Arguably the closest and most accessible mountain to central Tokyo, Mt Takao is a famous destination for anyone in the big city eager to experience nature and go for a proper mountain hike. This mountain also includes a range of activities for non-hikers including: shrines, a chairlift, restaurant, and monkey park. It receives large crowds during summer holidays due its proximity to the city and numerous activities. With an elevation of just 599 meters, Mt Takao is a great first step for anyone living in the big city to test out a mountain hike without travelling too far.
Access
The main station where you’ll get off to start the hike is Takaosanguchi station on the Keio Takao line (an offshoot of the Keio main line).
There are a couple of options getting here from Tokyo. All good things start at Shinjuku station.
- From Shinjuku, the Keio main line has some trains where the final stop is Takaosanguchi station. Simple. But be careful and make sure to check your train’s final station. Some trains on this line will go to Keio Hachioji station. In this case you’ll have to transfer at Kitano station and switch to another Keio train that heads to Takaosanguchi station.
- From Shinjuku, take the Chuo line train to Takao station. From here, transfer to the Keio line and ride one stop to Takaosanguchi station.
The Climb
There are a few trails to the top you can choose from. Click here to see a map of all the trails on Mt Takao. Trail no. 6 and the Inariyama trail are considered the longest and most difficult with rougher terrain and more nature. Trail no. 1 offers the best experience for casual visitors as it passes through: the cable car station, monkey park, and Yakuoin temple which offer nice break points while climbing.
The summit of Mt Takao is well equipped with facilities and on a summer weekend you can expect large crowds. There are two popular observation points. The first looks south-west where it’s possible to see Mt Fuji on a clear day (I was not fortunate however). The second faces east where you can get a view of Tokyo.
