Japan Walking Tours & Itineraries

Explore 5 walking trips designed by local kimkim specialists to get ideas for your trip to Japan.
Plan your trip to Japan
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Get Started
Japan's Nakasendo Trail
Map of Nakasendo Trail: Tokyo to Kyoto - 12 Days
Nakasendo Trail: Tokyo to Kyoto - 12 Days

Perfect for active walkers, this trip combines a four-day walk on Japan's Nakasendo Trail, which connected Tokyo and Kyoto during the days of shoguns and samurai, with a visit to three historic Japanese capitals, Tokyo, Nara, and Kyoto. You'll begin your trip in Tokyo, then take to the trail and stay in post towns once used as feudal-era stopover points. You'll visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nara, Yoshino, and Mount Koya, then spend two nights in Kyoto, where geisha still entertain well-heeled guests, and Buddhist temples beckon.

Fall Colors of Kamikochi National Park in the Japanse Alps
Map of Hiking The Japanese Alps From Nakasendo to Takayama - 6 Days
Hiking The Japanese Alps From Nakasendo to Takayama - 6 Days

Combine the natural beauty of the Japanese Alps with visits to historic post towns in this six-day walking adventure. Hike across mountain passes and descend into villages filled with craft shops, gorgeous architecture, and picturesque streets, all while enjoying dramatic views of the alpine scenery. End your trip with an unforgettable hike through Kamikochi Wetlands, but not before sleeping each night in traditional onsen ryokans and enjoying daily hot spring baths.

Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage Trail, Photo Courtesy of Simon Desmarais, CC BY-SA 2.0
Map of Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage Self-Guided Walking Tour - 4 days
Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage Self-Guided Walking Tour - 4 days

Spend four days exploring the historic Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage Trail in Ehime Prefecture on this self-guided tour. You'll meet white-clad pilgrims dedicated to walking the entire trail as you visit several of Ehime's iconic Buddhist temples and discover Shikoku's pilgrimage traditions. Relax in a hot spring bath after a visit to Matsuyama Castle and enjoy local hospitality in shukubo (pilgrim lodgings) and ryokan (traditional inns).

Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Nara
Map of Ancient Capitals of Japan Self-Guided Walking Tour: Asuka and Nara - 5 Days
Ancient Capitals of Japan Self-Guided Walking Tour: Asuka and Nara - 5 Days

Explore the ancient capitals of Japan by foot on this walking tour along the country's oldest known road. Visit Tanzan Shrine, one of Japan's oldest Buddhist temples, and wander the streets of Nara's Edo-period merchant district. Walk through forests dotted with statues of the Buddha, and deepen your understanding of Japanese culture with an overnight stay in a ryokan (traditional inn) or minshuku (family-run guesthouse)—or spend a night or two getting to know a local family with a Japanese homestay.

Follow an ancient stone path along the Kumano Kodo trail to see the Nachi Waterfall
Map of Active Adventure in Japan: Hiking Trails, Hot Springs & Iconic Landmarks - 16 Days
Active Adventure in Japan: Hiking Trails, Hot Springs & Iconic Landmarks - 16 Days

Pack your best hiking shoes and get ready for an active adventure across some of Japan's most iconic natural landscapes. Start with a city break in Tokyo and then begin a series of hikes around the Fuji Fike Lakes, Mount Ashigara in Hakone, and Mount Inari in Kyoto. From here, spend a day in Osaka before following the pilgrimage routes of Koyasan Choishi Michi and Kumano Kodo over five days. End the trip back in Osaka with a free day to sample top-notch street food to close out this whirlwind tour.