Walk Japan opens Tokyo office and plans gentler walking tours

Walk Japan, a company that has shown travellers quieter rural parts of the country since 1992, has opened an office in Tokyo. This gives it a base in Japan's largest city where it can hold in-person meetings with journalists and partners. The office opened on 2 October 2026, ahead of the firm's 35th anniversary next year.

The business began under two academics from the University of Hong Kong and now employs 200 people. It has developed relationships with local places to stay, eat and get around so that residents share in the benefits of tourism, and it coordinates with government offices to find areas that would welcome more visitors.

New itineraries are being developed for people with differing walking abilities. They include a less demanding route on the southern end of the Michinoku Coastal Trail set for February 2027, a slower Okinawa tour, and a possible independent walk in the Kumano Kodo region. A Miyazaki prefecture tour in Kyushu is also planned for December 2027.

What it means for travellers from India

• Walkers who like gentler, less technical routes may find new choices that do not call for high fitness levels.
• The upcoming tours cover several regions, including Okinawa, the Kumano Kodo area and Miyazaki in Kyushu.
• The new Tokyo office may support the creation and promotion of these routes before they become available.