Trekking in Japan

ByTravesía Pirenaica
Mount Fuji, Japan / Photo: Manuel Cosentino (unsplash)
Mount Fuji, Japan / Photo: Manuel Cosentino (unsplash)

Japan is a fascinating, modern, yet culturally unique destination. For hiking enthusiasts, the Land of the Rising Sun is an attractive destination. The Japanese Alps, which stretch across the centre of the main island of Honshu, and the iconic Mount Fuji are inspiring, ancient pilgrim trails visit many of Japan's serene temples and gardens, as well as Japanese culture and landscapes.

Practical guide

When to go?

Most routes are summer and autumn (July to late October), with a handful of walks in spring and throughout the year.

Cities & Services

The Japanese Alps and Mount Fuji have a well-developed hiking infrastructure, and the routes take advantage of the many mountain huts and campsites. Some also include the opportunity to visit a traditional hot spring bath for a refreshing soak after the hike.

The cities and centres of reference are: Hakuba, Murodō and Kamikōchi (Northern Alps), Komagane (Central Alps), Hirogawara and Sawarajima (Southern Alps), Kawaguchiko and the Mount Fuji area.

Not to be missed

  • Mount Fuji
  • Yari-ga-take
  • Shirouma
  • Hotaka
  • Tateyama
  • Norikura
  • Kita-dak
  • The Alpine centres of Kamikōchi and Murodō

Excursions

The routes visit many of the region's major peaks, including several over 3000m.

Northern Alps (Kita)

  • Hakuba // Mt Shirouma-dake /
  • Tateyama // Mt Tateyama / Mt Oku-dainichi-dake /
  • Hotaka // Mt Yake-dake / Mt Nishiho-Doppyō /
  • Norikura // Mt Norikura-dake

Central Alps (Chūō)

  • Mt Kiso-koma-ga-take

Southern Alps (Minami)

  • North Zone // Mt Kai-koma-ga-take / Mt Senjō-ga-take /

Mount Fuji

The four main routes on Mount Fuji - Japan's highest mountain at 3776 metres - and another route on the neighbouring Mount Kurodake.

  • Mt Fuji - Yoshida / Mt Fuji - Subashiri / Mt Fuji - Gotemba / Mt Fuji - Fujinomiya /
  • Mt Kuro-dake /

Trekkings

Northern Alps (Kita)

  • Hakuba // Mt Shirouma-dake and Hakuba-Yari Onsen // Mt Shirouma-dake and Hakuba-Yari Onsen /
  • Tateyama // Mt Tsurugi-dake / Northern Alps Traverse /
  • Hotaka // Mt Oku-Hotaka-dake and Karasawa Cirque / Mt Yari-ga-take / Mt Chō-ga-take and Mt Jōnen-dake / Hiking Mt Kasa-ga-take /

Central Alps (Chūō)

  • Crossing the Central Alps

Southern Alps (Minami)

  • North // Mount Kita-dake / Mount Hō-ō
  • South // Mount Arakawa-Higashidake (Mt Warusawa-dake) and Mt Akaishi-dake / Mt Kamikōchi-dake and Mt Hijiri-dake / Southern Alps Traverse /

Pilgrimage routes

Kumano Kodo, Wakayama, Japan / Photo: Tom Vining (unsplash)
Kumano Kodo, Wakayama, Japan / Photo: Tom Vining (unsplash)