Outdoor Activities アウトドア Discovering Japanese nature

Some walkers on the park's trails.

Credit: Akihito Muroi

Hiking to the summit of Mount Asahi

Credit: 663highland [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) via Wikimedia Commons

Skiers on Mount Hakkoda

Garden of the Murin-an villa in Kyoto

Credit: Kyoto picture

Discovering Japanese nature

Walking in Japan

Hiking in Japan is a real tradition. Between mountains, lakes and volcanoes, the country unveils its wild charm at every turn of the road. With almost 75% of its territory occupied by mountains or volcanoes, Japan is an ideal destination for hiking enthusiasts. Whether for trekking or a day hike, hikers of all levels will find the perfect spot to enjoy the wide open spaces and the beauty of Japanese nature.

Our selection of the best hikes:

It's common to meet a Yamabushi while hiking the Dewa Sanzan

Credit: R.B.

The Emerald Beach (Okinawa).

Credit: DR

Swimming in Japan

Japan, rich in its 30,000 kilometers of coastline, holds some secret heavens for swimmers and sunbathers. From Tokyo to Okinawa, the Archipelago and its beaches offer you the opportunity to enjoy activities by the sea.

Discover the best beaches in Japan:

Bike: Japan with two wheels

Discover Japan in a different way thanks to the bicycle: in town or in the countryside, enjoy the scenery that passes before your eyes. Twenty towns also offer self-service bicycle service, as is also known in France, such as Tokyo, Kanazawa, Hiroshima or Toyama. Some railway companies offer bicycle rental as soon as you arrive at the station, including JR East, JR Kyushû, Hankyû and Kintetsu.

To go further :