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Trekking Through Nature - Long Trails Japan Style
Just about in the middle of Japan is the Shinetsu Trail along the border of Nagano Prefecture and Niigata Prefecture. © Shinetsu Trail Club
Mountain climbing and camping have become popular in Japan over the past few years. More and more young people are enjoying mountain climbing in fashionably colorful clothing that combines function with style. Also, long trail hiking is starting to boom as a new and enjoyable activity.
In general, long trail hiking, which is different from aiming to reach the top of a mountain as a goal, is hiking outdoors from place to place using old roads, forest roads and trails. Long trail distances can be from hundreds to thousands of kilometers in length, but only a few people trek through the entire distance of a trail in a single journey; you can simply enjoy your favorite route on the weekend and hike at your own pace.
A reason long hikes are popular is because the path may pass through towns and villages, where you can learn about the area's history and culture and meet the local people as part of the trip.
Enjoying the Outdoors of a Locality on Foot
There are long trails that are several thousand kilometers in length in Europe and America, the home grounds of long hiking, but in narrow Japan with its limited land area there are no such long trails. On the other hand, each region in Japan does have its own distinctive trails, and there are now 10 trails registered with the Japan Long Trail Association. Here we will introduce some of them.
There are also tour events on the Hokkaido Tokachi Long Trail in which many people hike together. © Tokachi Long Trail Classic
In the far north of Japan, in Hokkaido, there's the Tokachi Long Trail. The Tokachi region is an agricultural area, and along this trail you can enjoy rural scenery such as corn crops, and pastures for cows, horses and sheep.
The 80-kilometer Shinetsu Trail along the border of Nagano Prefecture and Niigata Prefecture is a hike through beautiful beech forest. It used to be a key transportation route, and it's said that it was used to carry salt and seafood from the Japan Sea and Japanese paper and rapeseed oil from inland. It's a trail where you can enjoy nature and history.
Many people from youngsters to seniors enjoy the outdoors along the Yatsugatake Sanroku Super Trail. © Yatsugatake Super Trail Club
Takashima Trail. It has scenery that can only be seen by the people that hike it. ©Takashima Trail Club
Just about in the middle of the Japanese islands is the Yatsugatake Sanroku Super Trail. It's about 200 kilometers long and circles the base of the Yatsugatake mountain range. It has many highlights like beautiful mountains, alpine plants, lakes, bogs and historical ruins.
A long trail that's typical of the Kansai area is the Takashima Trail in the northwest of Shiga Prefecture. There's abundant vegetation, irreplaceable nature, and you can also expect to see Lake Biwa, Japan's biggest lake, and the novel narrow inlet of Wakasa Bay from many places.
One more of the attractions of the long trails is enjoying the foods grown locally. © Tokachi Long Trail Classic
Proper Equipment for a Safe and Comfortable Trip!
If you have standard outdoor equipment you can feel at ease and comfortably enjoy long trail hiking. This includes, rainproof and moisture-permeable rainwear, inner wear to prevent sweating and chilling, pants that are easy to move in, hiking boots and a backpack that can hold all the items you need to carry.
Because you'll be walking long distances it's important to choose light items. Also, be sure to have water, a course map and headlamp, and first aid supplies. Make careful preparations, be sure someone knows your route and schedule, and you'll enjoy walking Japan's long trails.
- Nagasaki (March 2013)
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