This is going to be a relatively shorter article than I normally write. You see, I currently have family visiting from overseas (which is actually the inspiration for this rant) and will be attending to them for the next few weeks. So, unlike with some of my lengthier Japan area guides, this one is going to be brief. That said, the point that I’ll make in this article is nonetheless important. Simply put, if you are planning to get the most out of your trip to Japan, you’re going to want to prepare for stairs — lots of stairs.
For those of you who have yet to visit, know that many of the top spots in Japan require that you haul your behind up a surprising number of steps. Take Kyoto’s famed Fushimi Inari Taisha. This shrine is legendary for its endless array of vermillion torii gates that snake their way up the slopes of Mt. Inari. What is less well known is that the ascent requires one to climb an ungodly amount of stairs. Many a time, I have encountered an unprepared schmuck halfway up who simply did not know what they were getting themselves into.
In addition to Fushimi Inari Taisha, there are tons of other amazing locations in Japan that can only be accessed via an insane set of stairs. For example, Mt. Minobu’s Kuon-ji, the head temple of the Nichiren sect of Buddhism, requires that one schlep themselves up 287 stone steps to reach the main enclave. At first glance, that number might not seem all that daunting, but let me tell you that, as one of the fastest stair climbers around, you’ll be huffing and puffing before you’re even midway up the mountain.
Of course, while locales like Dewa Sanzan Shrine atop Mt. Haguro require climbing a grueling 2,446 steps (seen above), even daily life in Japan often requires that one ascend more stairs than they might be used to. Though there are a number of escalators here and there, many train stations in the countryside do not sport such luxuries. Though they aren’t all as bad as the insane ascent from the depths of Doai Station in Minakami, it can still knock the wind out of anyone who isn’t used to going up and down stairs regularly.
Perhaps my favorite example from daily life is Higashi Ginza Station. When I am in Tokyo, I am frequently in Tsukiji and this is a station that I use regularly. To pass from the outbound side of the station to the inbound side where the entrance to the Hibiya Line is, passengers need to go down two flights of stairs and then go back up on the other side. Without fail, there is always some poor sucker every morning who is both toting a pair of suitcases and physically not fit enough to be going up and down stairs like this.
As anyone who has been to Japan before can attest, even when stairs aren’t involved, the country almost requires that travelers walk a lot more than they are used to. While I am a bit extreme and often clock upwards of 40 kilometers when sourcing content for this blog, even normies can easily end up having walked 20+ kilometers on a good day. If you don’t have a base level of fitness, these long marches from attraction to attraction can really take it out of you, especially if you also need to deal with the summer heat.
Though Tokyo and the other urban settings of Japan have come a long way when it comes to barrier-free action, many of the country’s best allures still involve some degree of stair climbing. While I am not saying you need to be doing some stadium bleacher sprints like I used to do for cross-training in my days of competitive swimming, your time in Japan will be a lot better if you can arrive fit enough to go up a few flights of stairs without totally winding yourself. Trust me on this one — you ought to come prepared.
Note that this advice goes doubly for people planning to walk the stretches of the Nakasendo in the Kiso Valley or visit the trio of shrines that comprise the Kumano Sanzan. Simply put, pilgrimage routes like the Kumano Kodo are not to be toyed with and will tax even the fittest of travelers. Should these be part of your itinerary, do yourself a favor and get yourself in good enough shape to tackle the endless stone stairs and steep slopes that lay in wait for pilgrims on these ancient pathways.
In closing, while Japan does necessitate a lot more walking (often up stairs) than the strip mall lifestyle of somewhere like middle America, it’s one of many reasons why Japanese people are far fitter than their western counterparts. Simply put, just living daily life here, you’re bound to rack up many more steps than you would back home. I guess that is a good thing though, as it means you can pig out on that bowl of ramen or savor that sizzling wagyu without worrying about the consequences.
Until next time travelers…
