Hiking in Japan.

As I did regularly some hiking and other outdoor sports in Japan (and still try to do where I'm there), I decided to made a specific webpage on this subject. You will find some example of hiking mainly in the Kansai area where I staid. I tried to link these hikes with nice maps and photos I've taken.
Main source materials are from:

The Lonely Planet "Hiking in Japan" offring some nice examples

A series of maps Yama-to-Kogen (see below),

A series of panphlet from the Nankai train company (South of Osaka),

And some ideas from my friends of KIOC (Kansai International Outdoor Club),
Kansai IOC web site

And also, a great Japanese website to get any detailed topographic map of Japan. It's in Japanese but quite easy to use (well, if "orientation" is in your vocabularly!),
Wachizu Mapsearch,

When hiking in Japan, you often need to follow this symbol:

Hiking routes and maps are classified in regions, with Kansai region first.

Hiking in Kansai

Hiking everywhere else in Japan

Some comments on the hiking routes

For all the hikes, I tried to add a table with a summary and some links. For the level of difficulty, please follow this table:

Difficulty	Comments
0	Easy even wearing sandals (T<4h)
1	No difficulty (D<750m, T<7h)
2	A nice hike (D>750m, T>7h)
3	A long hike with some minor difficulties (D>1500m, T>10h)
4	Alpinism (dangerous sections)
5	Alpinisme de crazy people (not for me!)

(D: height difference;, T: walking time)

Maps from the series Yama-to-Kogen

Thay cost approximately 900 yens (5-6 euros) and are good quality (coated with plastic). However, they are not that detailled (1/50,000) and do not cover the Japanse territory (far from it!). You should be careful with the indications provided (walking time approximative). Some details are also missing sometimes... But anyway, they are quite good in overall. Here is the list with the 59 maps available. There is a new identical version every year!

01. Rishiri, Rausu-dake, Shyari-dake, Oakan-dake (Hokkaido)
02. Niseko, Shiribeshi-yama (Hokkaido)
03. Daisetsuzan, Tokachi-dake, Poroshiri-dake (Hokkaido)
04. Towada Lake, Hakouda-san, Iwaki-yama (Tohoku)
05. Hachimantai, Mt Iwate, Akitakoma (Tohoku)
06. Kurikoma, Hayaikemine (Tohoku)
07. Zao, Mt Omoshiroi, Mt Yama (Tohoku)
08. Mt Chokai, Gassan (Tohoku)
09. Asahi mountains (Tohoku)
10. Mt Ide (Tohoku)
11. Bandai, Agatsuma, Azuma-yama, Adatara-yama (Tohoku)
12. Natsudake, Shiohara (Tohoku)
13. Nikko (Joshinetsu)
14. Oze (North Kanto)
15. Echigo Sanzan (Joshinetsu)
16. Tanigawa mountains, Naeba-san (Joshinetsu)
17. Shigo Kogen (highlands) (Joshinetsu)
18. Myoko-san, Togakushi, Amakaza (Joshinetsu)
19. Mt Asama (North Kanto)
20. Akagi-san, Sukai-san, Tsukuba-san (North Kanto)
21. Nishijoshu, Myogi-san, Arafune-yama (North Kanto)
22. Okumusashi, Chichibu (South Kanto)
23. Okutama (South Kanto)
24. Daibosatsumine (South Kanto)
25. Mt Kumotori, Mt Ryojin (South Kanto)
26. Mt Kinpo, Kobushi, Kabutotakeshin (South Kanto)
27. Takao, Jinba (South Kanto)
28. Tanzawa (South Kanto)
29. Hakone, Kintoki-yama, Komaga-take (South Kanto)
30. Izu, Amagi-san (South Kanto)

31. Mt Fuji, Fuji 5 lakes (South Kanto)
32. Yatsuga-take (Central Alps)
33. Japanese Alps (poster)
34. Mt Hakuba (North Alps)
35. Kashimayari, Mt Goryu (North Alps)
36. Tsurugi, Tate-yama (North Alps)
37. Yariga-dake, Hodaka-dake, Kamikochi (North Alps)
38. Norikura Kogen (highlands) (North Alps)
39. Ontake-san (Central Alps)
40. Kisokoma, Mt Karaki, Utsugi-dake (Central Alps)
41. Kita-dake, Kaikoma (South Alps)
42. Shiomi, Akaishi, Hijiri-dake (South Alps)
43. Huku-san, Arashima-dake (West Chubu)
44. Gozaisho, Ryozen, Ibuki (Kansai)
45. Hira mountains, Bunaga-take (Kansai)
46. Northern Kyoto (Kita-yama)(Kansai)
47. Western Kyoto (Nishi-yama), Hokusetsu (Kansai)
48. Rokko-san, Maya-san (Kansai)
49. Kongo, Katsuragi (Kansai)
50. Omine mountains (Kansai)
51. Odaigahara (Kansai)
52. Hyonosen (Chugoku)
53. Daisen, Hiruzen Kogen (highlands) (Chugoku)
54. Ishizuchi, Tsurugi-san (Shikoku)
55. Fukuoka mountains (Kyushu)
56. Aso, koronoe, Kuju, Yufu-dake (Kyushu)
57. Sobo, Kashi, Katabuki, Onadeyame (Kyushu)
58. Kirishima, Kaimon-dake (Kyushu)
59. Yakushima, Miyanora-dake (Kyushu)