Walking vacations in Honshu

From Tokyo you might take a day hike to Mount Takao with views of the iconic Mt. Fuji possible from the summit, weather permitting. Fuji views can also be had while walking around the shore of Lake Kawaguchi. In the Nara Basin outside Kyoto, at the foot of sacred Mount Miwa you’ll roam rice paddies and groves of bamboo. In the historic Asuka region, trails lead between mysterious tombs and some of the oldest temples in Japan, while walking through the Mitarai Gorge sees you tackling steep stairs and suspension bridges, rewarded with stunning seasonal foliage that turns from deep green to golden orange and fiery red as autumn follows summer.

Honshu walking vacations will also frequently feature a section of a longer Japanese pilgrimage walk. You could embark on a five-day stretch along the legendary Kumano Kodo Trail in the Kii Peninsula, which is considered one of Japan’s great pilgrim routes and sees you trekking mountain trails thick with cherry trees, and fragrant woods of fir, cedar and pine. Or from Matsumoto you might tackle a section of the historic Nakasendo Trail in the magnificent Kiso Valley. The ancient samurai route in the foothills of the Japanese Alps, built in the Edo period to connect Kyoto and Tokyo, is threaded with charming timber-clad postal towns, taking you along forest paths where you routinely ring bells on gateposts to warn away bears.

Honshu Pilgrimage Trail walking

“The Nakasendo is one of Japan's more famous walking routes covering the old samurai trail through the mountains between Tokyo and Kyoto. Kumano Kodo is perhaps less known outside of Japan, but has been (and still is) one of the most sacred pilgrimage routes in Japan. Having existed for over a thousand years, you will still see pilgrims with their sticks and conical hats walking through the forests taking in shrines en route to the grand shrines of Hongu, Hayatama and Nachi Taisha. As is the case with Japanese beliefs, the mountains, trees and rivers are all sacred in themselves which is why this area is so important.”

At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travelers are often... other travelers:

“We are in our mid sixties and I was nervous beforehand about our ability to figure out the transportation by ourselves. In fact, with the helpful information plus clear ticketing, it was all very straightforward and went extremely smoothly. And local people just want to be helpful so assistance was always available.” – Jane Williams on a self-guided walking tour of Japan’s ancient capitals

“(Highlights were) walking in the countryside – seeing parts of Japan that I would never have discovered on my own and being guided by a reliable expert. Asuka, Dorogawa and the Mitarai Gorge were particularly memorable. Also – wonderful exotic food, charming ryokans and soothing onsens. (And the company of like-minded fellow travelers.)Ensure that you are fit enough to do the walking required, get a really good rucksack and carry as little as possible... (You don't need to take toiletries, towels or night gear as all is provided by the highly efficient hotels). Be prepared for the rigours of sleeping on a hard floor with a rice husk pillow in the ryokans!” – Una Dinning on a walking tour of Japan