A Nature and Outdoor Lover’s Guide to Japan

Located on the island of Honshu, Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan, standing at a whopping 3,776m tall. In fact, it’s also the second-highest volcano located on any island in Asia - and during the summer, can even be seen from the International Space Station. 

One of the best views of Mount Fuji can be taken in from Shin-Fuji station as it sits majestically along the horizon, or, if you prefer to get in amongst the action, head to the Fuji Five Lake region at the northern foot of the mountain. The views from there, framed by the lake, are spectacular - no matter the season. 

You can also head to Hakone - a nearby hot spring resort town - and make the most of the mountain setting. 

Feeling more adventurous? Thousands of travellers and locals alike climb the mountain every year, though if you’re looking for something less challenging, there are plenty of other slightly less-daunting peaks nearby.

If you’re the kind of traveller that loves nothing more than a good long walk and the great outdoors, you’ll love the experience of hiking in Japan.

You’ll find that mountains are all within reach of Japan’s major cities, and with the country having excellent infrastructure for transport, you’re never far away from your next hike. 

Whatever level of hike you’re looking for, you’ll find a variety of routes to explore, from challenging climbs for keen hikers to flat routes easy enough for ambling. Furthermore, everywhere you look, the scenery in Japan is simply stunning, so you’re bound to be afforded magnificent views - from mountains and rivers to steaming geysers and onsens, glistening lakes and dense, wooded forests. 

And no matter what time of year you choose to visit Japan, the seasons manage to make the hiking scenery unique and spectacular each and every time, from the blossoming flowers of spring, to the colourful leaves of the autumn.

If you’re looking for inspiration, some of Japan’s most famous hikes include:

• Mount Fuji
• Kumano Kodo (more info below)
• The Shikoku Pilgrimage trail
• Central Honshu’s Japanese Alps
• Kamikochi Valley
• Hoikkaido's Daisetsuzan National Park
• Mount Takao

Meanwhile, Senior Travel Consultant and Japan expert Rikki Poynton recommends the Nakasendo hiking trail:

“A real standout experience for me is the Nakasendo Walking Trail. It’s a 3-day/2-night hike through the Kiso Valley in the Japanese Alps which gets you completely off the beaten track through some beautiful countryside and small villages. It involves staying in some pretty basic ryokans, but it’s the best way to see Japan in all its beauty!”

There’s no doubt about it, cherry blossom season is one of nature’s wonders that Japan is best known for. 

Every springtime, its famous cherry trees burst into colour and bloom with petals (known as sakura). A cacophony of pastel pink, magenta, rose and reds; it's a spectacle that makes for a truly beautiful sight to behold. 

Tourists and locals gather in parks and along the river banks for cherry blossom viewing parties, known as hanami. Incredibly, the cherry blossoms sweep through Japan at different times, too. You’re more likely to see it in the prefectures of Kyoto and Tokyo around March, while in Hokkaido it can often be seen in late April or early May.

Although cherry blossom season is hard to pinpoint (it can happen any time during the spring depending on where you are and usually only lasts for a week or two) it's well worth getting out and about in nature to witness it. 

Kumano Kodo is an incredibly special thousand-year-old World Heritage site and pilgrimage trail. Said to be one of the world’s most spiritual roads, it has been trodden by many a pilgrim on journeys of self-discovery and enlightenment over the centuries. 

The entire route is made up of seven different trails of varying levels of difficulty, and which you take will depend upon your final destination choice and the length of the hike you want to do. You can do a shorter hike, or pack light and hike over a few days staying at ryokans along the way. 

The trail runs through Honshu’s Kii peninsula and mountain region, covering the Wakayama, Nara, Osaka and Mie prefectures, and can be easily reached from Kyoto.

While there, look out for three of its most sacred shrines:

• Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine 
• Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine
• Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine

A visit to these, and the trail itself, is a unique way to experience both Japan’s breathtaking landscapes and nature, as well as its ancient religious traditions.