9 Hiking trails to hit which are NOT Mount Fuji (Part 1)
Hiking in Japan is a phenomenal experience. The unique mountainous landscapes of each region promises sights of grandeur while the historical shrines which coexist seamlessly with nature grant trail-goers a peaceful respite from urban stresses. When one imagines hiking in Japan, oftentimes Mount Fuji (富士山 Fujisan) is the first and only trail which comes to mind. Today, be enlightened: there is so much more to hiking in Japan than just climbing the iconic mountain! Handpicked from the variety of trails which Japan, the hiking mecca, offers—I’ve chosen one trail from every region, so that’s nine exciting trails to uncover. This is part one of a two-part series, covering hiking trails in Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kansai. Join me as we make our way down the map of Japan through the lens of a hiker!
1. Hokkaido (北海道): Asahidake
Trail on Asahidake. (Image credit: Celia Lim)
We begin our hiking journey right at the tip of Japan—the region of Hokkaido. I had the chance to discover Asahidake (旭岳) when I was there, and up to this day, it remains one of my favourite travel moments. Standing at 2,291m, Asahidake is the highest peak of the Daisetsuzan (大雪山) mountain range, and in all of Hokkaido. The trails are relatively easy to access with just a scenic ropeway ride up, although you’ll need a car to reach the ropeway station (parking available). There are a few trails available: if you’re weak like me, you can opt for the 1.7km strolling course, which brings you around multiple observation decks, ponds, and snow-capped landscapes. If you’re more adventurous, you can choose from three different longer trails to continue your journey: to the Asahidake Summit, to the Tennyogahara hot springs, or to the Susoaidara Plateau. No matter the trail you choose, be prepared to be blown away by the majestic views of cratered lakes, alpine flora and the surrounding mountains.
Cratered lakes at Asahidake. (Image credit: Celia Lim)
Accumulated snow from winter along the trails. (Image credit: Celia Lim)
Daisetsuzan Asahidake Ropeway (大雪山旭岳ロープウェイ)
Address: Higashikawa-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido 071-1472
Nearest station: JR Asahikawa Station (旭川駅)
Opening hours: Ropeway hours vary each day. Please visit the official website for the latest schedule.
Admission fee (Round-trip on ropeway during peak period): ¥2,200 (High School students and older), ¥1,500 (Elementary School students and younger) (21 Oct–31 May); ¥3,200 (High School students and older), ¥1,600 (Elementary School students and younger)
Tel: +81 166-68-9111
2. Tohoku (東北): Yamadera
View from the top! (Image credit: Celia Lim)
Okay, I cheated on this one. This is not so much a hike, but a literal stair-climb. 1,015 steps of excruciating muscle aches. But either way, you’re still going to be traversing up a mountain for this one, alright? It’s still exhausting—so it counts! Located in Yamagata Prefecture (山形県 Yamagata-ken), Yamadera (山寺) (literal meaning: mountain temple) is a key Buddhist site dedicated to the deity Yakushi Nyorai (やくしにょらい)—also known as the “Medicine Buddha”—who cures suffering using his teachings. Make a trip here to admire the mountaintop temples which cling almost precariously to the summit’s ridges, or to immerse yourself in the natural landscape, mesmerizing in all seasons.
Yamadera’s mountain top temples. (Image credit: Celia Lim)
Yamadera’s Risshaku Temple stamp. (Image credit: Celia Lim)
It is said that in 1689, the legendary Japanese poet, Matsuo Basho (松尾 芭蕉), was so in awe of what he experienced at Yamadera that he wrote this haiku, famous throughout Japan: "ah this silence / sinking into the rocks / voice of cicada". My personal experience reflected Basho’s portrayal—serene and jaw-dropping with every turn of the head.
1,015 steps. (Image credit: Celia Lim)
Yamadera (山寺)
Address: 4456-1 Yamadera, Yamagata-shi, Yamagata 999-3301
Nearest station: Yamadera Station (山寺駅)
Admission fee: ¥300 (High School students and older), ¥200 (Middle School students), ¥100 (Elementary School students and younger)
Tel: +81 23-695-2816
3. Kanto (関東): Mount Jinba
Shingen Teahouse at the summit of Mount Jinba. (Image credit: photoAC)
Nearby Tokyo and away from the crowds of her more popular sister Mount Takao (高尾山 Takao-san) is the equally scenic Mount Jinba (陣馬山 Jinba-san), a hidden gem for city dwellers seeking a breath of fresh mountain air. Mount Jinba isn’t a challenging hike—standing only at an elevation of 857m, this makes it perfect for the average hiking joe (like me). To reach the summit, one has to traverse through a lush forest, manoeuvring through verdant fauna for about an hour. Even on a gloomy day, an ethereal mist sets above the trees, granting the trail an almost spectral vibe. At the top, you will be greeted by a monument of the mountain’s namesake: a literal Jinba (military horse). Enjoy some well-deserved food and drinks at the huts and teahouses dotting the summit while savouring panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
View of Mount Fuji from the summit. (Image credit: photoAC)
Jin-ba monument atop the summit. (Image credit: photoAC)
Hiking trail up to Mount Jinba. (Image credit: photoAC)
Mount Jinba (陣馬山)
Address: Kamiongatamachi Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0156
Nearest station: Fujino Station (藤野駅)
Tel: +81 46-248-0323
4. Chubu (中部): Tsugaike Nature Park
(Image credit: くろふね is licensed under CC BY 3.0)
Picking out just a single hiking trail from the Chubu Region is a tough one—surrounded by mountains, valleys, and more mountains, choosing a trail in this region is a matter of preference and accessibility. You may have heard of Hakuba as the first choice for ski and snow activities amongst many local and foreign visitors alike in winter, and it’s certainly equally popular amongst hikers during the Green Season (late May to late October)! For beginners like me, I’d recommend all to look no further than the Tsugaike Nature Park (栂池自然園 Tsugaike Shizenen) for a relaxing hiking experience amongst the glorious Hakuba Three Peaks (白馬三山 Hakuba Sanzan) with boardwalks. Tsugaike Nature Park is one of Japan’s highest wetlands, and while the scenery at the park is in and within itself breathtaking, the views you’ll catch while on the ropeway up from Tsuga Daimon Station to Shizenen Station will leave you wanting more!
(Image credit:くろふね / CC BY-SA 4.0)
While it’s no Mount Shirouma (白馬岳 Shirouma-dake)—standing at 2,932m as the 26th-tallest mountain in Japan and the tallest of the Hakuba Three Peaks—hikers will get to see majestic views of Japan’s Northern Alps at every turn of the head. Even in the autumn season, Tsugaike Nature Park promises grand views like such:
Autumn leaves in Tsugaike Nature Park. (Image credit: photoAC &くろふね / CC BY-SA 4.0)
Tsugaike Nature Park (栂池自然園)
Address: Chikuniotsu, Otari, Kitaazumi-gun, Nagano 399-9422
Dates: Early June to late October (Green Season, annually)
Nearest station: Hakuba Station (白馬駅)
Admission fee (Park only): ¥320 (Adults), ¥260 (Children)
Admission fee (Ropeway/gondola round-trip + park entrance fee): ¥3,700 (Adults), ¥2,100 (Children)
Tel: +81 261-72-3000
5. Kansai (関西): Kumano Kodo
Seiganto-ji Temple along the Kumano Kodo. (Image credit: Nolan Di Meo)
A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Kumano Kodo (熊野古道) is a legendary pilgrimage route weaving through the Kii Peninsula (紀伊半島 Kii Hantō), connecting the prefectures of Osaka, Nara, Wakayama and Mie. Buddhist monks and other religious pilgrims have walked the roads of the Kumano Kodo since a thousand years ago. When you hike this trail, which will take you through breathtaking cedar forests, picturesque valley views, small villages and historical shrines, you will have walked the footsteps of Japan’s many ancestors. There are four beautiful routes to choose from at multiple entry points around the Kii Peninsula—the Nakahechi Imperial route, Kohechi Mountainous route, Ohechi Coastal route and Iseji Eastern route. Definitely a cultural treat.
Entrance to the Daimon-zaka, an impressive cobblestone staircase lined with ancient cedar trees. A notable part of the Kumano Kodo. (Image credit: photoAC)
The Daimon-zaka of the Kumano Kodo. (Image credit: photoAC)
Kumano Kodo (熊野古道)
Address: Refer here
Nearest stations: Refer here
Tel: +81 739-26-9025 (Tanabe City Kumano Tourism Bureau)
Are you inspired to hit the trails in Japan? Because I certainly am! And we’re only scratching the tip of the Japanese hiking iceberg. Stay tuned for part two of the series, where I will introduce more hiking trails in the regions of Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu and Okinawa!
Header image credit: Celia Lim
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