Hiking

When the weather heats up, many Japanese escape the humidity that envelopes the cities and head to the countryside. Being such a mountainous country, there are many great places to hike amongst the stunning scenery. Of course, everyone knows about Mt. Fuji, but most Japanese hikers agree that, when it comes to beauty and enjoyment, the nation’s icon little more than a climb to tick off a list. As such, here are a few other fantastic places to hike around Japan, from gentle strolls to hardcore undertakings. Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage, Kii Hanto Covering some 307km, the Kumano Pilgrimage routes in Kanto’s Kii Hanto Peninsula are designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and have been in use over the last 1,000 years as a way to reach the Grand Shrines of Komono: Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha and Kumano Nachi Taisha. There are a plethora of trails to follow with differing difficulty; from short hikes to the entire trail that can take four to five days. The tougher hikes can be steep, involve stair climbing, take you through wooded slopes and over the spectacular mountain passes. Magome to Tsumago Trail, Nagano Just 90 minutes from Nagoya, the 8km passage…