Trails in Japan

5 mapped routes in Japan: 2 hiking trails, 2 scenic drives and 1 cycling route. Together they cover 144 km with 1,781 m of climbing, and the highest point reaches 3,406 m. Every route has a GPX download, elevation profile, gradient and surface analysis.

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Plate JP · 5 routes · GPS traced

Mapped routes: 5
Total distance: 144km
Total climbing: 1,781m
Highest point: 3,406m
Water crossings: 1

Destination guide

About trails in Japan

Japan's highlight is the Mount Fuji Yoshida Trail Hike, the most popular route up the volcano. It climbs from the Fuji Subaru Line Fifth Station through mountain huts to the crater rim at about 3,400 m, often starting at night to reach the top for sunrise. It is rated extreme for its altitude and loose volcanic scree.

The other routes are gentler. The Takatori Castle Ruins Hike, Ogose is a short walk in the forested foothills west of Tokyo to the site of a medieval castle. The Nagoya Chikusa Ride explores the eastern neighborhoods of Nagoya, and the Mito to Ishioka Drive crosses the Ibaraki countryside toward Lake Kasumigaura. In Fukushima, the Sukagawa to Yabuki Country Drive runs through the rice fields of the Abukuma River valley.

Best time to go: Mount Fuji's official climbing season runs only from early July to early September. For other routes, April to May and October to November are best. The rainy season (June to mid-July) and the typhoons of August and September can disrupt plans.
Terrain: Most routes are easy, on low wooded hills and flat valley roads, but Fuji is steep, rough volcanic ground at high altitude. Bring warm layers for the summit even in summer.
Permits & access: The Yoshida Trail requires an advance online reservation and a climbing fee, and the Fifth Station gate stops new climbers in the late afternoon and at night unless they have a hut booking. Ogose and Mito are easy to reach by train from Tokyo.

Ways to explore