While there is excellent hiking all over Japan, the North Alps, in the Chūbu region, are an absolute highlight.

Alpico Group is great for hikers wanting to go to Kamikōchi and the North Alps from Tōkyō, Kyōto or Osaka - running overnight buses that arrive at various trailheads in the morning.

This itinerary includes hikes from Kamikōchi in the south of the North Alps, from Murōdo on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, and from Hakuba, on the eastern side of the Alps. Camping or staying in mountain huts are great options.

Days 1-4: Find your way into Kamikōchi, either by Alpico Group bus from the big cities, or from Takayama to the west or Matsumoto to the east. You can content yourself here with valley walking or decide to climb Yarigatake (3180m), 5th highest mountain in Japan - or Okuhotaka-dake (3190m), 3rd highest in Japan.