Walking and Hiking in Japan
Set foot on pathways forged by pilgrims and roads paved by merchants as you explore the rugged wilderness of Japan’s lesser known locations. Our Japan walking tours combine the best of cultural destinations with off-the-beaten-path walking and hiking. From village-to-village discovery through the Kiso Valley, to climbing the volcanic landscape of Kyushu, allow the diversity of Japan’s countryside to unfold before your eyes.
Oku Japan has hiked some of the best routes and compiled them into amazing journeys for you to try for yourself - be they hikes in less trodden corners of the country, or pilgrimages teeming with centuries of history. Journey into the heart of the country as you walk from the ancient capitals of Nara and Kyoto to the modern metropolis of Tokyo using the Nakasendo Trail. You can also discover the sweeping vistas once inhabited by the indigenous Ainu people of the northernmost prefecture, Hokkaido.
Visit a region that has preserved both its natural beauty and its long legacy, passed down from the samurai of old.
A rugged self-guided hiking tour down the central portion of the Michinoku Coastal Trail. Includes a visit to the village of Okirai, which contains many monuments to the area's past.
Walk through preserved nature-rich lands that bore witness to battles and the progress of history and visit one of Japan’s largest mountain wetlands.
Hike amidst the natural beauty of the Daisetsuzan mountain range, sacred to the Kamikawa Ainu.
Curated sections of northern Japan’s newest hiking trail, with walks along a rugged, dramatic coastline and through lush mixed forests.
Hike Tōhoku’s Michinoku Coastal Trail and travel to the breathtaking Kitayamazaki Coast, where cliffs over 200 metres high stretch up over the ocean.
Experience our best-loved Kumano Kodō tour in winter. Suitable for hiking enthusiasts, enjoy village-to-village walking with 5 hikes of 2-7 hours in the crisp and clear air before bathing in thermal onsen.
Once the original approach emperors followed to the Kumano Kodō, the Kiiji trail can still be walked today, offering visits to Yuasa, deep cultural experiences and access to a more moderate version of the classic Nakahechi route.
From cobblestone trails to sandy beachside walking, the coastal Kumano Kodō Iseji trail features some of the oldest sections of the pilgrimage and connects the region’s two most spiritually significant shrines: Ise Grand Shrine in Mie down to Hayatama Grand Shrine on the eastern Kii Peninsula.
The Iseji route, one of the five Kumano Kodō trails, connects the region’s most important shrines of pilgrimage, Ise Grand Shrine in Mie, and Hayatama Grand Shrine on the eastern coast of the Kii Peninsula. The route offers varied walking, from cobblestone trails to sandy beachside walks.
Enjoy hikes of 2-7 hours over four days as you traverse some of the more remote post towns of the Nakasendō's Mino Road, before continuing to Magome, Tsumago, and Narai in the Kiso Valley. Hike through beautifully preserved Edo Period post towns and learn about the history of the Nakasendō and those who travelled on it through the monuments and remnants along the trail.