Begin your Shin-Etsu Trail adventure

Upon arrival at Iiyama Station you'll be met by a local representative who will conduct your orientation for you and make sure you're all set up with maps for the next three days. The station houses a well-stocked activity centre shop where you can pick up any last-minute supplies for your hike.

A pre-arranged taxi will take you up to Madarao Kogen to your accommodation so you can drop off your bags, and then it'll be time to meet your guide and set off on day one of your hike. Section 2 is the least strenuous of the six sections and provides a gentle introduction to the trail. It should take around 5 hours to complete the almost 11km (6.6 mile) hike.

At the end of the hike your accommodation staff will come and meet you and take you back to the hotel, where you can soak in the hot spring baths and tuck into a hearty meal.

Overnight: Madarao Kogen Hotel

Take in the panoramic views along Sections 4 and 6

Armed with your maps and guidance from your orientation and guide the day before, you'll set off on Day Two for your hike along the 8.2km-long Section 4. The first part up the grassy trail alongside the ski run is pretty steep, but once you're up on the ridge line it's smoother sailing. Section 4 offers some of the best views along the trail, with Niigata Prefecture and the Sea of Japan out to your left, and Nagano Prefecture and the Chikuma River out to the right. The highest elevation you'll reach today is Mount Nabekura, which is the second highest point of the Shin-Etsu Trail at 1,288m (4,225 ft).

During the latter part of the day's 6-hour hike you'll find yourself doing a fun bit of ducking and weaving around oddly shaped branches, twisted over small sections of the trail. Iiyama experiences the highest snowfall of any populated place in Japan – up to 4m (13 feet)! – and the sheer weight of the snow twists the beech tree branches into bizarre shapes.

Your Iiyama accommodation will have provided you with a filling bento lunch box for your hike today; Ozawa-toge Pass has a u-shaped branch that makes the perfect seat for a break!

After staying overnight at one of our favourite family-run inns, you'll set off on Day Three for the final day's hike along 12.7 km-long Section 6, the longest and most scenic of the sections. The elevation changes are fairly gentle today, allowing you to enjoy the panoramic views over Niigata Prefecture as you make your way ever closer to your final goal, 1,151 m high Mount Amamizu. At the end of the hike, a pre-arranged taxi will be waiting to drive you back to your accommodation, where hot spring baths and a hearty dinner await.

On Day Four, you'll take the train back to Iiyama Station, and change to another train to take you to your next destination.

Overnight: Shikisai no Yado Kanoe Ryokan