- 4.9/5 330 Latest reviews
- Destination: Japan
- Duration: 11 Days
- Tour Type: Private & Bespoke
- Tour Style: Hiking
About This Trip
Experience the natural and cultural heart of the country on this immersive Japan Alps Hiking Tour, a private 11-day journey through Central Japan’s most scenic walking routes. From the vibrant streets of Tokyo to the peaceful mountain towns of Nagano, this tour is designed for travelers who want to explore Japan on foot at a relaxed, rewarding pace. Highlights include the iconic Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, where alpine buses, ropeways, and walking trails reveal snow walls, volcanic landscapes, and emerald mountain ponds, as well as gentle highland hikes through pristine marshlands and meadows in the Japanese Alps.
The journey continues to Kamikochi, Japan’s most celebrated alpine valley, offering spectacular riverside walks beneath towering peaks, before stepping back in time along the historic Nakasendo Trail from Narai-juku. Walking ancient forest paths once used by samurai and merchants, you’ll experience Japan’s rural heritage before concluding in Nagano with a rare Zenkoji Temple stay, complete with traditional rituals and serene mountain spirituality. Operating from mid-April to mid-November, this Central Japan hiking tour perfectly captures spring snow scenery, summer alpine beauty, and vivid autumn colors, making it an ideal walking holiday for nature lovers and culturally curious travelers.
Summary
DAY
PLACE
HIGHLIGHTS
1 - 2
Tokyo
Senso-ji Temple, Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Shibuya Crossing
3 - 4
Toyama - Murodo
Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route: Mikurigaike Pond, Raichozawa Valley
5
Murodo - Ogizawa - Matsumoto
Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route: Yuki-no-Otani (Snow Wall), Tateyama Ropeway, Kurobe Dam
6
Matsumoto
Kamikochi: Kappa Bridge, Taisho Pond, Myojin Pond & Myojin Shrine
7 - 8
Narai-juku
Free Day with Nakasendo Walking Option
9 - 10
Nagano
Zenkoji Temple Stay, Oyaki Lunch, Sake Tasting, Goma Prayer Fire Ceremony, Tea Ceremony
11
Tokyo
Departure
Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo – Begin Your Japan Alps Hiking Tour
Your Japan Alps Hiking Tour begins with arrival in Tokyo, where modern Japan meets centuries of tradition. After a private airport transfer, check in to your centrally located hotel. The rest of the day is intentionally light, allowing you to recover from travel and adjust to the time zone. You may choose to explore nearby neighborhoods, enjoy Japanese cuisine, or simply rest before your Central Japan hiking adventure begins.
Highlights: Private airport transfer · Relaxed first day · Start of Japan Alps Hiking Tour
- Tokyo
- Day 2: Tokyo Cultural Discovery Before Entering the Japanese Alps
Today introduces Japan’s cultural foundations before transitioning into nature-focused travel. Explore Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist site, and walk through Nakamise Street, filled with traditional snacks and souvenirs. Continue to Meiji Shrine, surrounded by a forest that offers a peaceful prelude to the alpine landscapes ahead. Harajuku and Shibuya Crossing showcase Tokyo’s youthful energy, providing a dynamic contrast to the tranquil mountain scenery awaiting you on this Central Japan hiking tour.
Highlights: Tokyo temples · Urban culture · Cultural contrast before alpine hiking
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- Tokyo
- Day 3: Tokyo to Toyama – Gateway to the Japanese Alps
Travel by high-speed Shinkansen to Toyama, widely regarded as the eastern gateway to the Japanese Alps Hiking Tour region. This scenic and comfortable rail journey highlights Japan’s efficiency and innovation. Upon arrival, the afternoon is free for rest or light exploration. Toyama’s calm atmosphere, coastal air, and mountain backdrop make it an ideal transition point between city life and alpine wilderness.
Highlights: Bullet train journey · Entry to Japanese Alps region · Leisure time
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- Toyama
- Day 4: Toyama – Tateyama – Murodo | Alpine Walking in the Japan Alps
Today marks a major highlight of your Japan Alps Hiking Tour as you enter the mountains via the spectacular Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. Traveling by cable car and alpine bus, ascend into high-altitude terrain rarely accessible without strenuous trekking. At Murodo, enjoy gentle alpine hikes around Mikurigaike Pond and Raichozawa Valley, where volcanic landscapes, marshlands, and seasonal wildflowers define the highland scenery.
Highlights: Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route · Alpine walking · Mountain scenery
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- Murodo
- Day 5: Murodo – Ogizawa – Matsumoto | Crossing the Heart of the Japanese Alps
Continue your journey across the mountains on this unforgettable day of your Japanese Alps hiking tour. Seasonal highlights include walking through the dramatic Yuki-no-Otani Snow Corridor in spring or enjoying panoramic summer and autumn views of rugged alpine ridges. Visit Kurobe Dam, an engineering marvel set amid towering peaks, before descending toward Matsumoto, where alpine culture meets traditional castle-town charm.
Highlights: Snow Wall (seasonal) · Kurobe Dam · Mountain crossings
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- Matsumoto
- Day 6: Matsumoto – Kamikochi | Signature Kamikochi Hiking Experience
Today is dedicated entirely to Kamikochi hiking, one of the most iconic destinations on any Japan Alps Hiking Tour. Enter this protected national park and explore flat, well-maintained trails suitable for relaxed walking. Follow the Azusa River, cross Kappa Bridge, and admire mirror-like reflections at Taisho Pond and Myojin Pond. Surrounded by peaks such as Mount Hotaka, Kamikochi offers postcard-perfect alpine scenery throughout the hiking season.
Highlights: Kamikochi Valley · Riverside trails · Japanese Alps landscapes
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- Matsumoto
- Day 7: Matsumoto – Narai-juku | Transition from Alps to Historic Trails
Travel by local train to Narai-juku, a beautifully preserved post town along the historic Nakasendo Trail. This day transitions your Central Japan hiking tour from alpine scenery to cultural walking routes. Spend the afternoon wandering narrow streets lined with Edo-period inns, traditional houses, and local craft shops, experiencing rural Japan largely unchanged for centuries.
Highlights: Narai-juku · Edo-period town · Cultural immersion
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- Narai-juku
- Day 8: Narai-juku – Nakasendo Trail Hiking (Torii Pass)
Enjoy one of the most atmospheric walks of your Japan Alps Hiking Tour along the historic Nakasendo Trail. The classic Narai-juku to Yabuhara-juku route crosses Torii Pass, offering forested paths, stone pavements, mountain streams, and historical markers. This moderate hike blends nature and history, following the footsteps of samurai and merchants who once traveled between Kyoto and Edo.
Highlights: Nakasendo Trail · Torii Pass hike · Historic walking route
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- Narai-juku
- Day 9: Narai – Nagano | Zenkoji Temple Cultural Stay
Continue your Central Japan hiking tour to Nagano for a unique spiritual experience at Zenkoji Temple. After sampling regional specialties and sake, explore the temple complex with a guide and take part in a traditional Goma fire prayer ceremony. Enjoy vegetarian shojin-ryori cuisine and stay overnight at a temple lodging, offering a deeply peaceful contrast to the physical activity of the hiking days.
Highlights: Zenkoji Temple stay · Fire prayer · Spiritual culture
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- Nagano
- Day 10: Nagano – Tokyo | Reflection After the Japan Alps Hiking Tour
Optionally attend Zenkoji’s early morning O-Asaji service, a serene and memorable experience. After breakfast, return to Tokyo by train. The remainder of the day is free for shopping, dining, or revisiting favorite neighborhoods, allowing time to reflect on the alpine hikes, cultural walks, and natural beauty experienced throughout your Japan Alps Hiking Tour.
Highlights: Morning temple service · Return to Tokyo · Leisure time
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- Tokyo
- Day 11: Tokyo – Departure
Enjoy free time until your departure transfer to the airport. Leave Japan with lasting memories of mountain landscapes, historic trails, and cultural encounters from your Central Japan & Japan Alps Hiking Tour.
Highlights: Departure · End of Japan Alps Hiking Tour
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