Few people know that hiking is by far the best kept secrets of Japan. You can simply go to one hut to another in the Japan Alps, climb the Kyushu volcanoes, climb the Big Snow Mountain of Hokkaido and you can also walk through the hills around Kyoto. Anywhere you go, you will not be left alone. The Japanese are very fond of hiking and there are also powerful hikers as well. One of the very first mountains that you can climb is the Daisetsuzan National Park in Hokkaido. The name says it all, Big Snow Mountain. When the snow melts over the mountain, the hiking will be very vivid. It is also the biggest national park in Japan. The wild area has soaring mountains, remote Onsen, active volcanoes, thick forests and pristine lakes. This is the kind of place that can help in getting rid of your stress. There is the onsen hotel where you can rest while in the premises of the forest.
Kamikochi or Nagano-Ken is a sanctuary that is located at the center of the Japan Alps. It has some of the best scenery in Japan. This is where you can find some hiking trails too. In the latter part of the 19th century, it was the foreigners who discovered this place. This has been the base for hikers, walkers and climbers. There is also a riverside that is in line with the sasa or what they call the bamboo grass in English. Another option for climbers is the Fuji-San or the Shizuoka- ken. Why will the climbers and hikers go to Japan if they do not want to try the trails of the highest peak of Japan? It is best visited from July to August where you can find the highest and the most popular peak that draws tourists to this part of the world. Climbing this mountain can lead you to some of the best views of the untouched volcano from the Fuji Five Lakes. During winter and spring, you can see the beauty of the mountain. The snowcapped peak will be visible then in the morning.
Yakushima Kagoshima-Ken is an island of the southern part of Kyushu, which is a home to the old Jomon Sugi tree and some beautiful mountain hiking. It is tagged as the UNESCO World Heritage Site. What makes the concept of World Heritage exceptional is its universal application. World Heritage sites belong to all the peoples of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located. Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. It is one of the best and the most beautiful islands in the Southwestern part of the Island. The peaks of the island mountain are the home of the world renowned Yaku-sugi. It is the old cedar tree that has been said to have the inspiration for some of the scenes in Miyazaki Hayao's classic animated tale Princes Mononoke. Hiking is the primary activity in this place, however the island is also a home to some of the best coastal onsenand and some sandy beaches. Bear in mind that this is also a place where the mountains wring every drop of the moist from the clouds passing through.
Don't go hiking without a map and a gear to keep you protected and help you enjoy the activity. Aso San is a semi-active volcano that provides some of the best hiking trails and views. The threat of eruption is what makes it more thrilling and exciting. Nearby this place is also a beautiful and pristine view of the Aso San volcano caldera. It is by far the biggest in the world. You can see the entire view over the windows of your car. It just erupted 3 Million years back; the outer crater of the volcano is around 90,000 years old already which is now surrounded by villages, towns and train lines as well.