# Mount Takao

> A hugely popular 599-meter mountain just 50 minutes from Shinjuku, drawing over three million hikers annually with multiple trails and a cable car.

- Prefecture: Tokyo
- Type: Attraction
- Address: Tokyo, Japan
- Admission: Free
- Official site: https://www.takaotozan.co.jp/eng/

Fifty minutes from Shinjuku on the Keio line and you are at the foot of a 599-metre mountain that around three million people climb every year, which makes it the most-visited mountain on earth. The Michelin Green Guide gave it three stars in 2007 and the numbers have never come back down.

There are eight marked trails. Trail 1 is paved the whole way and takes about ninety minutes from the base; Trail 6 follows a stream and gets your boots wet; the Inariyama ridge trail is the quietest and the steepest. Or skip the first half on the cable car, which climbs at 31 degrees at its worst and is the steepest in Japan, or on the open chairlift beside it.

Halfway up is Yakuo-in, a Shingon temple founded in 744 whose mountain deity is a tengu, so bronze long-nosed tengu statues stand around the buildings. Monks still practise here. In March they hold a fire-walking festival at the foot of the mountain and members of the public are invited to cross the embers at the end.

From the summit on a clear winter day Mount Fuji sits on the horizon to the west, and around the winter solstice the sun sets directly behind it, which packs the summit with photographers.

Eat tororo soba, grated yam over buckwheat noodles, at any of the places on the way up. A beer garden operates on the mountainside in summer.

Avoid autumn weekends unless you enjoy queues; the cable car line can run an hour. Weekday mornings the trails are almost empty.

## FAQ

### How long does it take to hike Mount Takao?

Walking up takes 1.5-2 hours via the main Trail 1, which is paved and easiest. Cable car or chairlift cuts it to 40 minutes of walking from the top station. Round trip including time at the summit: plan 3-4 hours. Add 30 minutes if visiting Yakuoin Temple. Descend a different trail for variety.

### Which trail should I take on Mount Takao?

Trail 1 (Omotesando) is paved, passes Yakuoin Temple, and best for beginners; it is the most popular. Trail 4 offers suspension bridge and nature. Trail 6 follows a stream and is cool in summer. For a workout, try Trail 1 up and Trail 6 down. Cable car + Trail 1 from midstation is the easiest combination.

### Is Mount Takao crowded?

Very crowded on weekends and holidays, especially during autumn foliage (November) and New Year. Weekdays are significantly quieter. To avoid crowds: arrive before 9am, go on a weekday, or choose less popular trails (3-6). The summit area and Yakuoin get most congested. Early morning offers the best Fuji views too.

### How do I get to Mount Takao?

From Shinjuku, take the Keio Line direct to Takaosanguchi Station, about 50 minutes (¥430 limited express, ¥390 local). The cable car/chairlift station is a 5-minute walk from the train station. Cable car ¥490 one-way (¥950 round trip) or chairlift ¥490 (open-air, scenic). The Trail 1 base is right there too. Even quicker: from Shinjuku, the 'Mt. Takao' Keio express takes 47 min.

---
Source: Mount Takao — Japan Voyage