Adventures in Japan’s great outdoors
Go off the beaten path to dive, ski, cycle, and paddle in Greater Tokyo and the San'in region.
A trip to Japan offers travelers a range of unforgettable experiences, from sampling the rich culinary heritage to discovering remnants of the country's samurai past. What you might not know is that Japan is also a prime destination for outdoor adventure sports. If you are into skiing fine powder snow or diving with sea turtles, hiking sacred peaks or heading off on rural bike rides, Japan has all that and more.
Island Hop in Tokyo
Tokyo’s image as a neon-lit urban sprawl couldn’t be further from the mark once travelers leave the city center behind and explore the wider Greater Tokyo area. Nowhere demonstrates this better than Tokyo’s Izu Islands, a chain of nine inhabited islands and 100-plus uninhabited islands and reefs stretching south of the mainland into the Pacific.
Reachable in just under two hours by high-speed ferry, the chain's biggest island, Izu-Oshima, is an easy trip from central Tokyo, yet the change of scenery is stark. Where western Tokyo's natural expanse offers hiking trails through wooded mountains, Izu-Oshima is all about barren landscapes, with trails skirting the crater of volcanically active Mount Mihara and then leading to Japan's only patch of desert—the lunar-esque black charcoal sands of Ura-sabaku.
Heading deeper into the Izu chain, 10 hours by regular ferry or 55 minutes by plane, the far smaller Hachijojima offers up even more outdoor activities far off the beaten path. For hikers, there are relatively easy treks up and around 2,800-feet (854-meter) Hachijo-Fuji, a peak topped with a caldera that's accented by virgin forest and ponds. From the trails and the peak, Hachijo-Fuji rewards hikers with sweeping island views. Off land, there are opportunities for guided snorkeling and diving tours in deep blue waters home to table coral, sea turtles, and hundreds of varieties of tropical fish. Alternatively, there's just lazing around in the island's collection of seven distinct outdoor hot-spring baths, taking in island views as the mineral-rich water soothes the body.
Hit the Slopes of Niigata
Looking north of Tokyo, an alternative to island adventure are the mountains of Niigata, home to some of the finest winter resort areas in Japan, as well as being easy to access from the capital. Only about 70 minutes by bullet train (Joetsu Shinkansen) from Tokyo Station, the mellow town of Yuzawa has 12 ski resorts that between them cater to all levels of skier and snowboarder, from families with small children to advanced boarders in search of backcountry powder.
These include Gala Yuzawa the only snow resort in Japan with its own seasonal bullet train stop at the foot of the slopes, meaning you can be on its 1½-mile (2.5-km) Falcon Slope soon after getting off the train from Tokyo. Then there's Naeba, a popular resort 40 minutes by bus from Yuzawa, with 24 varied trails and (like Gala) English-speaking staff who make organizing gear rentals, lift passes, and lessons easy. And once the skiing is done, both Yuzawa and Naeba have a great mix of bars, restaurants, and hot-spring bathhouses.
Paddle and Shower Climb in Tottori
On the western side of Japan's main island, the San'in region is another lesser-known gem. Located north of the far more famous Hiroshima and west of Kyoto, San'in's two prefectures—Tottori and Shimane—offer travelers an opportunity to see a whole different side of the country.
In Tottori, you'll find the less-trodden hiking trails of Daisen-Oki National Park and coastal sand dunes where you can sand board. But you could also explore the Uradome coast by stand-up paddle board or sea kayak, gliding over clear waters alongside jagged rock formations carved over thousands of years by the Japan Sea. Some of the guided tours, which can be organized in English, even use transparent kayaks so you can see fish and seaweed colonies below. Inland, another watery adventure that needs no prior experience is to go river trekking and "shower climbing" deep in the verdant Mitaki Valley, where guides lead tours upstream through the valley's sparkling clear water, navigating rapids and rock faces, as well as offering opportunities to plunge headfirst down natural water slides.
Pedal the Countryside of Shimane
Shimane, on the west side of San'in, adds another outdoor option, with a network of cycling trails that take in a variety of terrains and cater to all levels of cyclist. At the easier end of the scale, you could pedal a 30-mile (50-kilometer) route that skirts Lake Shinji and the Japan Sea coast, before stopping by one of Japan's most sacred shrines, Izumo Taisha. More challenging is a 52-mile (85-kilometer) cycle through the Chugoku Mountains on a route that gains more than 2,600-feet (800-meters) of elevation. Then there are advanced options, like the 87-mile (140-kilometer) hill-climbing challenge in Okuizumo—a grueling ride that rewards cyclists with lovely views of rural Japan.
Whichever you opt for, Shimane's support facilities help make the trip easier. Dotting the trails are 200 Goen Cycle Stations offering places to relax and fill water bottles, and (depending on the station) services such as bike repair tools, free maps, shower rooms, and luggage storage. Helpfully for travelers from overseas, each station is also detailed in English on the Shimane Cycling Navi website, along with information on bike rentals, cycling routes and guided tours.
Whether exploring the Izu Islands or Niigata, Tottori or Shimane, there's plenty of outdoor adventure on offer for anyone keen to experience Japan beyond its most famous destinations. Ski, dive, cycle, paddle—Japan's countryside isn't just about the scenery.
