# Mount Takao, Tokyo > Takao is a 599 m mountain in western Tokyo, 50 minutes on the Keio line from Shinjuku. It's the capital's most popular short hike: eight trails, Yakuo-in temple with its tengu statues and a view of Fuji from the top on clear days. A cable car and chairlift run halfway up — about ¥490 one way. Walking up takes around 1.5 hours. Web page: https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/mount-takao - City: [Tokyo](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo), Japan - YesGo score: 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 4 h - Opening hours: Trails always open; cable car and chairlift by day, per timetable - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free — the trails cost nothing - Cable car and chairlift: ≈ ¥490 one way, ¥950 return - Hiking up: ≈ 1.5 hours to the summit - Trail 1: Paved, past the lift stations and temple - From Shinjuku: Keio to Takaosanguchi ≈ 50 minutes, ≈ ¥390 - Best time: A clear morning; maples in November - Coordinates: 35.62528, 139.24361 - Facts checked: 09.11.2026 ## Key facts - **599 m** — height of the mountain (source: en.wikipedia) - **8 trails** — lead to the summit (source: en.wikipedia) - **2.5 million+** — visitors a year (source: en.wikipedia) - **≈ 90 minutes** — the average hike to the top (source: en.wikipedia) - **Tengu** — mountain spirits of Japanese folklore — Takao's emblem (source: en.wikipedia) - **Yakuo-in** — a Shingon temple on the slope (source: en.wikipedia) - **30 minutes** — on foot from the upper lift stations to the summit (source: en.wikipedia) - **Quasi-national park** — Meiji no Mori Takao (source: en.wikipedia) ## What is Mount Takao? **Takao** is a **599 m** mountain in the city of Hachioji, in western Tokyo, within Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park. It's less than an hour from the centre, which makes it the capital's most popular hike: more than **2.5 million** visitors a year and **eight trails** of varying difficulty. The mountain is closely linked to **tengu** — long-nosed mountain spirits of Japanese folklore — and to the ascetic practice of shugendo. On its slope stands **Yakuo-in**, a Shingon temple where people pray to the tengu for good fortune. On clear days you can see **Fuji** from the top, and in November the slopes turn red with maples. > **Which trail to take** Trail 1 is paved and the easiest: it passes the cable car and chairlift stations and Yakuo-in temple on the way to the summit. Trail 6 and the Inariyama trail are unpaved forest paths, quieter but slippery after rain. A good plan is to hike up Trail 6 and come down Trail 1 or by cable car. Trails are very busy at weekends and in maple season. ## How the mountain works From **Takaosanguchi** station it's a couple of minutes to the foot of the mountain. Takaotozan Railway takes visitors halfway up by **cable car** and **chairlift**: the lower stations sit side by side, as do the upper ones. According to guides, it costs about ¥490 one way and ¥950 return. From the upper stations it's about 30 more minutes on foot to the summit. On the way are **Yakuo-in** temple with its tengu statues, viewpoints and stalls selling soba noodles and dango. At the summit there's a viewing area looking over the mountains to Fuji, plus toilets and kiosks. Walking from the foot to the summit takes about 1.5 hours on average. ## What to see - **The summit** with views of Fuji on clear days. - **Yakuo-in temple** with its tengu statues. - **The cable car** up a very steep slope. - **The chairlift** over the forest. - **Forest trails** No. 6 and Inariyama. - **Red maples** in November. ## How to get to Mount Takao 1. **From Shinjuku** — Keio line to Takaosanguchi, about 50 minutes, ≈ ¥390 according to guides. 2. **Keio combo ticket** — train plus cable car or chairlift at a discount. 3. **'Mt. TAKAO' train** — at weekends, reserved seats, about 45 minutes. 4. **From Takaosanguchi station** — a couple of minutes on foot to the cable car and trails. 5. **By JR Chuo line** — to Takao station, then change to the Keio line. ## On foot or by cable car | | On foot | Cable car or chairlift | | --- | --- | --- | | Time to the summit | ≈ 1.5 hours | Ride + 30 minutes on foot | | Cost | Free | ≈ ¥490 one way | | Effort | Moderate | Easy | | Best for | Keen hikers | Families and older visitors | ## How long do you need? Takao takes **half a day**: the trip from Shinjuku, the climb, the summit, the temple and the descent. Leave early to catch Fuji before the clouds and beat the cable-car queues. Now, in November, it's maple season — the best and busiest time. At the foot of the mountain there's a hot-spring bath, a fine way to end the hike. ## Is Mount Takao worth it? Yes: it's the easiest nature escape from Tokyo — forest, a tengu temple and a view of Fuji less than an hour from Shinjuku. The YesGo take: at weekends and in maple season the trails are packed and the cable car has queues. Go early on a weekday and climb the forest Trail 6 — Takao is much nicer that way. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] An early start from Shinjuku - [ ] Good shoes — Trail 6 is slippery after rain - [ ] Water and snacks - [ ] Cash for the cable car and stalls - [ ] A clear forecast — for Fuji ## Nature near Tokyo: compare and choose Natural sights and views in and around Tokyo rated by YesGo. - [Shibuya Crossing](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/shibuya-crossing) — YesGo score 57/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · free; Shibuya Sky ≈ ¥2,700–3,400 - [Tokyo Tower](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/tokyo-tower) — YesGo score 56/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Main Deck ¥1,500; Top Deck ¥3,300 online - [Tokyo Skytree](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/tokyo-skytree) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · from ¥1,800 (350 m), from ¥3,000 (both) - [Mount Fuji](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/mount-fuji) — YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 4 h · free to view; climbing ≈ ¥4,000 - [Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/tokyo-government-building) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · free - [Odaiba](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/odaiba) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · free; museums and observatory paid - [Roppongi Hills](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/roppongi-hills) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ ¥2,200 online / ¥2,400 on site (winter 2026–27) - [Mount Takao](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/mount-takao) — YesGo score 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · free; cable car ≈ ¥490 ## Takao and Shinjuku A morning hike up Mount Takao, Shinjuku Gyoen in the afternoon, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government observatory in the evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Mount Takao](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/mount-takao) — YesGo score 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · free; cable car ≈ ¥490 2. [Shinjuku Gyoen](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/shinjuku-gyoen) — YesGo score 33/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ¥500; under 15 free 3. [Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/tokyo-government-building) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · free ## Good to know Mount Takao in Hachioji is not Takao in Kyoto with its autumn temples, nor the characters and ships that share the name. ## Tips - Trail 6 is a quieter forest path. - Leave early — before the clouds and queues. - The Keio combo ticket is cheaper. - November means maples and crowds. - In the evening: [Shinjuku](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/tokyo-government-building). ## Questions ### How do I get to Mount Takao? Keio line from Shinjuku to Takaosanguchi station, about 50 minutes. ### How much is the cable car? According to guides, about ¥490 one way and ¥950 return. ### How long is the walk to the top? About 1.5 hours on average from the foot, 30 minutes from the upper stations. ### Which trail is easiest? Trail 1 — paved, past Yakuo-in temple. ### Can you see Fuji? Yes, from the summit on clear days, especially in the morning and in winter. ### When is the best time to go? A clear weekday morning; November for the maples. ### Is it good for children? Yes, with the cable car and Trail 1. ### Is there an entry fee? No, the trails are free; only the lifts charge. ## How we checked The height, park, number of trails, visitor numbers, tengu, Yakuo-in temple, average climbing time and how the lifts work are from Wikipedia. Cable car and chairlift fares (¥490 / ¥950) and the Keio train are from 2026 guides, as the official site wouldn't load by script; we mark them unconfirmed. We don't cover the monkey park. The hot-spring bath at the foot is from guides. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Mount Takao — height, park, trails, visitor numbers, tengu, Yakuo-in, climbing time, lifts - Guides (GLTJP, Have a Good Holiday, Japan Activity and others) — cable car fares, Keio train, combo ticket (unofficial) - Takaotozan Railway official site — wouldn't load by script; to be checked by hand - Wikidata Q1329959 — coordinates --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.