Mount Takao

Easily accessible from Tokyo, you can take the rapid train from Shinjuku. There are two options (chairlift and cable car) to go up til the middle of the mountain, but it’s also completely fine to just walk up. It’s a beginner friendly hiking course, and you can find many restaurants and shops throughout.

A trip into nature far from Tokyo, but where you can enjoy panoramic views of the city. The trails are very well marked and the hike is very pleasant. Take the chairlift; it will give you a wonderful feeling. However, avoid going on weekends or holidays, as it will be very crowded. Enjoy the view of Mount Fuji😉

Very Beautiful in Fall season! 1 hour from shinjuku After hiking and chairlifts experience, you can go to relax at the onsen right at the train station. Very affordable Wonderful day-trip experience here!

Solo trip on weekdays. Not so crowded. Use Trail 1 for the easiest route. 980 yen round trip for cable car but do go for the chair lift instead. Date 26/11. Fall leaves almost gone but its still beautiful to see.

Beautiful day with warm weather. We used trail #1 to walk all the way to the summit. The first 8 post of the 14post are pretty steep. Happy to have done it but if we go again will use the lift to go up. We were lucky to see Fuji san in its splendor. Parking only 800¥ for a day

My favourite day trip from Tokyo is definitely an excursion to Mount Takao. The distance from central Tokyo is not that far (less than one hour from Shinjuku on the Keio Line) and yet it seems worlds away from the urban bustle. There is a cable car to go to the mountaintop and while it is cool, I would definitely choose to walk up the winding, back switching path. Enjoying the natural scenery, seeing a few animals and perhaps a monk or two (this is a place where monks often do training exercises, such as meditating in a frigid waterfall). On the top there are places to eat and places to enjoy the spectacular views but it can get fairly crowded. I suggest that you head off to the nearby mountains on the path that leads to Mount Jinba. When you get into these other mountains, you will have the place to yourself and there are some simple places to eat on these other mountains as well. If you are inspired to go all the way to Jinba, I suggest you make your move fairly early. At the base of Mount Jinba, you can catch a bus back to Hachioji. Sweet Sinay says: Most people climb Mount Takao in summer and autumn so expect some crowds. You might consider dressing up extra warm and heading up the mountain in the winter to avoid the crowds. Winter Takao is beautiful in its own way. Weekdays are usually not that crowded, either.

Beautiful payoff for what amounts to be a 45 minute walk. Paved paths with excellent three color leaves during fall (November 2025). Some crowds but manageable. The secret to getting the coveted photo is to ensure that Mount Fuji shows clear or lightly clouded skies before hiking up here. I have some examples of potential photos below.

Mt Takao is very easy to get to from central Tokyo - Keio train from Shinjuku to Takaosanguchi station. Couple of trails up to Mt Takao. This half day trip I took the trail 1 - one way hike up and one way funicular car down.

We had such a fun time! We rode the lift up (and down), one trail beyond to reach the summit and another back through the trees and over the suspension bridge back down to the mid-point. We found the trail signage to be very good once at the summit, but not as easy to find and determine which was which as we headed up. Regardless, we just wandered until we arrived at the peak. We really lucked out, as the Fuji views were amazing that day! There's plenty to see on the way up, from the lift and on each trail...as well as on that clear day, fabulous views of the mountains and city at the middle. They have a handful of snack shops and cafes at the mid point, as well as drinks & ice cream at the peak. We REALLY enjoyed our lunch at the cafe, which served up a killer bowl of spaghetti! The only thing I was a bit disappointed in was the monkey park. I had hoped for a bit less of a zoo feel. As avid hikers we much prefer the peace of an empty trail. But even as busy as it was that day our Takao outing was a highlight of our vacation. Definitely recommend!

We had fun visiting the temple and sampling the food. The weather was really nice and cool and the staff at the cable car and chair lift were so helpful and polite.

I'm so glad I got to experience this! The quaint town was just what I imagined Japan would be like. We took the chair lift up the mountain because it is quite a hike and a lot of walking. They also have a cable car you can take. We visited Monkey Park and ate at the little Ramen shop at the top. We were also able to visit the temple before they closed. Very cool!

This was a great family hike. We went up here last weekend (2nd weekend of October), I'm sure the timing was perfect in terms of the weather, not too cold and not too hot. The hike was really fun and we got to see another side of "Tokyo" that really charmed us. There are a lot of fun places to visit on the hike up and grab a bite to eat or souvenirs or sight see. Warning...there's a ton of stairs, so if you're looking to burn some real calories this is a great trip but the kids almost died. We took the chair lift up the mountain (which I highly recommend) and the cable car down which wasn't as exciting but fun non the less. As you can see in the other reviews its easy to access via train or car. We drove and that may have been a mistake since we left at 10am and the highways were totally packed on the way out. It took more than 2 hours there but coming home it was just over an hour back. So next time we'll take the train.

What a great day trip from Tokyo! My husband and I went on a weekday during the "fall leaves festival". Apparently the festivities take place on the weekends only, but we didn't mind missing this because apparently the fall weekends are insanely busy. We did get to enjoy the beautiful fall colors though; at the end of November, the leaves were perfect! While I generally do a lot of research before traveling, I kind of freestyled this outing because it was difficult for me to find information about Mount Takao online in English. When we arrived, English signage was basic but we didn't have trouble getting around. There were many small shops selling traditional Japanese snacks; I would highly recommend trying the hot black sesame balls! We ended up taking the cable car to the top, which was interesting and scenic, and then we walked to the temple and shrines. The walk up was definitely more than a casual stroll, with an incline and a lot of stairs (tip: when you are faced with choosing between the giant staircase and the sloping path halfway up, choose the stairs!). But it was absolutely worth it because the temples and shrines were gorgeous. We went on a foggy/cloudy day, and the feeling of being "in the clouds" was amazing! On the way down, we took the chairlift, which was a bit scary because the seats weren't very big and there was no safety bar. But we lived to tell this story and also didn't witness any falls/tragedies, so apparently it is safe enough. If you are looking for an easy trip out of town, especially during the fall, Mount Takao is a great option.

Naturally awesome!!! This mountain is a real hike even if you take the ski lift or cable car up to the top. They offer a beer garden near the top, if you are in the mood for a cold one. I would avoid the alcohol though, you really need to be aware of your surroundings on some of these off the beaten path trails like #4...there are roots and rocks throughout most of the trail. One false step and it's adios amigo. Just don't be a selfie moron and you'll be fine. I highly recommend this place as a practice run before attempting something larger like Mt. Fuji.

If you love hiking in the forrest or in greener areas then Mt Takao is the place to come. About an hour and a half subway ride from Shinjuku to Mt Takao. Definitely worth coming to. Lots of amazing trees, trails and Buddhist temples you can look at. You can take a chair lift for like 5 bucks halfway up to shorten the hike. I recommend taking the chair lift or railcar on the way DOWN if you wanna take it easy on your knees for the trails going down are pretty steep and hard on the knees. Not too long though. Only about a mile and half down. Highlights: Monkey park where we saw lots of monkeys. Can't interact with them though. It was only a little over 4 dollars. All the Buddhist temples are pretty astounding to look at. The one at the very top was made in 700 AD. That's old! Lots of stairs to keep climbing to the top all the way up! We were barely able to see Mt Fugi when we got the top of Mt Takao. But you can see it well on a clear day.

I sincerely advise anyone who loves hiking to stop here on their journey to Tokyo. It's not exactly close as it will take you about 90 minutes via public transportation, but you will not regret. Tokyo can get overwhelming as there are so many people that you might start losing your mind. Which is why it's perfect to escape the city life and come here for a bit. It's a hike, but it's a tourist hike. Having said that, it's easily one of the best experience I've had in my hiking life. The paths are very organized so it's almost impossible to get lost. Most of the signs are in English as well. The views and beauty of nature here are all stunning. All the man made stuff is also eye catchers. There was not a single fault that I could find in my time here and I truly wish it didn't have to end. Alas, it did as all things do. My words can't begin to describe the feelings I felt here, so I will leave it up to you to experience it as well. They also have a monkey park here. The monkey's are pretty outgoing and will enjoy your company as you feed them, or not.

Highly highly recommend a stop to Mount Takao, especially if your trip to Tokyo is around one week or more! You can take the Keio Takao Line from Shinjuku to the terminal station (approximately one hour, 390 yen each way). You can also take the JR Chuo Line. When you buy your ticket for the train, you can choose some of the "packages" that includes cable car, round trip, etc. In terms of the mountain itself, if you want to see all the attractions, it's probably a good idea to choose Trail 1 for either up or down the mountain. There are two main attractions - the Monkey Park (costs approximately 500 yen, but very worth it) and the Yakuoin Temple (free). Both are on Trail 1, the most popular and most paved trail. The hardest climb on Trail 1 would be from the bottom of the Takao-san to the Monkey Park, if you're climbing up. If you take the cable car, you can avoid this part of the trail. The rest of Trail 1 is relatively easy to hike. All along Trail 1, there are food and drink stands. At the top of the peak, you can see Mt Fuji (on a clear day). Though we picked a clear day to go, the clouds seem to congregate around the peak of Mt Fuji. If we strain, we could see it - especially with sunglasses on, it was clear and magestic. But unfortunately, it didn't photograph well. There is also a soba shop on the peak where you can grab a quick lunch (AkebonoTei). At the top of the peak, you get your pick of trails again. We went up Trail 1 and down Trail 5 (for the Biwa waterfall). Trail 5 is very much a trail. It is not paved. There are not that many people - we came across two couples and a woman with her dog. The trail includes walking muddy/forest paths and, at one point, jumping on rocks to navigate down a (relatively shallow) creek! We went up Trail 1 and down Trail 5, but it might be a better idea to do the reverse. Trail 5 could be pretty dangerous for a beginner hiker, especially going down the mountain. The early parts of Trail 1 were also hard to climb up (very steep and paved) and would be easier to climb down. All in all, stopping a lot along the way, Mount Takao with all of its attractions took us a solid day to get through. We made it back to Shinjuku in time for dinner! If you're less interested in the attractions and more interested in the hiking aspect. At the top of Mount Takao, you can choose to continue on to the other peaks. There is a path that takes you up and down various peaks until you get to Mount Jimba, where you can hike down Mount Jimba and take the bus back to the station.

Every year there is a time when the Sun seems to set at the center of the crater of Mt. Fuji. During that time, Mt. Fuji looks like a diamond. It was sunny and clear when we started from the Takosanguchi Station so we were very hopeful but unfortunately, on the side of Mt. Fuji, it was still cloudy. Mt. Takao is a great spot to this great moment :) Unfortunately we did not get to see a clear view of this Diamond Fuji. It was already December when we climb Mt. Takao, so we were really surprise that the trees are still in full color. En route we found this big tree in the side of the road, I think they called it Tako (Octopus) Tree. So I made a simple story based on the information about the tree "A long long time ago, I was basking in the sun , digging my roots into the sweet earth then one day I heard the humans that they were going to cut me down because my roots were blocking their way but I still want to live. I want to see the world and reach for the sky and have the birds perched on me. Listen to them sing. See winter. See summer. See how the season change. You might think that this is selfish of me, but the forest is my home and I want to live my life so I decided to give the humans what they want and move my roots out of the road. Now they consider me something lucky and I think I am." It was a great hike, easy but definitely interesting.

Nice place. Second time here. Good cardio workout by walking or hiking up to the top. Hoping to see Fuji-san from the summit today...hazy, so who knows. Various hiking trails up to the summit and for those who may not be in shape, there's a chairlift and a funicular too.

It's also a good hike to see Mt. Fuji from a distance. The trail was a little steep. though it has some flat areas that people can stop and rest. In between, there were stairs to go up to a few shrines and a temple where people could worship and pay respect. There are different routes to get to the top. I spotted many Japanese hikers, even students, who packed their own food and water, but there was no trash nor empty water bottles that could be seen. The higher up I went, the view became clearer and more beautiful. When I got to the top, I could see clearly Mr. Fuji, and the view was so magnificent. There were a few restaurants on top of the mountain, but I waited until I went down to have a nice bowl of ramen. It was so good, tasty, and refreshing. It was such a memorable hike!

For my amazing three day stay in Tokyo, I wanted to get out of the city and experience some of Japan's countryside. After doing some research, I decided to plan a trip to Mount Takao because you could see Mount Fuji very clearly from here, and it's just over an hour from Shinjuku, where I stayed. A couple of train rides takes you directly to Takaosanguchi Station where you have the option of taking the cable car, chair lift or both round trip. I didn't you you can do both so I just did the chair lift. I was not disappointed, and was rewarded with sweeping views of the mountainside going up, and the metropolitan area going down. The hike to the top is pretty quick, taking about 30 minutes to an hour depending on how fast you decide to go and how many stops you make. As mentioned in another review, there's a place that sells rice/sugar/sesame seed balls on skewers, which are delicious. When you reach the top, go down the path further and you will find a soba restaurant where you can sit outside and enjoy the view with Mount Fuji in the distance. Even on a cold, 50°F day, it was still a pleasant walk and plenty of people were outside, but it wasn't overcrowded by any stretch of imagination. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking to get out of the city for half a day.

All I can say is, WOW! I absolutely love this place. If you are visiting Tokyo, do not pass up on this opportunity. I went in 2014, so I don't know how pricing is now, but when I went, it cost 900yen for a round trip ticket up the half-way point of the mountain on the ski-lift. A great deal. Lots to see, including several shrines and temples, little shops and cafes, small snack shops, and lots of statues. But the best part is reaching the pinnacle of the mountain and taking lots of photos of the beautiful scenery. And on clear days, you can actually see Fuji-san. Great for kids, the elderly, everyone!

Mount Takao is a popular mountain , boasting 2.5 million visitors annually due to the scenery and proximity to central Tokyo (50min train ride from Shinjuku station). The top of the mountain is 599m above sea level. The most popular trail is trail 1 where you can start from the base of the mountain (1.5-2hr hike) or you can take a cable car or chair lift to the halfway mark (40-50min hike). I'm not much of an outdoor person so I opted for the chair lift lol. I mainly came here for the monkey park but had 15 mins before it opened so I decided to hike to the top of the mountain first. The path was steep upwards and there were a lot of stairs to climb, I've never felt so out of shape after this. As for the monkey park, I was under the assumption it would be like the Arashiyama Monkey Park where the monkeys roam free, but it wasn't...The monkeys are behind a barrier for their own protection and ours. The best place to view them is on the roof observation deck where you get a panoramic view and can buy treats to feed them. You'll have to throw the treats into the den. I would suggest arriving to Mount Takao early, before 9am if you aren't a fan of crowds. By the time I started descending from the top and making my way to the Monkey Park at 10:30am, there was a significant increase in visitors.

Almost everything about this is great. They have diverse trails: several paths that you can choose depending on your physician capabilities. It has an excellent lift which can take you up the first 2km. You can walk to the summit of Mt. Takao, and that's when you look at the rest of the map and realize that this is only a very small part of a huge park. It was a beautiful place on the Wednesday we visited. The dango, ice cream and tenguyaki stands around were delicious as well. So why did I take a star off? Two reasons: 1. Drink markup. Almost nowhere in Japan do drinks exceed ¥160. Even in airports. Here they go up to ¥220, which is opportunistic. 2. For that added price, there is nowhere you can dispose of your PET bottles. It sounds trivial, but there are so many machines, and simultaneous signs reminding us "don't litter." After putting the 5th empty bottle in my bag, it started getting old. Otherwise this is a fantastic place. Highly recommended.

Skip the first trail and take the cable car or chair lift. Not much to see and the way up is steep. Save your feet for the top of the mountain. Great view and a lot to eat and see on the way up. You might see the flying squirrel. I'm glad I took a little break and entered the monkey park. It wasn't big but a nice spot to feed the monkey and take picture. A good way to support the park. Admission = 500 yen Top of the mountain was amazing. I am glad it was a clear day. I got to see Mount Fuji and had lunch.

Aw this is just a LOVELY thing to do when you're in Tokyo. It only takes max an hour to get to the base, and maybe 3 hours round trip walking, though you'll want to chill around the top, take some pics (gorgeous Mount Fuji in the background for example), and then there's eatin' time. There are LOADS of places to stop and eat on around the top, most of them with stunning views of the landscape below. It's not a difficult walk (though there are some steep bits - it's not all simples!) but you can make it a little less arduous by hopping on the cable car which is gorgeous in itself. Alternatively, you could do what we did, which was hike up, have a well earned meal and cold beer at the top, then cable car it back down in style! Even if you're only in Tokyo for a few days, I'd highly recommend taking a half day and getting up here to get a perspective on just how giant the city is.

This mountain is a nice family trekking spot and is ideal for those who want to get away from the city for a day and take in a great view and get some fresh air. It will not take you away from the crowds however as it is probably one of the popular weekend family destinations that puts you outside with nature without any need of serious climbing equipment. Serious climbers will most likely be disappointed at the paved trails and crowds.

This mountain was my favorite mountain/hill during my study abroad. It was so close to Tokyo that whenever I needed a break from the city life, I just head straight here. I went at least once a month during my stay in Japan. During the spring, the air is so crisp and there will be a nice breeze and it almost seems like a magical land, especially when you walk from Takaosan to Jinba. Well there is the main route that people go through; it's very very popular, especially on weekends. There are a few restaurants and vending machines at the top for food. Walking up there, you'll also encounter side shops selling sweets. If you prefer to get away from the crowd, I recommend going the other roads less taken like towards Jinbasan. It's really really pretty during the spring! There are cable cars too that can take you down the mountain after your "hike" up. Good experience and worth it too imo. During the winter, be careful because there will be ice sheets forming on some of the routes, especially off road ones. I made mistake of coming here with wrong type of shoes during the winter (I know; dumb move) and let's just say I took a lot longer time coming down the mountain due to the ice. Oh and be sure not to come when there is possible chance of storm too. Yes, I have also came during a day with bad weather forecast and let's just say I witnessed lightening/thunder bolts striking, a tree burning and I am proud to experience the flashing light so close. You will have fun here and build lots of memories so I recommend!

With the height of 599m, Mt Takao is one of the most popular all year round hiking spots in Tokyo. It is located westward. Among them autumn is special!! The whole mountain is covered with autumn foliage. You can enjoy hiking in a beautiful crimson, yellow, brown or orange tunnel. Up to the half way, you can go there by funicular railway or ropeway. In autumn you are ready to wait for 1 hour and a half to get on a vehicular, because the mountain is crowded with hikers. Either walking all route long or using a vehicular is all right;D) If you get on a funicular railway or ropeway, you reach the summit of the mountain in 30 minutes or so. It was a silver week that is a holiday-studded week in September when we went on a hike there. We saw a lot of hikers of various nationalities. We heard various kinds of languages there. Very international :D) If you are hungry and have no lunch box, don't worry about that. On the way there are several diners and souvenir shops to satisfy your appetite. Around the area especially Soba or buckwheat noodles with grated yam are famous!! We entered an Italian restaurant in front of the nearest station, though. Around the top of the mountain you find a temple named "Yakuoin", which is well known for Tengu. By the way, do you know what Tengu is like? Tengu is an imaginary goblin with a long nose and a red face. He has wings on his back and holds a feather fan. He is believed to be a kind of guardian deity to protect the mountain and Buddhist monks for self-discipline there. A pair of Tengu images in the compound of the temple is so outstanding that it makes a popular picture-taking spot:D) Have a fun time there!! Supplement: At night if you are lucky, you may encounter flying squirrels called Musasabi (^0^)

Can finally check Mt. Takao off my Tokyo bucket list! Went in mid November just as leaves are starting to change and it was lovely. Walked Trail 1 (the paved one) from base to top and the beginning is quite steep and had me huffing and puffing, but it's doable. Much easier from the top of the cable car/chair lift to the top of the mountain. It was so crowded and weather was lovely so we decided to walk round trip. Great escape into nature.

This place is a lot of fun! Ride a cable car or chair lift up!! (Kinda like half way up) There is a money park (bring some yen to get in and feed the monkeys) and beautiful shrine! Lots of trails and a few place to eat or have ice cream! I really enjoyed it and so did my kids!

Finally got to climb this beautiful mountain in Tokyo. Beautiful scenery and radiant vibes, though hill was a bit steep.