Is luggage transfer included on Japan walking tours?

Not as standard. Many inns have delicate tatami floors and narrow halls, so you walk with an overnight bag and send your main bag ahead by takkyubin courier, about $20 a journey, booked in Japan. Daily luggage transfers can be added on some tours for an extra fee

Can I walk in Japan solo?

Yes. All our Japan tours are available to solo walkers. Single rooms are limited and a single supplement is payable, so book early, especially for spring and fall

How many days do I need for a Japan hiking tour?

Five days covers the Nakasendo Trail (Walk Only) and six the Kumano Kodo Trail (Walk Only). Add Kyoto, Osaka or Tokyo and you're looking at 9 to 11 days

Do I need to speak Japanese to hike in Japan?

No. Our info pack and a little effort will get you by. The Nakasendo is very well waymarked in English and Japanese, the Kumano Kodo partly, and our local English-speaking team is a phone call away

Which airport should I fly into for a Japan walking tour?

Osaka Kansai (KIX) suits most of our trips, and the HARUKA airport express reaches Kyoto in about 75 minutes. You can also fly into Tokyo Narita and take the shinkansen to Kyoto in about 3.5 hours

How fit do I need to be for hiking in Japan?

Our Japan tours are graded Moderate, with 2 to 6 hours of walking most days, so regular hikers will be fine. The Kumano Kodo is steeper, with one day of up to 8.5 hours, so hiking experience helps there

What should I wear hiking in Japan?

Broken-in hiking boots or shoes, a proper rain jacket and pants, a sun hat and warm layers for mornings in the mountains. Pack light, as you'll carry an overnight bag on trail days. A full packing list comes in your info pack

Hiking Tours in Japan

Japan's rural trails are a world away from the neon of Tokyo and the busy temples of Kyoto. Two historic routes cross its forested mountains. The Nakasendo, the old highway of samurai and shoguns, links preserved post towns through the Kiso Valley. The 11th-century Kumano Kodo, a UNESCO-listed pilgrimage route, winds through the Kii Peninsula to its grand shrines.

We've run self-guided hiking trips in Japan since 2013, backed by our local Japanese team on the ground. Walk the Nakasendo in 5 days or the Kumano Kodo in 6. Or add city time: Kyoto and Osaka with the Kumano Kodo, Kyoto and Tokyo with the Nakasendo. Trail nights are in family-run ryokan and minshuku.

Inn dinners and breakfasts, train tickets, route notes and maps, and phone support from our local English-speaking team come with every Japan trip. Solo hikers are welcome!

2 routes

Sort by:

Routes

Japan
4.7 (56)
Kumano Kodo Trail
Walking
6–9 days
Moderate
from$2,870CAD pp
View Route
Japan
4.8 (45)
Nakasendo Trail
Walking
5–11 days
Moderate
from$3,055CAD pp
View Route

Find your pace

Easy
Up to 5 miles per day
Flat, well-kept paths; ideal for beginners
Easy - Moderate
6–9 miles per day
Good paths, some gentle climbs; active beginners
Moderate
10–12 miles per day
Mixed trails, regular climbs; for regular hikers
Moderate - Challenging
15–17 miles per day
Remote mountainous terrain; experienced hikers
Challenging
17+ miles per day
Scrambles, big drop-offs; very experienced hikers
Strenuous
19+ miles per day
High passes, sustained ascents; expert, very fit hikers

Get to know walking in Japan

The Kumano Kodo runs year round, the Nakasendo from April through November. Spring (April and May) and fall (October and November) are beautiful, but busy. Cherry blossom season, late March to early May, books up fast, and Golden Week (April 29 to May 5) is best avoided. The rainy season runs early June to mid-July.

Know before you go

Get inspired for walking in Japan

Hiking
Why Walk in Japan?
Why taking a walking holiday as part of your trip to Japan is an essential. Read a story about standing in the same place on two separate occasions.
Read blog
Hiking
Walking in Japan - the Nakasendo or the Kumano Kodo Trail?
How to choose Between The Nakasendo Trail or the Kumano Kodo Trail in Japan. These two incredible walks offer something for everyone.
Read blog
Hiking
Top things to see in Kyoto and Tokyo
Top recommended highlights to include while in Kyoto and Tokyo in Japan
Read blog

Hiking Tours in Japan

Routes

Kumano Kodo Trail

Nakasendo Trail

Find your pace

Easy

Easy - Moderate

Moderate

Moderate - Challenging

Challenging

Strenuous

Get to know walking in Japan

When is the best time to walk in Japan

Nakasendo or Kumano Kodo: which should I walk

What are ryokan and minshuku

What will I eat

What cultural tips should I know

How does an onsen work