Turns out Japan has a lot of mountains; unfortunately, many of them could explode without warning. Ignoring this fact, I am still enthusiastic to explore and hike Japan’s mountains before earthquakes, eruptions, and tsunamis render the country uninhabitable.
Unfortunately, I’ve found it difficult to find reliable (if any) English language information on hiking in Japan – translations only get me so far (and rarely lead to successful trailhead finding).
I figured that it would be faster, more exciting, and more rewarding to climb all the mountains myself – instead of learning Japanese and reading about which peaks are worth the trip. What follows is an up-to-date collection of my firsthand Japanese mountain knowledge.
Any questions, comments, or suggestions? Be sure to get in touch.
Also, be sure to check out 15 Things To Know Before Hiking In Japan.
Kita Alps Hikes (北アルプス)
Mount Kasa
笠ヶ岳 (Kasagatake)
Location: Takayama, Gifu (岐阜県高山市)
Summit elevation: 9,506 ft / 2,897 m
Elevation change: 6,234 ft / 1,900 m
Round-trip: 13.54 mi / 21.79 km
Difficulty: Strenuous
Nihon Hyaku-meizan: Yes
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Mount Okuhotaka
奥穂高岳 (Okuhotakadake)
Location: Takayama, Gifu (岐阜県高山市)
Summit elevation: 10,470 ft / 3,190 m
Elevation change: 6,627 ft / 2,020 m
Round-trip: 12.8 mi / 20.6 km
Difficulty: Strenuous
Nihon Hyaku-meizan: Yes
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Mount Tate
立山 (Tateyama)
Location: Tateyama, Toyama (富山県立山町)
Summit elevation: 9,892 ft / 3,015 m
Elevation change: 2,018 ft / 615 m
Round-trip: 3.5 mi / 5.6 km
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Nihon Hyaku-meizan: Yes
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Mount Tsurugi
剣岳 (Tsurugidake)
Location: Tateyama, Toyama (富山県立山町)
Summit elevation: 9,839 ft / 2,999 m
Elevation change: 7,283 ft / 2,220 m
Round-trip: 10.6 mi / 17 km
Difficulty: Strenuous
Nihon Hyaku-meizan: Yes
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Mount Yake
(焼岳) Yakedake
Location: Takayama, Gifu (岐阜県高山市)
Summit elevation: 8,054 ft / 2,455 m
Elevation change: 2,080 ft / 634 m
Round-trip: 10.2 mi / 16.4 km
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Nihon Hyaku-meizan: Yes
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Mount Yari
槍ヶ岳 (Yarigatake)
Location: Kurobe, Toyama (富山県黒部市)
Summit elevation: 10,433 ft / 3,180 m
Elevation change: 6,991 ft / 2,131 m
Round-trip: 17.6 mi / 28.4 km
Difficulty: Strenuous
Nihon Hyaku-meizan: Yes
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Mount Hotaka Traverse
奥穂高岳-西穂高岳
Location: Takayama, Gifu (岐阜県高山市)
Max elevation: 10,470 ft / 3,190 m
Total length: 17.04 mi / 27.41 km
Traverse length: 1.9 mi / 3.05 km
Difficulty: Very Strenuous
Nihon Hyaku-meizan: Yes
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Hokuriku Hikes (北陸地方)
Mount Arashima
荒島岳 (Arashimadake)
Location: Ono, Fukui (福井県大野市)
Summit elevation: 4,998 ft / 1,523.5 m
Elevation change: 4,150 ft / 1,265 m
Round-trip: 7.96 mi / 12.8 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Nihon Hyaku-meizan: Yes
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Mount Haku
白山 (Hakusan)
Location: Ishikawa (石川県)
Summit elevation: 8,865 ft / 2,702 m
Elevation change: 5,700 ft / 1,737 m
Round-trip: 9 mi / 14.5 km
Difficulty: Moderate-Strenuous
Nihon Hyaku-meizan: Yes
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Mount Hino
日野山 (Hinosan)
Location: Echizen, Fukui (福井県越前市)
Summit elevation: 2,608 ft / 795 m
Elevation change: 2,346 ft / 715 m
Round-trip: 3.85 mi / 6.2 km
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Nihon Hyaku-meizan: No
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Mount Kanmuri
冠山 (Kanmuriyama)
Location: Ibigawa, Gifu (岐阜県揖斐川町) / Ikeda, Fukui (福井県池田町)
Summit elevation: 4,123 ft / 1,256.6 m
Elevation change: 703 ft / 214 m
Round-trip: 3.44 mi / 5.53 km
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Nihon Hyaku-meizan: No
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Mount Nosaka
野坂岳 (Nosakadake)
Location: Tsuruga, Fukui (福井県敦賀市)
Summit elevation: 2,998 ft / 914 m
Elevation change: 2,788 ft / 850 m
Round-trip: 4.65 mi / 7.48 km (6.05 mi / 9.78 km from train station)
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Nihon Hyaku-meizan: No
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Kansai Hikes (関西地方)
Mount Ibuki
伊吹山 (Ibukiyama)
Location: Maibara, Shiga (滋賀県米原市)
Summit elevation: 4,518 ft / 1,377 m
Elevation change: 2,435 ft / 742 m
Round-trip: 9.38 mi / 15.1 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Nihon Hyaku-meizan: Yes
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Mount Buna
武奈ヶ岳 (Bunagatake)
Location: Ōtsu, Shiga (滋賀県大津市)
Summit elevation: 3,984 ft / 1,214 m
Elevation change: 2,435 ft / 742 m
Round-trip: 7.42 mi / 11.94 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Nihon Hyaku-meizan: No
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Mount Fuji Area (富士山周辺)
Mount Fuji
富士山 (Fujisan)
Location: Shizuoka/Yamanashi (静岡県/山梨県)
Summit elevation: 12,388 ft / 3,776 m
Elevation change: 7,562 ft / 2,305 m
Round-trip: 7.06 mi / 11.36 km
Difficulty: Moderate-Strenuous
Nihon Hyaku-meizan: Yes
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Mount Ryu
竜ヶ岳 (Ryugatake)
Location: Minamitsuru, Yamanashi (山梨県南都留郡)
Summit elevation: 5,010 ft / 1,527 m
Elevation change: 2,040 ft / 622 m
Round-trip: 7.06 mi / 11.36 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Nihon Hyaku-meizan: No
DETAILS COMING SOON
Hokkaido Hikes (北海)
Mount Rishiri
利尻山 (Rishiri-zan)
Location: Rishiri Island, Hokkaido (利尻島北海道)
Summit elevation: 5,646 ft / 1,721 m
Elevation change: 4,910 ft / 1,497 m
Round-trip: 8.03 mi / 12.92 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Nihon Hyaku-meizan: Yes
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Kyushu Hikes (九州)
Questions? Comments? Suggestions? I’m always looking to improve my hiking guides to make them more useful to anyone wanting to get out and explore. Be sure to get in touch if you have any questions or feedback about any of the hikes here (or anywhere on the site).
Looking for more hiking guides? Check out these equally-awesome trekking destinations.
