Hiking in Japan, explained from official sources

Yama Nikki (山日記) is a Japanese hiking blog. This English section collects guides for visitors and residents: how to get to the trailhead, what it costs, which rules apply, and what to watch out for.

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Oct 26, 2026Mountain Guides

Mt. Buko Hiking Guide: Chichibu's Quarry-Cut Peak from Yokoze, the 52-Chōme Trail, Taxi and Laview Access, and Late-Autumn Cautions (2026)

An English guide to Mt. Buko (武甲山, 1,304 m), the limestone mountain that towers over the Chichibu basin in Saitama. Covers the Laview limited express from Ikebukuro to Yokoze, the taxi or two-hour walk to the Ichi-no-torii trailhead, parking, the Omotesando trail marked by 52 chōme stones, the loop down via Shirajikubo, the closed Hashidate course, the summit toilet's winter closure, bears, phone signal, and how short November days change your plan.

Oct 24, 2026Hiking Safety

Do You Need a Bear Bell for Hiking in Japan? Role, Limitations, and How to Choose One

Why hikers in Japan carry bear bells, what Japan's Ministry of the Environment recommends for avoiding surprise bear encounters, where bells fall short, and what features (silencer mechanism, shape, attachment) to look for.

Oct 24, 2026Gear

What Is a Zelt? Choosing and Using an Emergency Bivy Shelter for Hiking in Japan

An official-source guide to the Japanese 'zelt' (ultralight emergency bivy shelter): why Nagano Prefectural Police recommend carrying bivy gear even on day hikes, how a zelt differs from a tent, montbell U.L. Zelt specifications and ventilation warnings, and essential gear to pair with it.

Oct 24, 2026Hiking Safety

Frozen Trails in Late Autumn: Walking on Frost & Ice, and Choosing Between Chain Spikes, Light Crampons, and 10-Point Crampons

Even when autumn foliage is still bright in late October and November, clear mornings bring frost and thin ice to high-elevation and shaded trails in Japan. Using Japan Meteorological Agency data, prefectural police autumn mountain advisories, and Montbell's official chain-spike manual, this guide explains where ice forms, how to walk on frozen ground, and when to turn back.

Oct 24, 2026Japan Hiking

How to Use the Shizuoka FUJI NAVI App: Registration, the Safety Quiz, the 4,000 Yen Fee, and Your Mt. Fuji Entry QR Code

A step-by-step guide to "Shizuoka FUJI NAVI", the official app for climbing Mt. Fuji from the Fujinomiya, Gotemba, and Subashiri trails. Covers account setup, the pre-learning quiz, paying the 4,000 yen fee, showing your QR code, sharing permits, changes and refunds, and how it differs from the Yoshida Trail system.

Oct 24, 2026Japan Hiking

What Color Should Hiking Clothes Be? Bright Colors, Black Clothing, Rain Gear, Hornets and Hunting Season in Japan

Why is hiking gear so brightly colored, and which colors stand out best in the mountains? Background-by-background color tips, whether black clothing is a problem, rain gear colors, and why white is recommended against hornets in summer but risky in hunting season, based on guidance from Japanese prefectural police and local governments.

Oct 24, 2026Gear

How to Layer Clothes for Hiking in Japan: Base, Mid and Outer Layers, Why to Avoid Cotton, and Preventing Hypothermia

The basics of layering for hiking, based on montbell, Nagano Prefecture and Hokkaido: what the outer, mid and base layers do, why cotton is a bad idea, the difference between wind shells and soft shells, autumn layering, and how hypothermia happens even on low mountains in summer.

Oct 24, 2026Gear & Equipment

How Much Does Hiking Gear Cost in Japan? 3 Sample 5-Item Budgets Using Official Montbell Prices (October 2026)

How much does a complete starter kit for day hiking in Japan cost? Using tax-included prices from Montbell's official Japanese online store (October 2026), putting together 5 core items—hiking boots, rain jacket and pants, a 30 L backpack, headlamp, and trekking socks—comes to roughly ¥63,040 to ¥95,620 across three tiers.

Oct 24, 2026Gear & Equipment

How to Choose a Hiking Backpack: Capacity by Trip Type, Torso Fit, and Fitting Steps

How to choose a hiking backpack in Japan based on Montbell's official guidelines: recommended capacities for day hikes (20–25 L), mountain-hut stays (30–40 L), and tent camping (50 L+), torso fit, women's models, and the 5-step fitting procedure.

New articles are added regularly.

What you will find here

Routes and access

Day hikes near Tokyo, how to reach trailheads by public transport, and realistic timings.

Fees, bookings and rules

Entry fees, hut reservations, gate hours and seasonal restrictions.

Safety

Bear precautions, weather, autumn and winter conditions, and what to carry.

About this section

Articles here are written from official information (municipalities, transport operators, mountain huts, park authorities). They are research-based guides, not personal trip reports. Fees, timetables and closures change, so please confirm with the official source before you go.

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More in Japanese

The main site has many more guides and trip reports in Japanese.

Japanese site (日本語)