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Let's Take A Walk from Tokyo to Kyoto

Daniel TJ International Correspondent Tokyo, Japan

Okay, look. I know how this sounds. If someone told me a few years ago, "Hey, you should walk from Tokyo to Kyoto," I probably would have laughed in their face.

Or maybe I would’ve just assumed they were some kind of ultra-marathon runner or a fitness nut trying to guilt me about my cardio. It sounds absolutely crazy at first glance. Like, wait—you want me to walk, what, hundreds of kilometers?

Across a country known for having the fastest, most efficient trains in the world?

But hear me out. Just hear me out for a second...

There is this walking group I stumbled into, and honestly, it’s turned into one of the most refreshing, human, and surprisingly fun things I have ever done in Japan. And I don’t say that lightly. I’ve done the tourist stuff.

I’ve braved the crowds in Harajuku, I’ve fought for a selfie spot at Fushimi Inari, I’ve done the whole JR Pass sprint.

But this? This is different.

First off, we need to clear up a misconception. When I say "walking group," I’m not talking about some hardcore hiking expedition where everyone is decked out in hundreds of dollars of North Face gear, chugging protein shakes, and trying to break land-speed records. Nope. Not at all. And make not mistake. This is not a tour. It's an event with others as a group.

This is a relaxed, steady-paced group walk.

It is really about living the journey, not racing through it.

The setup is pretty simple. The group starts in Tokyo and makes its way to Kyoto (or sometimes the other way around), but we don’t rush. We take our time. We usually average about 20 to 25 kilometers a day.

Now, I know 25km sounds like a big number if you're sitting on your couch right now, but when you’re actually doing it, it’s just... walking. It’s a long, enjoyable stroll.

It’s manageable for pretty much anyone in decent health. You don't need to be an athlete, you just need a comfortable pair of shoes and a willingness to keep moving.

The coolest part is that international visitors can totally join in. Yeah, that’s right. You don’t need to be a local, and you don’t need to speak Japanese.

If you are visiting Japan and you’re sick of seeing the same five "Top 10" spots that every other tourist is seeing, this is the cheat code.

Here is the thing about Japan that you miss when you take the Shinkansen (bullet train). When you’re on the train, the country is just a blur outside your window.

You see a flash of green, maybe a roof, and then it's gone.

But when you walk? You see the connective tissue of the country.

One of the best things about this walk is how it takes you through these tiny towns you would literally never visit on your own. I remember one afternoon, specifically.

We were passing through this tiny village—I’m talking maybe a cluster of ten houses, a little shrine that looked like it hadn't been painted in fifty years, and rice fields stretching out as far as the eye could see.

It was dead quiet, except for the cicadas.

We were just walking, minding our own busines, and these locals working in the field stood up and waved at us like we were old friends returning home.

We ended up stopping at a tiny café—if you can even call it that, it was basically the front room of someone’s house—run by this elderly couple.

They didn't speak a word of English, but they were so excited to see us. They insisted we try their homemade mochi. It was warm, sticky, and sweet, and honestly, eating that mochi while sitting on a plastic stool in the middle of nowhere... that is a core memory for me now.

You can’t buy that kind of experience in a travel brochure. It’s real. It’s warm.

And the nights? The nights are half the reason I do this.

We don’t stay in generic business hotels. We book local Japanese hotels—ryokans mostly. So you get the full experience. I’m talking tatami mats, fluffy futons, and usually a yukata to wear around the halls.

A lot of these towns have natural hot springs (onsens), too.

Let me tell you, there is absolutely nothing—and I mean nothing—better than sinking into a hot onsen after walking 25 kilometers. The first night I stayed in one of these places during the walk, I was totally blown away.

I’ve stayed in ryokans before, sure, but doing it in the middle of this journey, after a day of wandering through the countryside, made it feel so cozy and... I don’t know, grounding?

There’s something about putting your sore feet up on a tatami floor that just makes you appreciate the simple things in life.

And the food. Oh man, the food.

Forget rushing through chain restaurants or grabbing a sad sandwich from a convenience store (though I do love a good konbini egg salad sandwich, don't get me wrong).

This walk is about sitting down in local restaurants.

One evening, we stumbled upon a tiny izakaya. It had maybe six seats at the counter and a smoky little kitchen that smelled like charcoal and grilled chicken.

The owner was this grumpy-looking guy who turned out to be the sweetest host ever once we sat down. He didn’t speak English, I barely spoke any Japanese, but somehow, with a lot of hand gestures and pointing, we ended up sharing stories over grilled fish and cold sake.

By the end of the night, we were all laughing together.

Moments like that are exactly why I keep coming back to these walks.

You just don't get that in a big tour group where a guide is herding you around with a flag.

Speaking of guides—I should probably mention this because people always ask. This isn’t a guided tour.

There’s no one charging you extra for explanations, no microphone, no set itinerary except "walk from Tokyo to Kyoto." But that’s kinda the beauty of it.

You set your own pace. If you see a weird statue or a pretty river and you want to stop for twenty minutes to take photos? You stop. You aren't feeling rushed to get from one "highlight" to another.

It’s really about the journey, the small discoveries, and the human connections.

The group is super friendly too. Most people are just happy to walk and talk.

There’s this weirdly quick bond that forms when you’re all walking in the same direction. It’s heartwarming.

There’s a shared rhythm, an unspoken understanding that we’re all here for the same reason: to experience Japan on foot, slowly, and without stress.

I think what surprises most people—and honestly, it surprised me too—is how meditative it can be.

I’m not a "meditation guy." I can’t sit still for ten minutes. But walking? That works. I remember one morning, walking along a riverbank.

The sun was just coming up, mist was rolling off the water, birds were calling, and I just felt... completely at peace. No cars honking, no emails to check, no schedules. Just walking and breathing.

Left foot, right foot. It clears your head in a way that nothing else does.

Now, I don’t want to sugarcoat it completely. Walking from Tokyo to Kyoto is still a long journey. You’re gonna have tired feet.

You’re gonna have sore muscles. You might get a blister or two. There might be a day where it rains and you think, "Why on earth am I doing this?"

But there is something about pushing through that discomfort.

When you finally sit down at the end of the day, sipping green tea, and you realize you’re part of this human chain moving across Japan... it feels really alive. It leaves a mark on you.

So, if you’re thinking about doing it, my advice is just go with an open mind. Don't expect fancy sightseeing every five minutes.

Don't expect structured guides telling you history facts.

Just expect to walk, eat, sleep, and talk your way through the countryside.

Don't underestimate the joy of walking slowly. Noticing the small details—a cat lounging on a wall, a farmer in his field, the smell of fresh bread from a tiny bakery.

Those little things become the memories you carry with you way longer than a photo of a temple.

So yeah, that’s our walking group in a nutshell.

Casual, friendly, international, and surprisingly life-affirming.

If you want to experience the country in a way most tourists never do, this might just be your thing. Just lace up your shoes, bring an open heart (and maybe some band-aids just in case), and get ready to see a side of Japan that isn’t in the guidebooks.

You might just fall in love with walking. I know I did.

Ready to join us? Contact our office at: 070.9041.6946 Tokyo, Japan for information on how to join Tokyo > to < Kyoto Walks.

The price of this event includes: Meals. Hotel stays. Bullet train ride back to Tokyo. Two day group membership pass & organizational services.

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