Hiking Routes of Niigata & Nagano Japan

Hiking in Japan draws millions of visitors every year; however, have you ever thought of the lesser-known areas of Niigata and Nagano? These areas offer a variety of hikes that combine outdoors, adventure, nature and spirituality.

Niigata and Nagano Prefectures are located in the Chūbu region of Honshu on the West side of Japan. Niigata is the fifth-largest prefecture in Japan which includes the island of Sado. Both are roughly 2 and a half hours via train from Tokyo, making them easily accessible for day or weekend trips.

Hiking in Niigata and Nagano

Whether you are a beginner or an advanced hiker looking for a day or a couple of hours hike. Here are a few Japan hiking routes in Niigata & Nagano, and a few things to do in each area. All can be easily accessed via train or car:

Japan hiking trail – Rice Terrace of Tokamachi

Hike the picturesque Rice Terrace, Tokamachi

Hiking above the picturesque rice terrace of Tokamachi is a must. Also known as the ‘Tokaichimachi Tanada trek’ is only a couple of hours by train from Tokyo city to the Niigata countryside. The Rice Terrace of Tokamachi has over 200 plots of rice fields varying in size, producing the famous Uonuma Koshihikari Rice.

With sweeping views of the nearby mountains, covered in a sea of clouds and snow, the various rice fields below resemble giant steps carved into the hillside. I can understand why the area attracts thousands of photographers and tourists yearly.

Rice Terrace of Tokamachi is a 19km hike that can be done in a day or over two days. However, the hiking trail will eventually be extended to a 30km track above the rice fields. Making the hike a several-day trail. Don’t forget to wear good Hiking Boots/Shoes before you head off on your next hiking trip to Japan.

Rice Terrace of Tokamachi hiking information

• Duration: 1 to 2 days
• Distance: 19kms 
• Toilets a restrooms are available at the viewpoint and train stations
• Where to stay: Matsudai, accommodation availability and prices are here.

Visit Matsudai Nohbutai 

Visit the Matsudai Nohbutai centre, if you have time, when hiking in Tokamachi. It is only 5 5-minute walk away from Matsudi station, where you come in. Matsudai Nohbutai is a field museum featuring a gallery, restaurant, shops and an observation deck where you can see some of the artwork on display.  

The Field Museum is open daily except Wednesdays from 10:00 to 17:00 (last entry at 16:30). Preschool and infant children are free. 

Getting to Rice Terrance Tokamach

• Location: – Matsushiro District, Tokachimachi City, Niigata
• Closest Train Stations:– Matsudai Station & Tokamachi Station

The closest train station to the Rice Terrance Tokamachi hiking trail from Tokyo is Matsudai or Tokamachi. Then it is a 20-minute drive from Matsudai Station or a 40-minute drive from Tokamachi Station. You can either get a taxi or rent a car from the station.

It is best to purchase the JR East Nagano / Niigata Area Pass for the train in advance online for Niigata.

Rice Terrace of Tokamachi – Japan hiking trail

Osado Ishina Natural Cedar Forest – Sado Island

Situated on the island of Sado, 900 meters up in the mountains, is the Osado Ishina Natural Cedar Forest, a part of the Niigata prefecture. The 200 to 400-year-old cedar trees are impressive and remind me of something out of a movie. To preserve these majestic cedar trees, a 650-meter trail has been built with an observation point above the ground. This trail allows anyone, regardless of age, to enjoy walking or hiking on Sado Island.

What makes these Himalayan cedar trees different from most is the unusual, complex shapes that they have formed into, like branches that resemble mammoth tusks. This endemic species evolved in response to hundreds of years of harsh weather conditions, including wind and snow, at high elevations. Here are some good suggestions for day backpacks for walking and hiking, all of which are reasonably priced. 

Osado Ishina Natural Cedar Fores: additional information

• Duration: – 1hr to 2hrs around the trail
• Closed: Beginning of Nov to the beginning of May
• I recommend the 3-Hour Sado Highlights Bike Tour if you want to explore more of the island.
• Accommodation: Sado Island availability and prices for places here on Agoda.

How to get to Osado Ishina

• Location: – Ishina, Sado Island, Niigata 
• Closest Port: –Ryotsu Port, 353, Ryotsuminato

The Ishina Cedar Forest is located in the North of Sado Island and can only be reached by car. If you hire a car from the main ferry port, Ryotsu, the drive should take roughly 40 minutes.

One of the cedar trees along the hiking trail on Sado Island, Niigata 

Niigata University’s Field Practice hikes

Take a guided hiking tour through Niigata University’s field practice forest on Sado Island. There are three different routes you can take, depending on your hiking experience and what you want to see. You will see a variety of Japanese endemic cedar trees, such as Kongo Sugi or Daiou Sugi. 

The Sado Island hiking trails should take you around 4 to 7 hours to complete. To preserve the environment in this area and these rare cedar trees, only a limited number of people are allowed to hike in Niigata University’s Field Practice Forest. To book one of these guided hiking tours, you will need to contact the Sado Tourist Information Centre in advance.

Remember that you need to get some good Hiking Boots before hiking on Sado Island, Japan.

Niigata University’s Field Hikes extra information

• Duration: – 4 to 7 hours of hiking time
• Closed:  from the beginning of November to the beginning of May
• Where to stay:  Hotel Azuma, Sado Island, available here.

Getting to the Niigata University’s Field Hikes

• Location: –Ryoutsu port at the Aikawa Sotomefukasseika Centre  
• Closest Port: –Ryotsu Port, 353, Ryotsuminato

The meeting point for the guided tour is the Aikawa Sotomefukasseika Centre at Ryoutsu Port. Where you arrive by Ferry from the mainland of Japan. Then you drive to the forest by car/van in the North of Sado Island. Here are other things to do on Sado Island, Japan.

Hiking Niigata University’s field practice forest – outdoor activities to do on Sado Island, Japan.

Naena Falls trekking – Myoko Niigata.

Enjoy a stunning hike to one of Japan’s top 100 greatest waterfalls in Myoko, Niigata. With the autumn leaves and colours, Naena Falls (also known as Naenanotaki) was probably one of the most colourful hikes I have ever done. Everything just popped with colour, and it is one to be added to hiking trips in Japan. 

Don’t worry if you don’t make it in autumn to see the colours, though, because Naena Falls is open all year round. At a height of 55 meters, the sounds of massive amounts of water falling against the rocks can be heard in all directions, giving it the nickname of “Earthquake Waterfalls”.

The distance to the waterfall from the main entrance is around 500 meters, and the hike is relatively flat. The only bit that someone may find hard is the climb up the stairs near the entrance, which is a few levels high. The entrance to the hike is free and should roughly take around 45 minutes to 1 hour round-trip. Check out Jack Wolfskin’s latest outdoor wear online for both women and men.

Naena Falls, known as Naenanotaki, is one of the best hikes in Japan

Myoko Niigata Additional Information

• Duration:– 45 minutes around trip
• The best time to visit is between June and November (with the beautiful Autumn Foliage)
• Toilets: Restrooms are available near the entrance of the trail. There are none available along the trail. 
• Where to stay: Myoko City, Niigata. Accommodation availability and prices are here.

How to get to Naena Falls Niiigate

• Location:– Suginozawa, Myoko City, Niigata
• Closest Train Stations:– Myokokogen Station

 You can catch a train to Myokokogen Station, and then it is only a 15-minute taxi to the Naena Falls entrance. If you are arriving by car, there is a free car park available, a few minutes away from the trail entrance. Purchase a JR East Nagano / Niigata Area Pass for train travel, which can be booked a few months in advance.

Hiking over the bridge to Naena Falls, Hike Myoko, Japan

Togakushi Shrine Trekking – Nagano

Togakushi Shrine is one of the most significant sacred places in Nagano, Niigata, Japan. Nestled amongst 900-year-old cedar trees, this place is not only beautiful, but it is also famous for soba noodles. The shrine consists of five buildings connected by walking trails and roadways up to the mountain.

Walking between the shrines is part of a traditional pilgrimage route. However, the most popular route and the one that I completed was the one starting at the Okusha Shrine entrance and ending at the upper shrine. The round trip took a little less than two hours and was a distance of 2 km each way.

The walk to the upper shrine was beautiful, especially in the autumn colours. The first bit of the trail is a paved path through a grove of Japanese Red Cryptomeria trees(sugi), before reaching an impressive-looking gate known as the Zuishinmon. Once you pass through the gate, you will be greeted by the towering rows of 400-year-old cedars, which are something special.

 Reaching the upper shrine required a healthy stair-step workout that even got my breath going. Just be aware that it might be a challenge for some people. After a small climb up the stairs, you will reach the Upper Shrine, where you can say a prayer. This was one of my favourite hiking routes in Niigata & Nagano, Japan.

Walking trail to the Togakushi Shrine, Japan, from Okusha Shrine

Togakushi Shrine Additional Information

• Duration: A whole day to visit all the shrines
• Toilets: Restrooms are available at the information centre. None on the trail
• Transport: Catch the bus between shrines, especially if you are short of time.
• Best Place to Stay: Nagano City accommodation availability and prices are here.

Try Soba Noodles

Although soba is produced throughout Japan, Togakushi soba buckwheat noodles are regarded as the finest in the country. It is a typical Japanese cuisine dish and one to try, especially if you are in Togakushi.

Soba noodles used to be a treat for pilgrims and special guests visiting Togahushi and the shrines. We ate at 手打ち蕎麦 戸隠堂 (Teuchi soba Togakushi-Do) the best restaurant for soba noodles in Togakushi. 

How to get to Togakushi Shrine

• Location:- 3506 Togakushi, Nagano-shi, Nagano-ken
• Closest Train Stations: Nagano Station

You can only get to the Togakushi Shrines by car or public bus. Nagano station is around 50-70 minutes’ drive away, depending on which shrine you want to stop at. If you go by bus, you will need a return ticket and take either the Number 70 or 71 from Nagano.

If you are driving, there is a main car park at the information centre and one at the upper shrine. I think there may be a small fee for the parking.

Soba buckwheat noodles at 手打ち蕎麦 戸隠堂 Japan

JP Train Pass to Niigata and Nagano

The Joetsu Shinkansen bullet train operates between Tokyo and Niigata, and the Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train operates between Tokyo and Nagano. Both have several services a day and are the quickest and most efficient way to get there. I suggest a JR East Pass for the Niigata and Nagano area or the Tohoku area, which will cover both of these trains and Iiyama Station. 

Boat to Sado Island

Sado Kisen offers a high-speed jet boat and car ferry service between Sado Island’s Ryotsu Port and Niigata’s Ryotsu Port. The Jetfoil jet boat takes around 60 minutes, while the car ferry takes 2.5 hours.

There is a car ferry service that also operates from Naoetsu Port on the mainland to Ogi Port on Sado Island, which crosses the Essa Channel.

Would I recommend it?

It was amazing hiking the routes in Niigata & Nagano on the mainland, as well as on Sado Island. It is truly a beautiful part of the country with polite people and delicious food. The history behind most of the hikes I found to be interesting and intriguing as well.

All of these hikes and treks you can do as a group or as a family, as most of them suit all levels of fitness.  Not to mention all are accessible via the super-fast trains of Japan or by car. 

⇒ Make sure you have the right travel insurance for your peace of mind before hiking. Compare the best holiday insurance for FREE

Hiking tips Niigata & Nagano, Japan

• Wear appropriate gear for all types of conditions (wet and hot). Layers are best (waterproof jacket, spare socks and hiking boots)       
• Quick-dry convertible hiking trousers work well.
• A 1 Litre bladder bag (Also known as a Hydration bladder) or a sports water bottle will do the trick.
• There are no toilets along the Niigata & Nagano hiking routes except at the starting points. It’s best to use the bathroom before starting any of the trails.
• Make sure that you take water and snacks for the trail hike
• Check out this Japanese Phrasebook with essential phrases and words from Collins Gem.

Other articles on Asia

Feel free to visit my adventure or Asia page for more informative articles, or check out the links below.

• 10 Top Things to Do in Kawaguchiko, Japan
• Hints and tips for tackling Everest Base Camp, Himalayas, Nepal
• What to see and do on Green Island, Taiwan

Have you been hiking in Niigata or Nagano, Japan, before? I would love to hear your experiences in the comments below. Check out these activities in Tokyo and book in advance.

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Disclaimer: Even though I was a guest of the Niigata Tourism. All views are my own and based on my own experience.

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