English-language guides for hiking Japan's mountains are scarce, but a Filipina resident has created a website mapping the country's trails. Known as Lost Filipina, the site offers detailed step-by-step guides, helping hikers avoid social media noise. With 42 million tourists visiting Japan in 2025, it serves as a valuable free resource for hiking enthusiasts.
Of the 42 million tourists who visited Japan in 2025, many turned to short-form online videos for travel inspiration, tips, and guides. These included Instagram reels showcasing the best of Japan or TikTok clips promising 'hidden gems' and 'the real Japan,' fostering a cottage industry focused on optimizing visits.
For visitors keen on hiking Japan's 12,000 peaks or trekking its more than 27,000 kilometers of trails, however, one of the most useful resources is not a polished reel but a website called Lost Filipina. The site features detailed, step-by-step guides to Japan's hyakumeizan—the country's 100 most famous peaks—and hundreds more, making it one of the most comprehensive free English-language hiking resources available.
Created by a Filipina resident, this initiative aims to steer hikers away from social media overload and toward reliable trail information. It provides accessible and accurate details for English-speaking adventurers exploring Japan's mountains.