About this site
This is a comprehensive website for Hiking throughout Japan. There’s so little hiking information in English, so we’d like to change that by offering one complete site for outdoor enthusiasts living in Japan! If you’ve been on a cool hike that you’d like other people to know about, then contact me and I can post the information here. Just follow the same format and include relevant information. This site will eventually be expanded to include a lot of more features (including a chance for readers to upload their own photos). Stay tuned for more information.
We’d also like to thank everyone who’s commented on the hikes and who’ve offered suggestions/corrections to what’s been written. It’s your important feedback that will make the information so much more useful. So , if you’ve been on one of these hikes using the information written, then please let us know if it was useful or if you ended up getting lost! I’ve been known to mistake “left” and “right” more than a few times!
June 26, 2008 at 9:49 pm
hello, I’m Kazuhiko ,Japanese.
I read your webysite for the first time and got interested a lot in your morivation for running the website.
I’m doing a reseach project for the graduetion research class at I-NAC College in Niigata. I’m trying to find out foreigner’s knowledge and intersts in trekking in Japan.
Trekking and outdooractivities are popular in countries such as U.S.A.,New Zealand and Canada. However ,we rarely see people from those countries in tekking and ontdoor activity locations around Japan.
I would be greatful if you reply to my question If you don’t mind I will attatch a questinnaire and e-mail you again . I look forward to hearing from you soon.
August 22, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Hi,
Thanks for the website, I was really beginning to lose hope of getting out of the way in Japan, as most websites seem to consider the “Philosopher’s Walk” in Kyoto as a daytrip. Coming from Australia we really don’t have any problems with animals that might do you harm in the bush, or at least Mammals that might do you harm, so I was wondering if you could post up some info on how to deal with bears if you see them. I’m not particularly concerned but it’s always good to know what you are supposed to do in these situations.
Thanks again for the website, Chris
September 1, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Hi,
Just a note to say thanks for putting in the effort – not only the walking but the writing. Am planning a trip for a walk in late October from Melbourne. I’ve been up to Takayama in the winter before and thought that I might take tent etc. and get up onto the ridge around Mt Washiba. I have a question though – do you think this is too late in the season (25th Oct.)? I wanted to stay out for about 5 days – I will be walking alone, and am prepared – but not experienced in snow. Most long walks done in Tasmania etc. Anyway – any hot tips would be appreciated – cheers. Ewan.
September 4, 2008 at 7:53 pm
hi Ewan. Thanks for the kind words. Sorry it’s taken me a while to respond. There will definitely be snow in the Kita Alps in late October, so you’ll need some crampons and maybe an ice axe.
Trekking in the snow isn’t all that difficult, but you definitely have to be aware of the weather and you’ll need a compass. In sunny weather it’s no problem, but in fog/white out conditions it can be deadly.
One alternative would be to climb Yake-dake, which is accessible from Shin-hotaka hot spring. You could climb that to gauge the amount of snow on the upper peaks. Or, you could try trekking on a different mountain range (i.e. something a little lower in altitude).
Let me know if you have more questions
wes
November 12, 2008 at 1:40 am
hi Wes, thanks for an awesome website! i’m japanese but grew up mainly overseas (UK and US) and have family in Japan and visit every year, and being an avid hiker/backpacker i’ve always been frustrated that there isn’t more info out there on hiking in Japan. last time i went on the Hakuba Goryu trail which was great but now i have tons of options! great job on a fantastic website and keep the info coming!
March 19, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Hi,
Beeing an enthusiastic hiker from Germany I´m planning two days of hiking during a short business trip to Japan this summer. There are a lot of hikes on this homepage with good descriptions that I would love to hike, but unforunately there is no map and I`m complete lost without one.
Couldn`t you please add a tiny map with the hiking spot marked on it to each reagion/category ?
This would be very helpfull for somebody who has never been to Japan before.
Thank you!
April 9, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Hi!
Just writing to say this is a really great site! I’ve noticed the sad lack of english information in regards to walking and hiking in japan, and this will certainly come in handy. The only thing I would recommend is including maps, but I know they can be super hard to find regardless.
If I want to contribute to this site do you have contact info?
April 12, 2009 at 11:22 am
Michele,
Thanks for the comment. You’re not the first person to mention maps! The main problem is copyright issues, so I’m in the process of creating my own maps for all of the mountains, which will take a few years to complete.
If you’d like to contribute to the site, then I’d be more than happy to accept your offer. Contact me at wescamus@gmail.com for more information. Unfortunately I won’t be able to offer any monetary compensation, but I will cite you as an author for anything you contribute.
Wes
May 12, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Wes, Great website.
Hoping to head out into the mountains for a day trip this weekend from Tokyo. Do you have any suggestions for somewhere that will be nice and green with vast views and no touristy temples/shops?
Nigel
May 13, 2009 at 8:50 am
Hi Nigel. Thanks for the comment. I’m based in Osaka, so it’s difficult to give you good advice about hikes in the Kanto area. I’ve heard Mt. Myogi is supposed to be pretty spectacular (and hair-raising with all its chains). If you’re looking for nice views of Mt. Fuji, then you could consider heading to the Hakone area.
I’m not exactly sure which areas will be green yet – the higher in elevation you go, the browner it gets.
You might want to consider checking the forums at Outdoor Japan and posting a question there.
http://outdoorjapanforums.com/groupee?cdra=Y&s=5391062951
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Wes
June 13, 2009 at 1:12 pm
I really love this website. It’s definitely the best resource on the net for hiking in Japan for us English speakers. That you include the Japanese is especially helpful. I am wondering though if you have any trail maps that you could possibly post online. They are surprisingly difficult to come by. In particular, I’m looking for kita alps trail maps.
June 15, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Ben,
I’m in the process of creating trail maps for all of the hikes. Unfortunately it’s a long, slow process that could take years. I have, in the meantime, starting providing links to online maps where applicable.
If you’re living in Japan, then you can pick up trail maps at any major bookstore nationwide. There’s a series called Yama-to-kogen (山と高原地図), which includes detailed trail maps for all major peaks in Japan. These are the ones I use when I go hiking. Unfortunately, they’re a bit pricey at 800yen each, but they are incredibly resilient and waterproof.
June 18, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Hi Wes,
I plan to hike this summer a lot in niigata and seen your page. Great!
i have seen comments about the lack of maps. why dont you try to link your reports with the website making thevery useful mountain map series for japan hikes? here is the link:
http://yamachizu.mapple.net/
June 19, 2009 at 6:07 am
Csabanese:
Thanks for the suggestion. I’d actually known about the yamachizu site, and was debating on whether or not to add links to those maps.
In the end, I have decided to link to those maps, and will be adding all of the links in the coming weeks. The yamachizu maps are good, but unfortunately you’re not able to click on the maps for a larger image, which might be disappointing to some who’d like to print them out and use them.
In the long run, I’d like to create my own maps, which will take some time to do.