Daisetsu-zan NP

This vast and gorgeous National Park is Japan's largest wilderness: a huge variety of landscape includes some of Hokkaido's highest peaks, including Tokachi-dake and 2,290m Asahi-dake (both superb and dramatic day walks) as well as other volcanoes, high empty mountains, plateaux, virgin forests, lakes and wetlands.

A multitude of walking options, so a great place to base yourself.

Mts Tokachi-dake (2,077m) in the south and Asahi-dake (2,290m) in the north are exciting day walks up active volcanoes. Both are demanding climbs but offer outstanding views and other rewards.

Kuro-dake and Hokkai-dake sit on the edge of the same crater as Asahi-dake and make for a splendid day long walk. You are mostly above the treeline, so enjoy high shrublands and huge and fascinating views on clear days.See Walking Stories account.You can also traverse this - roof of Hokkaido - from the Asahi-dake side in a long day, swinging around the huge rim to Hokkai-dake then Kuro-dake and then down to Sounkyo Onsen in the north-east.

The Sounkyo Hidden Gorge is a fine clamber through a dramatic, narrow canyon with fine rock formations. See Walking Stories account.

The Grand Traverse is perhaps the greatest walk in Hokkaido and indeed one of the greatest in Japan: 55km (5 days) traversing this superb, fascinating wilderness. It is considered a really tough walk, with steep climbs and some long days carrying heavy packs, but the drama and variety of the landscape and true remoteness will make it all worthwhile.

This can be tough walking in remote mountains with unpredictable weather, on which you may have to be self-sufficient. Come prepared.

A section in Lonely Planet's Trekking in Japan gives good routes and practicalities. And a chapter in the charming Trekking in Japan: an Adventurer's Guide to the Mountain Trails by Paul Hunt. - has a day traverse over the "roof of Hokkaido".

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For more information and photos, including detailed practical information and some warnings, see our Hokkaido walk page.