combines both the cultural and natural wonders of Shikoku.
Yake Dake: Gentle introduction to the Japanese Alps
I am now taking you back to Honshu, Japan’s largest island. If you are looking for a semi-difficult hike that offers a gentle introduction to the challenging trails of the Japanese Alps, Yake Dake near Kamikochi may be the perfect choice for you.
Possible to do in a half-day, the hike takes you up to an active volcano, offering sweeping views of the valley below. For trail guidance – Hiking Yake Dake.
Other trails for the best hikes in Japan
These are some of my favorite hikes in Japan, and I will update this post regularly as I discover new trails. For other Japan-focused posts, you can visit my Japan Travel page. Below is a list of some other Japan destination-focused posts on the website:
Getting off the mainland to visit the smaller islands is a wonderful option to experience the “extremely” rural life centered around the ocean. These are some of my favorite islands in Japan. Another island-related post covers my favorite Okinawa Island, Tokashiki.
If you have time to visit the northern frontier of Japan, Hokkaido, here are some winter suggestions—a week in Biei—and summer suggestions—Rebun Island.
To experience Japan’s famous onsen (hot springs) culture, check out my post listing some of my favorite onsen.
If you visit Japan during the fall colors season, these are some of my favorite fall foliage viewing destinations in the country.
