Nature & Hike · Hachioji

Mount Takao 高尾山

A 599 m sacred mountain an hour from Shinjuku, with forested trails, a cable car, a tengu-guarded temple and, on clear days, Mount Fuji from the summit. Japan's most climbed peak.

HoursTrails always open; cable car ~8:00–17:45 (varies by season)

ClosedOpen daily

PriceHiking: Free
Cable car or chairlift (adult, one way): ¥490
Cable car or chairlift (adult, round trip): ¥950

Getting thereTakaosanguchi Station (Keio Takao Line), 5 min to the cable car

Time needed4–5 hours

Best timeClear winter mornings for Fuji; mid–late November for autumn leaves

AddressTakaomachi, Hachioji City, Tokyo

Websitetakaotozan.co.jp

About

Takaosan is a Michelin three-star sight and the most-visited mountain in the world by some counts, thanks to its ease of access: the Keio Line runs straight from Shinjuku to Takaosanguchi. From the base, choose a cable car or chairlift halfway up or one of several trails: Trail 1 is paved and passes everything, Trail 6 follows a stream past a small waterfall, and the Inariyama trail is a ridge route. Halfway up, Yakuo-in, founded in 744, is guarded by statues of long-nosed tengu goblins and serves shojin-ryori vegetarian meals. The summit has a viewing platform facing Mount Fuji (clearest on winter mornings) and is famously busy with hikers eating tororo soba. Autumn leaves peak in mid to late November.

Highlights

Summit view of Mount Fuji on clear winter days
Yakuo-in temple guarded by tengu statues
Japan's steepest cable car gradient (31°) plus an open chairlift
Trail 6's streamside path and Biwa waterfall
Tororo soba and tengu-yaki snacks along the route
Takao 599 Museum on the area's flora and fauna

Tips

Take the Keio Line semi-special express from Shinjuku (~50 min, around ¥500), far cheaper than JR.
Avoid November weekends: autumn crowds clog Trail 1 and cable car queues top an hour.
Go up via Trail 6 and down via Trail 1 (or cable car); the summit beer garden runs in summer evenings at the cable car top.
Finish at Keio Takaosan Onsen Gokurakuyu beside Takaosanguchi Station for a hot-spring soak.

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09

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Mount Takao 高尾山

About

Highlights

Tips

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