Why Japanese Walking Can Be Good for You

Part of the appeal is it is less time-consuming than the '10,000 steps a day' fitness regime.

- Sean Pymer

A fitness trend known as Japanese walking is capturing attention online, promising major health benefits with minimal equipment and time.

Based on interval-style bursts of fast and slow walking, Japanese walking was developed by Professor Hiroshi Nose and Associate Professor Shizue Masuki at Shinshu University in Matsumoto, Japan.

It involves alternating between three minutes of walking at a higher intensity and three minutes at a lower intensity, repeated for at least 30 minutes, four times per week.

The higher-intensity walking should be done at a level that is "somewhat hard". At this level, it is still possible to talk, but holding a full conversation would be more difficult.

The lower-intensity walking should be done at a level that is "light". At this level, talking should be comfortable, though a little more labored than an effortless conversation.

Japanese walking has been likened to high-intensity interval training or HIIT, and has been referred to as "high-intensity walking", although it is less taxing than true HIIT and is performed at lower intensities.