Since its establishment in 1992, Walk Japan has focused on introducing travellers to lesser-known rural destinations across Japan. Founded by two professors from the University of Hong Kong, the company has grown to 200 employees under CEO Paul Christie.
As it prepares to mark its 35th anniversary next year, Walk Japan has opened a Tokyo office, giving it a base in the country’s largest metropolitan area and more opportunities to meet partners and journalists in person.
Walk Japan is developing new walking tours across Japan, with itineraries planned for the Michinoku Coastal Trail, Okinawa and Miyazaki
The office opening on October 2, 2026, was attended by figures involved in Japan-UK relations, including former British ambassador to Japan Paul Madden, who is also a consultant for Walk Japan.
“There are two things I particularly admire about Walk Japan,” said Madden. “The first is the economic benefits that it brings to parts of Japan by bringing tourists to areas that aren’t necessarily on the tourist trail, bringing people to places that they really ought to see, places where it’s good to see recovery, for example, Fukushima.
“Secondly, because of the high quality of the experience which they get, I think visitors go away with an excellent understanding of the things they’ve seen in Japan, but also the encounters which they’ve had with the local people there. It’s very much mutually beneficial, and that’s a really important part of what Walk Japan is doing.”
Christie has focused on working with local hospitality providers, including accommodation, restaurants and transport operators, to ensure that communities benefit from tourism. The company also works with government agencies to identify areas that could benefit from more visitors, with Fukushima currently under discussion.
Alongside the new office, Walk Japan is developing tours to cater to travellers with different walking abilities. These include a less technically demanding walk along the southern section of the Michinoku Coastal Trail for February 2027, a slower-paced tour in Okinawa and a potential self-guided tour in the Kumano Kodo region.
A tour in Miyazaki prefecture in Kyushu, traditionally regarded as the birthplace of Japan’s imperial lineage, is also being planned for December 2027.
AloJapan.com