Hiking and Climbing Japan’s Iconic Peaks

It’s finally that time of year when the weather has brightened up, and the ground is a little drier, which can only mean one thing – it’s hiking season. With Mount Fuji being one of the most recognizable landmarks of Japan, it should be no surprise that there are plenty of mountain trails all across the country, ensuring that no matter your experience or time limit, there’s certainly a path for everyone! Today we’ll go through some of the most iconic mountain routes, when to hike them, as well as some tips to make sure you have the best experience possible!

Mount Yoshino

Well known for its mountain-side cherry blossoms, Mount Yoshino is the perfect beginner-friendly hike to start the season with. Doable as a day trip from Nara, this is a very popular route for tourists and locals alike. As one of the more versatile routes on this list, you can also upgrade to a more difficult trek to Mount Omine that starts around Kinpusenji Temple or if you prefer the solitude of off-season, you can instead easily enjoy the route in the colder months too as it’s open all year round.

Average hiking time: 3-4 hours

Beginner-friendly: YES

Best time to go: Spring

Google Maps: Yoshinoyama, Yoshino, Yoshino District, Nara 639-3115

The Japanese Alps

With a length of approximately 200 kilometers, it can be difficult to know where to even start trying to tackle the Japanese Alps but if you want to explore these vast mountains for longer than just a day trip, we recommend the Kamikochi-Yari-Hotaka circuit. This route allows you to hike both of the most famous mountains – Mount Yarigatake and Mount Okuhotaka-dake (two of the top 5 tallest peaks in Japan), as well as enjoy the Azusagawa River and spend some time in the incredible valleys and forest areas that the Alps have to offer.

Average hiking time: 3 days (Kamikochi-Yari-Hotaka)

Beginner-friendly: NO

Best time to go: July to October

Google Maps: 上高地 Azumi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-1516

Daisetsuzan National Park

The benefit of Daisetsuzan being the biggest national park in Hokkaido is that there are plenty of routes and even plenty of mountains to choose from! Even though it’s a popular spot, the park is so vast that it can easily accommodate many hikers of varying skills – you can either spend an afternoon at ground level or a week hiking the mountains, completely surrounded by nature. For those of you looking for a bit more guidance, though, I’d recommend looking into trails that end around Asahidake so you can enjoy the peaceful onsen town after your hike!

Average hiking time: 1-10 days

Beginner-friendly: YES

Best time to go: July to September

Google Maps: Sounkyo, Kamikawa, Kamikawa District, Hokkaido 078-1701

Mount Takao

Mount Fuji is iconic, but it can take a lot of time and organizing to get to, and is a relatively intense trek. For those of you looking for a calmer hike whilst staying in Tokyo, the Mount Takao trail is less than an hour by train from Shinjuku station. With the most popular trail (known simply as ‘Trail One’) being well paved and even running through a monkey park, this makes a great day trip for beginner hikers. Once you reach the summit, you’ll be treated to some great views of Tokyo as well as Mount Fuji, and you can find routes that connect to the peaks of Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park if you want to hike for longer.

Average hiking time: 2-3 hours

Beginner-friendly: YES

Best time to go: Spring/Autumn

Google Maps: Takaomachi, Hachioji, Tokyo 193-0844

Mount Fuji

Last but certainly not least, from July to September, Mount Fuji itself is open to hikers of all ages and backgrounds. With four main routes to choose from, you can pick your times and difficulty level to reach Japan’s most iconic peak. Whilst most people start from the 5th station, there is also the opportunity to hike through the forest and a small town right down at station 0 if you want an extended experience, or you can choose to stay in the mountain hut at 7th station so you can hike the last section in time to see the sun rise over the summit.

Average hiking time: 7-9 hours (from 5th station)

Beginner-friendly: NO

Best time to go: July to September

Google Maps: 5617 Kamiyoshida, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi 403-0005

General tips for mountain hiking

Whilst climbing these incredible mountains can be a great way to challenge yourself physically and stay active over the warmer months, it’s important to make sure you’re looking after yourself and staying safe too! Make sure to keep your energy levels up by taking lots of food and water (and maybe even some energy gels if you’re going for some of the more intense courses). It’s wise to take some cash with you, not only for extra drinks or even for the odd souvenir but some of the toilets along these routes require a small charge to enter/use, so if you don’t want to get caught out halfway up the Alps, it’s best to take some change with you.

It may seem obvious but you should always do a bit of background research into the trail of your choice. Whilst we’ve given a bit of guidance on difficulty levels and average hiking time, you know yourself best, be realistic about what you can manage, make sure you factor in travel time from and to your accommodation, and double-check any wildlife and weather warnings, which leads me to my number one tip – never underestimate the weather. Whilst you want to keep your bag relatively light, it can get seriously cold in some of these locations, even in the height of summer. You are climbing a mountain, after all! So, if you’re debating whether or not you need that extra rain jacket, the answer is probably yes.

And there you have it! Some of the top mountain routes in Japan, ranging from beginner-friendly cherry blossoms to picturesque snowy alps, plus some tips to help you put your best foot forward. Hopefully, one of these speaks to you, and you can enhance your trip this year by being whisked away on a serene adventure through the highest points of Japan. Happy Hiking!

Featured Photo Credit: Oziel Gómez

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