Japan isn't the kind of country to give away its secrets too readily. It's a special place that begs for multiple visits, where you’ll never leave feeling satisfied that you "clocked" the whole country.
After living in Tokyo for seven-plus years, I've realized that if you think you know a lot about Japan, congratulations, you're well on your way to realizing you have so much more to discover. Places like Unzen Amakusa National Park first inspired me, formerly a non-hiker, to get out into the mountains and explore the incredible landscape of this enigmatic country. Soon I learned that Japan is a ridiculously excellent hiking country. The trails are lovingly cared for, the backcountry huts on top of the country's highest peaks offer superb cuisine and facilities, and you can travel with peace of mind knowing the routes are safe but still challenging (and free of poisonous critters, unlike my home country, Australia).
The sheer abundance of accessible trails inspired a few local friends and i to start a hiking club in 2022 called Open Country, where we take folks out into the mountains—predominantly around Tokyo—to help them feel confident about hiking themselves in the hopes they later go off on their own independent journeys and get to know the country, its unique peaks, diverse landscapes, and fearsome volcanoes a little more intimately.
If you’re a nature lover with a spare few days looking for a real, authentic slice of Japanese life, a few mountain ranges to frolic in, a bit of volcanic-fueled adrenaline, and enough (cheap) onsen options to keep you pruney for days, Unzen is a no-brainer. Read on for the full local’s guide.