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- Written by: Tristan Kennedy and Jazz Noble
With nearly 75 percent of the country covered by mountains, it’s hardly surprising that Japanese people have a long and richly-developed tradition of appreciating the outdoors. You can of course hike, climb, or kayak in Japan just as you would anywhere else in the world. But there are also a whole host of experiences that are completely unique to these islands.
As these ten activities show, no-one enjoys the outdoors quite like the Japanese. So, without further adieu, let's get stuck in.
The Most Unique Outdoor Experiences in Japan
- Sawanobori - The Art of Waterfall Climbing
- Tenkara - Traditional Fly Fishing
- Momijigari - Hiking Among Autumn Leaves
- Kawakudari - Whitewater Log Rafting
- Yukigassen - Competitive Snowball Fighting
- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove - Listen to a Governmentally Recognised Sound
- Nekoshima - Visit One of Japan’s Cat Islands
- Haikyo - Exploring Ruined Buildings
- Matsumoto - Visit a Traditional Wasabi Farm
- Okinawa Diving - Swim with Manta Rays and Hammerheads
1. Sawanobori - The Art of Waterfall Climbing
Climbing in the wet is hard enough, but Sawanobori takes things one-step further. It’s the art of scaling waterfalls in full flow - like canyoning, but in reverse. The practise first developed centuries ago, when following a water course was the best way to travel between remote mountain villages, but in recent years it’s exploded in popularity. Many Japanese outdoor shops now sell dedicated sawanobori gear, including felt-soled shoes, and climbing wetsuits.
Where to book:
Book a half-day sawanobori tour on the island of Yakushima for £60.
2. Tenkara - Traditional Fly Fishing
Translated literally to mean “fishing from heaven,” the ancient practise of Tenkara developed entirely independently of the western tradition of fly fishing, and while it shares some similarities there are marked differences too. Tenkara, which uses bamboo rods without reels, and a fly known as a ‘kebari’, strips it back to its basics. Without complicated kit, it’s just you, the river, and the fish, and Tenkara practitioners testify to an almost spiritual quality that comes with this simplicity.
Where to book:
Try a half-day Tenkara experience for £68.
3. Momijigari - Hiking Among Autumn Leaves
Like an autumnal equivalent of the famous, springtime cherry blossom celebrations, Momijigari, the practise of travelling or hiking to places where the leaves have turned, is all about appreciating the cycle of the seasons. The word is hard to translate exactly but it’s a composite of two kanji character combinations, meaning “maple tree leaves hunting”. The tradition first arose around 1,000 years ago, and in the modern era, it’s particularly popular in the countryside surrounding the megacities of Honshu, Japan’s main island.
Where to book:
You can book a whole variety of walking tours here:
4. Kawakudari - Whitewater Log Rafting
Plenty of places offer conventional whitewater rafting in Japan, but if you want a truly unique experience, head to Kitayama village in the Wakayama Prefecture, in southern Honshu. Here, they celebrate the legacy of the region’s lumberjacks by running rapids on rafts made of tree trunks. These sketchy-looking craft are piloted by locals in traditional dress - and no lifejackets - who somehow manage to paddle standing up. Tourists, thankfully, are given handrails and buoyancy aids, but it definitely adds an extra element of rawness to the experience.
Where to book:
Kumano Travel offers log-rafting experiences from £49.
5. Yukigassen - Competitive Snowball Fighting
One for winter visitors to Hokkaido, the northern island where the world famous annual snowfall is counted in metres, not inches. Yukigassen, or “snow battles”, are to your backyard snowball fights what the Champions League Final is to a kick-about in the park with your mates. It’s organised, regulated, and seriously competitive, but it’s still awesome fun. Two teams of seven people compete in a capture the flag style format, with players eliminated when they’re hit by a snowball. Ammunition is limited to 45 pre-made snowballs per team, so you have to make every shot count.
Where to book:
Head to Hokkaido in February with Japan Deluxe Tours to catch the world championships, and have a go yourself.
6. Arashiyama Bamboo Grove - Listen to a Governmentally Recognised Sound
The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, or the Sagano Bamboo Forest, is situated northwest of Kyoto near the Tenryū-ji Temple in the Arashiyama district. It’s a natural forest most-known for its mōsō bamboo which is intertwined with man-made, beautifully-crafted paths for visitors to walk through.
As the wind passes through the forest, the wood of the bamboo bends and creaks, the leaves rustle and the trunks knock together, culminating in a unique soundscape designated by Japan’s Ministry of Environment as one of the country’s “100 Soundscapes of Japan”. Very early in the morning or late in the afternoon are recommended as the best times to visit if you want to avoid the crowds.
Where to book:
The grove itself is free though there's plenty of tours available if you'd like additional context or fancy pairing your visit with another experience such as a Sake Brewery tour, for example.
7. Nekoshima - Visit One of Japan’s Cat Islands
Aoshima Island is located in the Ehime Prefecture in Japan and is widely known as ‘Cat Island’ thanks to its impressive number of feline residents which outnumber the island’s residents. It’s actually just one of around a dozen so-called cat islands in Japan, including Tashirojima, Enoshima, and Aijima, to name a few.
Historically, cats have been thought by the locals to represent luck and good fortune, and even predict upcoming weather and fishing conditions.
Where to book:
Wandering around the island yourself is always an option, however, if you'd like the expertise of a guide, there's a 6-hour guided tour available here:
8. Haikyo - Exploring Ruined Buildings
Known as urban exploration, or ‘UrbEx’, in Europe, the global trend for exploring abandoned places has been taken up eagerly in Japan. There are some pretty unique sites, including no fewer than two abandoned sex museums, and perhaps most famously, Hashima Island. Also known as Gunkanjima, or Battleship Island, this former undersea mining settlement off the coast of Nagasaki not only looks like a Bond villain’s lair, it was actually used as one - in 007’s 2012 outing, the film Skyfall.
Where to book:
Book a tour of Hashima island with Gunkanjima Cruise from £26.
9. Matsumoto - Visit a Traditional Wasabi Farm
Daio Wasabi Farm is Japan’s largest commercial wasabi farm and is located north of Matsumoto in the Nagano Prefecture. Established in 1915, the farm grows hon wasabi using cold water springs fed by water from the Alpine Valley of Kamikochi.
The farm itself is free to enter (guided tours are extra) and features paths which take you alongside the wasabi fields and alpine streams, including visits to historical wooden waterwheels and nearby caves.
Where to book:
Explore Japan's largest Wasabi farm on a guided tour with Matsumoto Experience, including a Wasabi tasting experience.
10. Okinawa Diving - Swim with Manta Rays and Hammerheads
Scuba diving in Okinawa, Japan, is an unforgettable experience famous for its crystal-clear turquoise waters, colourful coral reefs, and fascinating marine life, including sea turtles, reef sharks and manta rays. Popular diving spots, such as the Kerama and Ishigaki Islands, offer exciting adventures for both beginners and experienced divers alike, with April through to October being the best months to visit (though typhoons are common from August to October).
Where to book:
Check out the comprehensive list of diving schools available in Okinawa via the official PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) site.
This article was first written by Tristan Kennedy in April 2021 with further edits by Jazz Noble in October 2026.
