3 Off-the-Beaten-Path Japan Nature Adventures

If you want to experience nature in Japan, you’re in luck. Japan has some of the most brilliant nature reserves in the world. Here are some useful insights for some off-the-beaten-path adventures in Japan.

One of my favorite things about Japan is the fact that it has some of the most exquisite nature in the world, much of which is untouched. Tokyo too is incredible because you have the largest city in the world, but you can’t step more than 10 minutes away from some piece of green in the city.

For me, it’s the hallmark of a good city to be able to cultivate nature within its space and preserve these values.

But, what about outside of Tokyo? Here are a few places that are both close to and far from Tokyo, where you can find a unique Japanese nature experience.

Yakushima Island | A Remote Japan Nature Experience

Yakushima Island is a place that’s not actually on anyone’s bucket list because it’s so hidden. Unless you know something about Japan-related travel, you’ll most likely never hear about this place. That’s surprising because it’s one of Japan’s most exciting destinations.

But, it requires some effort to travel here. With that said, it’s worth it if you’re looking for a unique adventure and some intimate time with one of the most preserved ancient forests in the world.

Few people even live on this island, which makes it a real-life Jurassic Park. It doesn’t get any better than this for hiking and adventure.

Read my article,  The Ultimate Travel Guide to Yakushima, Japan. This will tell you precisely how to travel there to see one of the most exquisite and hidden nature reserves in the world.

Aokigahara | Japan’s Suicide Forest

If you’re anything like me and are attracted to the darker things in life, you’ll find The Sea of Trees “suicide forest” to be an intriguing destination. It offers another kind of Japanese nature adventure, albeit a morbid one.

Aokigahara is the 3rd most popular place to die in the world by suicide.

If that’s any indication, you’ll understand why the Japanese government has taken measures to curb this behavior. What happens inevitably is that hikers from time to time, stumble upon these horrific encounters or even get lost in the forest and stuck there overnight.

But, Aokigahara is a remote hiking spot, not far from Mt. Fuji and Kawaguchiko. This makes it the perfect combination of natural beauty and creepiness. Just make sure you don’t get stranded there overnight because it’s hard to get a taxi out that way. View my article on how to travel to the Aokigahara Suicide Forest.

The Kamakura Hiking Trails

Kamakura is one of the top places in Tokyo for a getaway. It’s only a short trip on the train from central Tokyo, which makes it the perfect day trip. Kamakura is known for being a seed of Zen Buddhism in Japan, and for that reason, you will find several beautiful temples to explore. There is also a ton of hiking. You can easily spend the entire day hiking through temples, shrines, and forests.

There’s a bamboo forest, the Daibutsu hiking trail (big Buddha), or my favorite, walking from Kita-Kamakura Station down South to Kamakura and then to Enoshima.

You can easily spend an entire day here in Kamakura, surrounded by a brilliant hybrid of traditional Japanese beauty and enclosed nature.