Tokyo · HachiojiNo.196★★★Open in map →
Mount Takao
A 599-metre mountain in Hachioji, western Tokyo, accessible from Shinjuku in about 50 minutes by limited express. Selected as a Michelin three-star destination in 2007, the mountain has been a place of Buddhist mountain asceticism for over 1,200 years. Six numbered hiking trails lead to the summit, the most popular of which follows a paved path past the historic Yakuo-in temple.
Mount Takao sits at the eastern edge of the Okutama mountain chain and is the most-climbed mountain in the world by some estimates, a fact explained by its combination of proximity to Tokyo, manageable elevation, and the old-growth forest that covers its slopes. The forest is protected as a quasi-national park, and the tree canopy along the main trails contains species that take centuries to establish — a rarity within commuting distance of a major city. Yakuo-in, the temple halfway up the mountain, has been an active site of mountain asceticism (shugendo) since the 8th century and gives the climb a cultural weight beyond scenery. From the summit at 599 metres, clear days offer a view of Mount Fuji to the southwest. The cable car and chairlift reduce the ascent to the midstation for those who want a shorter walk to the summit.
Background & history
Yakuo-in Temple was founded in 744 by the priest Gyoki by order of Emperor Shomu, the same imperial patron behind Nara's Todai-ji temple. The current main hall dates from the 17th century. Yakuo-in belongs to the Shingon sect and is associated with the protective deity Izuna Daigongen and the mythical tengu — long-nosed mountain creatures depicted throughout the temple's carvings. The mountain was selected as a Michelin Green Guide three-star destination in 2007, bringing a significant increase in international visitors. Takaosanguchi Station at the mountain's base is the terminus of the Keio Takao Line, opened in 1967.
What to look for — in walking order
- Takaosanguchi Station to cable car base (Route 1)
- flat approach path through the lower forest; 15 minutes from the station to the cable car station
- Yakuo-in Temple
- 1,200-year-old Shingon Buddhist temple with tengu carvings and gate guardians; active place of worship on the mountain path
- Summit (599 m)
- open clearing with benches and food stalls; clear days give a direct view of Mount Fuji to the southwest
- Cable car (Kiyotaki–Takaosan, ~6 min)
- covers the steepest section from the base station to the midstation, usable on the way up or down
How to enjoy it
Weekday mornings are significantly quieter than weekends, when the trails are crowded from mid-morning onward. Route 1 (paved, via the cable car midstation and Yakuo-in) is the standard ascent; allow 90 minutes to the summit from Takaosanguchi Station at a steady pace, including the temple stop. The cable car can be taken up or saved for the descent — either way the lower forest walk is worth doing on foot. Autumn foliage (mid-November to early December) and spring wildflowers (April) are the most popular seasons; summer is hot and humid with heavy midweek use. The summit has several stall restaurants with hot food and views.
How to actually get there
- Keio Shinjuku Station (underground) → Takaosanguchi Station (Keio Limited Express, ~50 min).
- Station exit → approach path → cable car base station or start of Route 1 (on foot, ~3 min).
- Ascend via Route 1: lower forest → cable car midstation → Yakuo-in Temple → summit (~90 min total).
- Shinjuku Station → Takaosanguchi Station (Keio Takao Line)
- From Keio Shinjuku Station (underground, connected to JR Shinjuku Station's west exit underground), take the Keio Limited Express bound for Takao or Takaosanguchi directly to Takaosanguchi Station (~50 min, about 430 yen). Limited express trains run roughly every 20 minutes from early morning. At Takaosanguchi, the mountain entrance is 3 minutes on foot from the station exit.
- Return from Takaosanguchi to Shinjuku
- Return on the Keio Takao Line from Takaosanguchi Station to Keio Shinjuku Station — trains run frequently throughout the day. No reservation needed. The last train of the day leaves well after dark, so timing is flexible.
Before you go
- Cash
- Hiking all trails is free. The cable car costs 490 yen one way (adults); the chairlift is also 490 yen one way (adults). Both accept Suica and other IC cards. Temple grounds at Yakuo-in are free to enter.
- Closing days
- The mountain is open year-round and has no gate or closing time, but the cable car and chairlift operate from around 8:00 (weekends sometimes 7:30) with seasonal end times. In autumn foliage season (mid-November) and on spring holidays, trails are very crowded from mid-morning. Light rain makes the stone steps at the temple slippery — proper footwear is advisable.
- Another way
- From Takao Station (one stop before Takaosanguchi on JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku, ~55 min), you can take the Keio Takao Line one stop, or walk about 20 minutes to the mountain entrance — useful if arriving by JR rather than Keio.
- After you get off
- Takaosanguchi Station is the terminus of the Keio Takao Line; the single exit faces the mountain entrance directly. Walk straight ahead along the approach road (~3 min) to reach the cable car station and the start of Route 1.