Walking holidays in Japan

The most famous walk in Japan is the Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage. This follows in the footsteps of Kukai, who it is claimed in the 9th century visited each of the 88 Buddhist temples along the 1,200km trail. The history behind this spiritual journey is fascinating and our Japan walking tours can be self-guided, so you can explore at your own pace to take it all in.

The Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage walk is generally completed for the following reasons:

• To atone for past sins
• To pray for good health and success
• To seek enlightenment
• To understand Japan's mystical elements

Japan is very walkable and our tours have a curated itinerary so that you can see everything that this beautiful country has to offer. You will have to get public transport along the way but it's super-efficient, so you'll be back walking in no time.

Our Japan walking tours mostly take place between March and November, which are great months to visit. However, we recommend travelling between October and November for optimal walking conditions and stunning autumnal scenery. The weather sits in the high teens and little rainfall can be expected – the rainy season is June-July – making it a comfortable walking experience.

Japan's weather and terrain can be unforgiving at times, so packing the correct equipment is essential. This includes:

• Loose-fitting, lightweight clothing
• Walking boots
• Waterproofs
• Water bottle
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Backpack

With summer temperatures capable of rising above 30°C in Japan, keeping yourself protected from the sun is essential. We recommend wearing a hat, sunglasses and long-sleeved but lightweight clothing. Should it rain, then light waterproofs are necessary.

A good pair of walking boots is important, so you have adequate grip wherever the trail takes you on your walking holiday in Japan.

While a good base level of fitness is encouraged for walking in Japan, our tours vary in difficulty. Many of the city-based walks that you'll encounter are gentle and can be taken at a leisurely pace. For example, in Tokyo, you'll be able to stroll through the city with frequent stops for refreshments. Likewise, sections of the Nakasendo Way are less challenging and can be completed in around three hours, including time for breaks.

However, it's worth knowing that some of the climbs and hiking routes are challenging. For example, the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage involves a mountainous waterfall trek - as you can imagine, this involves several steep ascents, so we'd recommend training accordingly.

With this being said, most of our walking tours of Japan have been designed to be accessible and enjoyable regardless of fitness level. If you're not sure whether you'd be suited to one of our walking tours, speak to our team. They know the routes like the back of their hands and will be able to let you know whether they think you're a good candidate.

When you book a walking tour of Japan with us, you can expect long, scenic walks through undulating terrain and enough culture to last a lifetime. You'll wake up early (before sunrise some days!) and set off to explore iconic sites like temples, shrines and important historic memorials.

Our walking tours of Japan include local experiences to enrich your holiday. As well as sampling some of the best Japanese cuisine, you'll get to enjoy tea ceremonies and other traditional rituals.

When piecing together your itinerary, we think of everything so you don't have to. You can rely on us to provide well-organised tours that allow time to enjoy your trip and make memories that'll last a lifetime. Add luxurious accommodation into the mix and you'll get a quality experience and personal service.