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Difficulty: 3/5

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Hiking Distance: 4 - 13 km 

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Time: 1-2 Days

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Elevation Gain:  220m - 610m

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Prefecture: Kumamoto

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The Best Multi-day Hikes Near

Kyoto & Osaka

Overview

Kyoto and Osaka are major destinations for expats, students, and travellers, but most of us don't own a car, so here's a list of the best multi-day hikes accessible by public transport. There are a lot of mountains in Kansai, so we'll update this page if new contenders are found, this list is showcasing our favourite multi-day Kansai hikes after exploring the region for many years. 

Weather & Seasons

Generally speaking, the best seasons for hiking are mid-spring, summer and autumn. These seasons offer the best scenery as the forests are full of life, with vibrant green landscapes during summer and colourful mountainsides during autumn. Winter can offer some beautiful snowy hiking, but often requires extra gear and knowledge.

The Best Multi-day Hikes Near Kyoto & Osaka

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熊野古道

Kumano Kodo,  Wakayama

Elevation: 950m

View Trail

Crowds

4/5

Distance

34 km

Elevation Gain

➚ ~2300m

Time

​3 - 4 Days

Difficulty

3/5

Accomodation

Guesthouses & Camping

kumano

Trail Summary 

The Kumano Kodo trail is a famous and ancient pilgrimage route in the mountains of Wakayama, located south of Kyoto and Osaka. The trail is over 1000 years old and is said to have been used by all levels of society including Emperors and Warlords. The Nakahechi route is the most popular among pilgrims and features many beautiful shrines and temples, most notably the grand shrines called Kumano Hongu Taisha and the Kumano Nachi Taisha. It also features an ancient onsen town and many accommodation options in between the hiking trails, with regular busses connecting all the routes. 

The entire Nakahechi route runs from Tanabe city and ends in Nachi-katsuura, it takes roughly 7 days, but you can view the most famous attractions by hiking just half of the route.

Note: Accommodation often needs to be booked more than 1 month in advance.

View The Full Trail Guide

Elevation Gain

➚ ​~2300m

Gallery

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氷ノ山

Hyonosen,  Hyogo

Elevation: 1510m

View Trail

Crowds

3/5

Distance

12.5 km

Elevation Gain

 930m

Time

7-9 Hours

Difficulty

3/5

Accomodation

​Huts & Camping

Hyonsen

Trail Summary 

Hyonosen is 1,510m tall and the highest mountain in Hyogo prefecture. It's great for hiking year round but is especially beautiful during the autumn period and features a nice mountain hut that hikers can sleep in for free, as well as some lovely campgrounds around the area. There are a few hiking trails, but we will focus on the one that can be most easily accessed with public transport from Kyoto or Osaka. The hike is quite out of the way for most visitors of Japan, so you won't find large crowds or foreigners here.

View The Full Trail Guide

Elevation Gain

➚ ​930m

Gallery

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八経ヶ岳

Mt. Hakkyo,  Nara

Elevation: 1915m

View Trail

Crowds

2/5

Distance

40 km

Elevation Change

➚ 2750m    ➘ 2500m

Time

3 Days

Difficulty

4/5

Accomodation

​Huts & Camping

Hakkyo

Trail Summary

Mt. Hakkyo is the highest mountain in Kansai and part of the Omine mountain range, accessible from Dorogawa onsen or Tenkawa. It features the Mt. Misen mountain hut for camping and has a variety of trail options. We'll cover two trails here, one is for the bus stop and the other is only accessible with a car. If you're taking the bus you will need to spend at least one night here due to the logistics of public transport. We've included other options but the main focus is on an amazing 3 day hike starting in Tenkawa and finishing in Dorogawa onsen.

One notable mention, the second night is spent camping on Sanjogatake, which is a religious mountain with an ancient custom of not allowing women to enter a specific area. But don't worry, there's an alternative trail for camping on the second day.

View The Full Trail Guide

Elevation Gain

​➚ 2750m

Gallery

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