In this guide
💡 The Short Version: Mount Takao (599 metres) is western Tokyo’s most accessible mountain retreat, reached in just 47 minutes from Shinjuku Station via the Keio Line to Takaosanguchi Station for ¥430 each way. Mountain access is free. The broad, paved Trail 1 climbs to the summit in about 90 minutes on foot, or you can halve the climbing time by taking the funicular cable car or two-seater open chair lift (¥490 one-way / ¥950 return) halfway up to 472 metres. The route winds past the 1,200-year-old Yakuo-in temple, ancient cedar groves, and mountain soba eateries before reaching summit views of Mount Fuji. Or book a tour: travellers wanting a full cultural day with a guided nature walk and onsen bath can book the Tokyo: Mt Takao Tour with Ramen and Tattoo-Okay Hot Springad (from ¥19,017, 5.0 stars from 119 reviews). All prices are in Japanese yen (¥).
Travel routes and train connections
Mount Takao (Takaosan) is situated within Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park in Hachioji City, approximately 50 kilometres west of central Tokyo.
| Railway route | Departure terminal | Destination station | Transit time | Single fare | Japan Rail Pass validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keio Line (Semi-Special / Limited Express) | Keio Shinjuku Station | Takaosanguchi Station | 47–53 minutes | ¥430 | Not covered (private railway) |
| JR Chuo Line (Special Rapid) + Keio | JR Shinjuku Station | Takao Station, then Keio to Takaosanguchi | 44 mins JR + 3 mins Keio | ¥570 JR + ¥140 Keio | JR portion covered; Keio paid separately |
- Boarding at Keio Shinjuku: Head to the underground Keio Railway concourse at the southwest side of Shinjuku Station. Board direct trains displaying Takaosanguchi as their terminal destination. Trains depart roughly every 20 minutes throughout the day. Tap through turnstiles using your Pasmo or Suica IC card.
- Takaosanguchi Station amenities: Designed by renowned architect Kengo Kuma using warm cedar timber, the station terminal features luggage coin lockers, clean restrooms, the Takao 599 Museum nearby, and direct covered walkway access to the Keio Takaosan Onsen Gokurakuyu hot spring bathhouse.
- Keio Mt Takao Discount Ticket: Keio Railway sells a discount day package bundling a round-trip train ticket from any Keio station with a round-trip or one-way ticket on the Takaosan cable car or chair lift, saving roughly 20% compared to individual tickets. Purchase at automated Keio ticket machines.
The view from the cab of the Mount Takao cable car. Photo: Aapo Haapanen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
Ascending the mountain: cable car and chair lift
At the base of the mountain, a five-minute walk along a paved stream from Takaosanguchi Station brings you to Kiyotaki Station, where you can choose to hike from the bottom or ride up to the 472-metre mid-station plateau:
- Takao Tozan Funicular Cable Car: Running since 1927, this red-and-green funicular climbs 271 vertical metres over one kilometre of track in just six minutes. The upper section tackles a maximum incline of 31 degrees 18 minutes (a 60.5% gradient), making it the steepest railway incline in Japan. Carriages depart every 15 minutes between 08:00 and 17:45 (extended on weekends).
- Echo Lift (Two-Seater Chair Lift): Running parallel to the funicular from Sanroku to Sanjo Station, the chair lift is an open-air double bench without safety bars that glides silently through the forest canopy over an 872-metre span in 12 minutes. Operating hours are 09:00 to 16:30 (closing at 16:00 in winter).
- Fares: Uniform pricing applies to both the cable car and chair lift: ¥490 one-way for adults (¥250 for children) or ¥950 round-trip (¥470 children). You can ride the cable car up and take the chair lift down on the same round-trip ticket.
Hiking trails to the 599-metre summit
Mount Takao features six numbered nature trails maintained by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, alongside unnumbered ridgeline routes:
| Trail | Course name | Distance | Walking time | Trail character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trail 1 | Omotesando (Main Approach) | 3.8 km | 90 mins (or 40 mins from cable car) | Fully paved, wide, passes Monkey Park, ancient cedars, and Yakuo-in Temple |
| Trail 2 | Kasumidai Loop | 0.9 km | 30 mins | Circular loop around mid-mountain plateau through deciduous evergreen forest |
| Trail 3 | Katsura Woods Course | 2.4 km | 60 mins | Quiet unpaved dirt path traversing southern slopes; fewer crowds |
| Trail 4 | Suspension Bridge Course | 1.5 km | 50 mins | Forest path across northern slope; crosses the 36-metre wooden Miyama Bridge |
| Trail 6 | Biwa Waterfall Course | 3.3 km | 90 mins | Shaded path along natural stream valley; stepping stones through running water |
| Inariyama | Ridge Trail | 3.1 km | 90 mins | Scenic unpaved ridgeline path with wooden staircases and southeast lookouts |
Historic wooden gate of Yakuo-in temple surrounded by ancient cryptomeria forest. Photo: Rob Young, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
Top sights along Trail 1
The vast majority of first-time hikers ascend via Trail 1, which combines natural scenery with spiritual cultural heritage:
1. Cedar Avenue and the Octopus Cedar (Tako-sugi)
Shortly beyond the upper cable car station, Trail 1 enters an avenue lined with giant Japanese cryptomeria (sugi) trees over 450 years old. Beside the path stands the famous Octopus Cedar, a massive 37-metre tree whose twisted roots curl above ground like octopus tentacles. According to folklore, the roots moved overnight centuries ago to avoid being felled by path builders. Touching the adjacent bronze octopus statue is believed to bring good fortune.
2. Yakuo-in Temple (Takao-san Yakuo-in Yukiji)
Founded in 744 AD during the reign of Emperor Shomu by the high priest Gyoki, Yakuo-in is one of the three head temples of the Shingon esoteric Buddhist Chizan sect.
- Center of Shugendo: The temple has served for centuries as an ascetic training monastery for yamabushi (mountain hermits) practicing mountain austerities, fire walking (hiwatari), and waterfall meditation beneath cold cascades.
- The Tengu Guardians: Throughout the temple grounds stand dramatic bronze and stone statues of Tengu, mythical supernatural beings believed to inhabit sacred mountains:
- Daitengu: Depicted with a crimson face and an exaggerated long nose, brandishing a feather fan (uchiwa) to dispel misfortune and fan good luck.
- Kotengu (Karasu-tengu): Depicted with the head and sharp beak of a bird of prey, wielding a sword to slice through human delusion.
- Temple courtyards: Visitors pass through the Joshin Gate, step between twin guardian Nio statues, spin prayer wheels (maniguruma), and climb stone stairs to the vividly painted main hall (Hondo) and Izuna Gongen shrine hall. Admission is free.
Hikers taking in panoramic views at the 599-metre summit lookout on Mount Takao. Photo: Guilhem Vellut, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
The summit, Mount Fuji views, and local food
At the 599-metre summit, a wide gravel clearing features picnic benches, restrooms, the Takao Visitor Center, and observation platforms:
- Viewing Mount Fuji: Looking westward from the summit viewing deck, Mount Fuji’s snow-clad volcanic cone rises above the Kanagawa mountain ranges. During the winter solstice in late December, photographers gather for the “Diamond Fuji” spectacle, when the setting sun aligns directly over the peak’s summit crater.
- Tororo Soba: Mount Takao’s signature dish is buckwheat soba noodles topped with tororo (viscous grated mountain yam), served hot in dashi broth or chilled on bamboo trays at rustic open-air noodle eateries across the summit and along Trail 1 (around ¥900 to ¥1,200).
- Keio Takaosan Onsen Gokurakuyu: Situated directly at the base beside Takaosanguchi Station, this natural geothermal bathhouse features open-air stone hot spring baths (rotenburo) filled with alkaline mineral waters bubbling from 1,000 metres underground. Admission is ¥1,100 on weekdays and ¥1,300 on weekends. The facility includes traditional tatami relaxation lounges and an authentic soba restaurant.
Guided excursions and hiking tours
Guided tours provide experienced mountain leadership, botanical interpretation, and coordinated onsen visits:
Tokyo: Mt Takao Tour with Ramen and Tattoo-Okay Hot Spring
From ¥19,017 · 5.0 stars from 119 reviews · 8 hours
The Tokyo: Mt Takao Tour with Ramen and Tattoo-Okay Hot Springad is the most booked guided experience on Mount Takao. An experienced bilingual guide meets you in central Tokyo, leads your group along shaded mountain trails past Yakuo-in’s shrines, arranges a traditional ramen lunch, and concludes with an afternoon hot spring soak at an onsen that explicitly welcomes travellers with tattoos.
Live Like a Local: Mt Takao Hike, Shrine Tour, Onsen & Feast
From ¥9,000 · 5.0 stars from 2 reviews · 6 hours
The Live Like a Local: Mt. Takao Hike, Shrine Tour, Onsen & Feastad offers a small-group guided walk focusing on Shugendo mountain folklore, cedar forest nature, and local culinary traditions at an accessible price point.
Tokyo: Mount Takao Guided Hiking Tour
From ¥21,800 · 4.8 stars from 7 reviews · 8 hours
The Mount Takao hiking tourad provides an active full-day wilderness exploration, utilizing alternative unpaved routes such as Trail 6 and Inariyama to escape the main crowds before summiting.
Where to go next
Mount Takao is the premier hiking day trip within the Tokyo metropolitan boundary. To compare Takao with other regional day destinations, read our comprehensive overview of day trips from Tokyo.
If you are seeking coastal shrines and beaches, consult our Kamakura day trip guide; if you wish to explore Edo-era merchant streets, visit Kawagoe. For deeper mountain alpine scenery, explore our guides to Mount Fuji and Hakone.
For transit pass rules and train connections from Shinjuku, see Tokyo public transport, and explore all top capital experiences on the Tokyo hub.
Common questions
How do you travel from Tokyo to Mount Takao?
The most direct route is the Keio Line from Shinjuku Station to Takaosanguchi Station (47 to 53 minutes by semi-special express or limited express, ¥430 one-way). Alternatively, the JR Chuo Line runs from Shinjuku to Takao Station in 44 minutes on a special rapid train (¥570), where you transfer to the Keio Line for one stop to Takaosanguchi (¥140).
How long does it take to hike to the summit of Mount Takao?
Hiking Trail 1 from the base station to the 599-metre summit takes roughly 90 minutes at a steady walking pace. Taking the funicular cable car or two-seater chair lift cuts the ascent to 472 metres in 6 to 12 minutes, leaving an easy 40-minute walk through Yakuo-in temple to the summit.
Is there an admission fee for Mount Takao?
No. Access to Mount Takao, its hiking trails, and the Yakuo-in temple grounds is completely free. The optional funicular cable car and open-air chair lift each cost ¥490 one-way or ¥950 round-trip for adults (¥250 and ¥470 for children).
When is Mount Takao busiest?
Mount Takao is busiest on autumn weekends in November, when brilliant red maple foliage transforms the mountain, resulting in long queues for cable cars. Cherry blossoms bloom at Itchodaira, 30 minutes beyond the summit, in mid-to-late April. Visit on a weekday morning for peaceful trails.
Can you see Mount Fuji from Mount Takao?
Yes. From the western observation deck at the 599-metre summit, Mount Fuji is visible across the Kanagawa mountain ridges on clear, dry days, particularly on winter mornings between November and February.
