Shin-etsu Trail

Guided Hiking

The difference of a guided hike

Trekking the Shin-etsu Trail with an official guide is one of the best ways to get the most out of this wonderful experience. A guide can point out that rare plant that you might otherwise walk right by, or the faint traces of animals that have passed by, the history of the people who have passed through here over the centuries—they can reveal countless new discoveries! Many of the guides are from the local area, and are in touch with the nature of the Shin-etsu Trail area every day. We are confident that your interaction with the guide will help uncover the unique nature and culture of the area. Read more below, then feel free to contact us to arrange for your own guided hiking!

Registered Shin-etsu Trail guides

Please follow the link below to view profiles of our registered guides.

※ A specific guide can be requested from the profiles for a 5,000 JPY nomination fee when booking.
※ We also have guides who do not have profiles listed.

What is a Registered Guide?

The Shin-etsu Trail Club certifies individuals who meet the criteria listed below as “Shin-etsu Trail Club Registered Guides.” We view these guides as playing a vital role, serving as a bridge between hikers and the local communities surrounding the trail.

  1. Be a regular member of the Shin-etsu Trail Club;
  2. Have a thorough understanding of the purpose and content of Shin-etsu Trail Club activities;
  3. Have attended a guide course conducted by the Shin-etsu Trail Club;
  4. Have participated in the Shin-etsu Trail Club’s trail maintenance activities;
  5. Have completed general first aid training by the Japanese Red Cross;
  6. Always carry first aid kits with them when guiding, and know how to use them;
  7. Have thorough knowledge of the nature, culture and history of the Shin-etsu Trail area;
  8. Be able to guide guests while also following proper Trail etiquette;
  9. Have hiked all the main trail sections of the Shin-etsu Trail;
  10. Participate in Shin-etsu Trail Ranger activities.

Guide fees (for one guide)

35,000 JPY
/ Day (Up to 8 hours)

English-Speaking Guide ※ Nomination fee included.
※ When an interpreter accompanies the group, the tour will be conducted by a Japanese-speaking guide at the Japanese-speaking guide rate.

25,000 JPY
/ Day (Up to 8 hours)

Japanese-Speaking Guide ※ Nomination Fee (Optional): 5,000 JPY
※ When client does not nominate a preferred guide, the Shin-etsu Trail Club Office will asign an available guide.

Maximum number of guests per guide

In principle, one guide will lead no more than eight guests, in order to ensure safety, environmental protection and guest.

Guide Service Guidelines

  1. Payment: Please pay the guide service fee to the Shin-etsu Trail Club Office or the travel agency organizing your tour. We kindly ask that you do not hand payments directly to the guide.
  2. Service duration: The guide’s working hours are calculated from the time they meet the client until dismissal.
  3. Overtime Fees: For services exceeding 8 hours, an additional fee of 5,000 JPY per hour will be charged.
  4. If the meeting point and the end point of the hike differ, please arrange transportation for the guide to return to the meeting point or cover the guide’s transportation costs.
  5. Availability: Please note that guide availability may vary by date and application timing.
  6. We encourage organizations planning to create group/package tours, so contact us in advance via our Inquiry Form.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation fees will be charged as outlined in the table below. Please note that no cancellation fee applies to the nomination fee.

Timing of Cancellation Cancellation due to client circumstances Cancellation due to severe weather warnings or safety reasons
7 to 6 days prior 30% 0%
5 to 3 days prior 50% 0%
2 days prior 70% 0%
By 12:00 PM (noon) JST, the day before 80% 0%
On the day of the tour 100% 0%

Guide Booking Form

※Please fill in the information below to reserve guide service for your desired dates. All fields marked by a red asterisk are required.

Company or group name:
Person making request*:
Address*:
Postal code:〒
Street address:
City:
Prefecture/State: Country:
Mobile phone no.*:
Fax:
E-mail*:
Re-enter e-mail*:
Date(s) guide is desired*:
Start:
Finish:
Note: If you are applying for consecutive days, please indicate the start time of the first day and the end time of the last day.
Number in group*:
M　　　　　F　　
Preferred Guide Name
※ A fee of 5,000 JPY will be charged for each guide per day.

[Click here for the Registered Guide Profiles]
Section to be hiked*:
Special requests, inquires, etc.:

Privacy policy

The Shin-etsu Trail Club has created the following privacy protection policy, including the recognition of the importance of protecting personal information, and establishing methods to protect personal information.

  1. Management of personal information
    The Shin-etsu Trail Club will make every effort to keep our users’ personal information accurate and up to date, including implementing methods to prevent the unauthorized access, loss, damage, falsification, leakage, etc. of that personal information, and will take the necessary measures to strictly manage personal information, such as the maintenance of information security and management systems, thorough employee education, and other measures.
  2. Use of personal information
    The personal information that is entrusted to us by our website guests will be used to contact and provide guidance to them, to send email messages and answer user questions.
  3. Prohibitions on release of personal information to third parties
    The Shin-etsu Trail Club will properly manage the personal information entrusted to us; we will never disclose personal information to third parties accept when one of the following is true:

    • When we receive the consent of the user;
    • When the information is disclosed to contractors in order to provide services requested by the user;
    • When disclosure is necessary in order to comply with laws and regulations.
  4. Personal information security measures
    The Shin-etsu Trail Club takes all possible security measures to ensure both the accuracy and the safety of personal information.
  5. User inquiries
    Any user who wishes to inquire about, correct or delete their personal information will be allowed to do so once confirmation has been made that the user is indeed the person making the request.
  6. Compliance with laws and regulations
    The Shin-etsu Trail Club will comply with all Japanese laws and regulations in regard to our privacy policy, review the contents of this policy as appropriate, and work to continuously improve it.
  7. Contact
    For any inquiries regarding this privacy policy, please contact the Secretariat of the Shin-etsu Trail Club.

I agree to the above privacy policy