The 14 Best Mountain Hikes in Japan

1.Full Day Hiking Tour at Mt.Takao including Hot Spring

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 52 reviews · from $118Our pick

Meet your private guide at Takaosanguchi Station for a choice of Mt. Takao trails, a visit to Yakuo-in Temple, and a summit attempt. Guides such as Rie, Keita, Hiroko, and Takeshi tailor the pace and explain local customs. Finish with an onsen soak and the Takao 599 Museum.

“Taking the cable car Hearing stories about the special relationship between the Japanese and the mountain from my wonderful guide Takeshi hiking all the way down Mount Takao sharing a local lunch with my guide”

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2.Hike Japan Heritage Hakone Hachiri with certified mountain guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 46 reviews · from $158

Follow Japan’s old Tokaido route from Hakone Yumoto to Mishima with certified guide Aki, also known as Akihiro. This seven-hour, 8-kilometer outing combines forest paths, buses, Lake Ashi, the Hakone Checkpoint, Yamanaka Castle Ruins, and history from the Edo period. Mt Fuji views depend on weather.

“Walking the Hakone Hachiri trail with Aki wasn’t just a hike - it was a journey through centuries of Japanese history. As we traced the ancient stone-paved path that once carried samurai, merchants, and travelers between Edo and Kyoto duRead more”

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3.Explore Kiso Valley : Magome – Tsumago Mountain Trail Walk

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 33 reviews · from $171

Meet your English-speaking guide at Nakatsugawa Station and follow a 9-kilometer section of the old Nakasendo Trail from Magome to Tsumago. Expect forest paths, mountain views, twin waterfalls, preserved post towns, and visits to historic inns. Guides may include Ryo, Harumoto, or Kazuo.

“A very interesting tour with a friendly guide. We enjoyed the history and the Japanese countryside. Highly recommended.”

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4.Morning Hiking Tour: Mt. Futaba & Hiroshima’s History

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 25 reviews · from $157

You’ll walk from Hiroshima Station into the wooded slopes of Mt. Futaba with a private guide such as Michi, Naomi, Kota, or Michiyo. Visit Hiroshima Toshogu and Kinko Inari Shrine, pass more than 100 red torii gates, then enjoy city and Seto Inland Sea views with a local bento and open-air tea at the summit shrine.

“It was a wonderful experience with Michi in Hiroshima. She was passionate by her city and loved to share her knowledge about its history. We were very happy to learn so much with her, it was a fullfilling experience!”

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5.Private Local Hiking to enjoy the nature and culture of Mt.Fuji

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · from $131

Join certified mountain guide Yuki for a private half-day outing around Mt. Fuji. You’ll visit Fuji Omuro Sengen Shrine, Lake Saiko, Aokigahara Forest, and a sacred lava cave, then hike to Sankodai for broad Fuji views. Local udon and a Japanese garden with optional matcha complete the day.

“It was a cloudy day just the perfect weather for trekking. Danny picked a route that with great views and easy to hike. He had a lot of interesting stories to share and we had a good time with Danny.”

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6.Oiso: Adventure Hike to See Mt. Fuji & Historic Coastal Walk

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 6 hours

Join licensed local guide Yuki for a six-hour private walk through quiet Oiso. Visit Japan’s first public beach, Oiso Port, Takaku Shrine, Mt. Koma, Shonan-Daira Observatory, ancient tombs, and Meiji-era villas. The hike is moderate, weather-dependent, and lunch is extra.

“Thank you Yuki for such an amazing day! I didn’t know about Oiso until today! It’s really a lovely place where people can enjoy both the beauty of mountain and sea! It was nice to meet and become friend with other visitor as well. I’d love to come back in Autumn or Spring for breathtaking cherry blossom and red leaves view✨”

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7.Walk the Ancient Pilgrim Paths of Mt. Fuji – Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · from $143

Meet English-speaking mountain guide Yuki in the Kawaguchiko area for a private, gentle walk along Mt. Fuji’s historic Ochudo Trail. You’ll visit the 5th Station, ride the Fuji Subaru Line, stop at Okuniwaso mountain hut for Japanese lunch, and use free hiking shoes, rainwear, and trekking poles if needed.

“We spent the day with Yuki!! It was an absolutely incredible day and Yuki has a beautiful way of telling the stories of Mt.Fuji. He does a great job explaining the history of the mountain and the historical periods that led to the region as it is Read more”

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8.Private Hiking Tour to View Mt. Fuji

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · from $117

Join Yuki for a private five-hour hike from the Fujiyoshida, Lake Kawaguchiko, or Lake Yamanakako area. Climb more than 400 stairs and a steep final section to Mt. Ishiwari, enjoy views of Mt. Fuji and Lake Yamanakako, visit a shrine rock tied to Japanese mythology, then eat Yoshida Udon.

“Yuki is an amazing tour guide and very sweet. We got lucky with a clear and Sunny day to view Mt Fuji. Highly recommend taking his trekking trip.”

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9.Mt. Usu: Hike to the crater and see the stunning Lake Toya!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $161

Join Aidan from Nobo Tours for a six-and-a-half-hour hike up active Mt. Usu near Lake Toya. Expect forest trails, crater views, Mt. Yotei, Pacific Ocean scenery, a photo stop, and a volcanic eruption exhibition, with pickup from Noboribetsu and Noboribetsu Onsen.

“Amazing guide! A very organized guy, has lots of knowledge about mount usu and its area and history. Very patient and takes the hike at our pace. Was very flexible with adjusting to our last minute plan changes. He also had extras for jackets and water for us! very sweet”

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10.Private Tour of Mt. Fuji Culture and Nature Walk

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $99

Join Momo, a local sociology teacher, for a six-hour private tour of Mt. Fuji’s culture and nature. See wide Fuji views, walk through Aokigahara Forest, enter lava caves, and learn why Sengen shrines and pilgrimage sites matter.

“Momo was an outstanding tour guide! We had an amazing time and couldn’t recommend this tour more highly!”

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11.Kyoto: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Monkey Mountain Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 4 reviews · 4 hours · from $77Best value

Explore Arashiyama’s bamboo grove, Okochi Sanso Villa, a Zen-style garden, and Monkey Mountain in four hours. An English- or French-speaking guide, including guide Kevin on some departures, keeps the pace comfortable and adds useful Kyoto tips. Expect stairs and a short but worthwhile hike.

“My partner and I had a great time. We learnt a lot and got to appreciate the beauty of Japan. Thank you. :)”

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12.Full Day Hiking Tour to Mt. Horaiji

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews

Join a private 4 to 6 hour hike up Mt. Horaiji with guides Yuko and Alex, following 1,425 stone steps to Horaiji Temple and nearby historic sites. Learn local legends, spot seasonal nature, enjoy Mikawa Bay views, and eat a bento made with local ingredients.

“A beautiful spot right on the border of Aichi and Shizuoka. The weather was perfect and both the hike up the steps and the views from the top were great. I saw a Japanese animal I hadn't seen before, the kamoshika, and learnt about how it Read more”

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13.Kanazawa Day Tour: Shomyo Falls & Tateyama Mountain Walks

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $250

Travel from Kanazawa to Tateyama with an English-speaking guide, including Daniel on some departures. Walk to 350-meter Shomyo Falls, cross Midagahara’s wetlands, then reach Murodo for mountain views, cafés, shops, hiking, and Japan’s highest-altitude onsen.

“We did multiple tours during our trip, but this one was the highlight of our entire trip! The views were stunning. If you want to see the beauty of Japan’s mountains and waterfalls, this is the one! There is so much to see. Every stop we thouRead more”

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14.Tokyo: Mount Takao Guided Hiking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 3 reviews · 8 hours · from $170

Spend eight hours with an English-speaking guide hiking Mount Takao from Shinjuku. Ride the cable car, visit the 599 Museum, meet Japanese macaques, cross a suspension bridge, see Tengu statues, and reach the summit. Guides such as Jeff and Beth have helped make the walk friendly and informative.

“The mountain was a great uphill walk and on the day we were there we got an excellent view of Mount Fuji from the top. Our guide, Jeff, was friendly and had a good knowledge of the mountain and various sites of Japanese cultural significance along the walk. Jeff also joined us for lunch which was helpful when communicating with the staff at the restaurant in the town at the base of the mountain given we were not fluent speaking Japanese. One area where slight improvement would be possible would have been if our guide had spoken a little more softly when at the sacred points of cultural significance along…”

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