Strap on your hiking boots for the beginning of your adventure

Upon arrival at Iiyama Station you'll be met by a local rep from the tourism bureau who will provide you with your orientation, and give you all the maps you'll need for the hike. The station has a handy activity centre where you can rent any bits of hiking gear that you've forgotten. A pre-booked taxi will take you up to Madarao Kogen, a ski resort during the winter and the first stop for Shin-Etsu Trail hikers in the summer.

On the first day we've included a guided hike with a local guide, allowing you to learn about the area and the trail, so you'll feel confident hiking the rest of the trail on your own. You'll actually hike Section 2 on your first day rather than Section 1, which might seem counter-intuitive, but we feel that Section 2, with forested trails and marshland walks, offers the gentlest introduction to the whole trail.

Day two will be the beginning of the Self-Guided part of your hiking itinerary. Section 1, which begins at the foot of Mount Madarao (the highest point along the Shin-Etsu Trail at 1,382m), has a steep first section and some undulating parts in the middle, but also provides great views of Lake Nojiriko and the Five Northern Peaks of Nagano Prefecture.

For these two nights in Madarao Kogen you'll be staying at a Western-style hotel with hot spring baths and views of the ski slopes.

Overnight: Madarao Kogen Hotel

Experience a traditional ryokan stay in rural Togarinozawa

On days three and four you'll complete another two sections of the trail, both quite different from each other. Section 3, which takes around 6 hours to complete, is one of the longest at 12.7km and leads you through atmospheric cedar forests that are particularly beautiful on a misty day. It's also the most historic trail, and there's a memorial to the samurai warrior Uesugi Kenshin, who made camp here during one of his campaigns in the Warring States Period centuries ago.

Section 4 is the start of the ridge walking and beech forests that characterize the latter half of the Shin-Etsu Trail. The first part of Section 4 is a steep climb up the grassy path alongside the Togari Ski Resort ski runs, but once you're up on the ridgeline you'll be treated to some great views of the valley, the Chikuma River, and mountains of Nagano. The end of today's 6-hour hike involves some energetic ducking and weaving around misshapen tree branches that have been bent out of shape by the heavy snow Iiyama experiences every year – some winters the area receives a staggering 4m (13 feet) of snow.

In Togarinozawa Onsen you'll stay at a friendly family-run ryokan inn, surrounded by rice fields. You can look forward to delicious homegrown food a hot spring baths to soak away any weariness from your hike.

Overnight: Shikisai no Yado Kanoe Ryokan

Complete the final two days of the Shin-Etsu Trail

12.4km-long Section 5 awaits you today with some lovely stretches of forest walking. Maki Pass, around half way through the hike, is the best place to snap photos of the Sea of Japan and distant Sado Island. Towards the end of the trail as you make your way towards the final pass, be sure to look back and enjoy the views behind you, with the twin peaks of Mount Myoko and Mount Hiuchi in the distance.

Day 6 is the final day of your Shin-Etsu Trail adventure, and at 7 hours is also the longest day of hiking. Section 6, with its gentle ascents and descents and sweeping views of Niigata, is our personal favourite and is particularly beautiful during autumn. From Mount Amamizu, the official end point of the 70km-long Shin-Etsu Trail, you'll have a final 30-minute walk down through a huge beech forest until you reach the road, where a pre-booked taxi will be waiting to you whisk you away to a much-deserved soak in the hot springs.

During these last two days you'll be staying at Mori-no-Ie, a series of wooden cabins set in the forests of Nabekura Kogen. They're all self-catering so we'll arrange for a food box to be delivered for the first night so you can cook up your own meal, and on the second night you'll go directly to a local hot spring facility where you can relax in the baths and enjoy a hearty dinner in the restaurant.

On your final morning you'll be taken to the nearest JR train station to make your way by local train back to Iiyama Station, where you'll transfer to another train to take you on to your next destination.

Overnight: Mori-no-Ie