My new thing, as of this year, is to do a fall hike each year. After completing our road trip across the US where we visited stunning National parks such as Zion, Canyonlands and Arches, I want to keep the adventure going by enjoying natural places wherever I am in the world. And so we recently completed our fall hike to Mount Takao in Hachioji, a city in the western part of Tokyo Prefecture, Japan.
For the last two years we have been automobile-less and so I am on a mission to find hikes we can get to by train. Thankfully, Japan is super accessible with the train and about 50 kilometers (31 miles) west of central Tokyo, you can reach Mount Takao.
How to get to Mount Takao from Tokyo
From Shinjuku station take the Keio Line (Keio Line Limited Express or Keio Semi-Express) bound for Takaosanguchi Station. This train is the most convenient and fastest option to get to the base of Mount Takao. Another reason to hike Mount Takao, is for the great views of Mount Fuji.
Just a 5-10 minute walk from the station you can find the start of the hiking trails. I consider myself a considerably fit person. I run and workout 4-5 times per week. However, the surprisingly steep trails left me quite sore the next day. With this in mind, if you don’t want to hike all the way to the top, you can take the cable car or chair lift, which will take you most of the way up the mountain.
Here’s a breakdown of the 8 different trails of Mount Takao:
The Trails
Trail 1: The Omotesando Trail (Main Trail)
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Length: 3.8 km (2.3 miles)
Estimated Time: 100 minutes to the summit
Description: The most popular trail. Trail 1 has wide paved pathways, making it easy to follow. But beware that it can get quite congested and has some steeper sections. This trail goes from the base of the mountain up to the summit.
Trail 2: The Kasumidai Loop Trail
Difficulty: Easy
Length: .9 km (.6 miles)
Estimated Time: 40 minutes
Description: With relatively flat paths Trail 2 circles the Monkey Park and Wild Plant parks. Trail 2 does not go to the summit.
Trail 3: The Katsura Forest Trail
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 2.4 km (1.5 miles)
Estimated Time: 60 minutes
Highlights: This trail takes you along a more rugged path with scenic views of the forests of Mount Takao. This trail branches off of Trail 1 and goes to the summit.
Trail 4: The Suspension Bridge Trail
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Length: 1.5 km (.9 miles)
Estimated Time: 50 mins
Highlights: Less crowded than the main trails, this trail has sections that are developed and areas that are more rugged. This trail also branches from Trail 1 and goes to the summit.
Trail 5: The Summit Loop Trail
Difficulty: Easy
Length: .9 km (.6 miles)
Estimated Time: 30 minutes
Highlights: A super easy loop around the summit. Vendors can be found selling food and many hikers stop to have picnics at the summit.
Trail 6: Biwa Falls Trail
Difficulty: Moderate-Challenging
Length: 3.3 km (2 miles)
Estimated Time: 100 minutes to the summit
Description: Trail 6 takes you through a more rugged section that passes by Biwa Falls before continuing upwards to the summit. This trail runs from the foot of Mount Takao to the summit.
When we were there on a Saturday, we were told that hikers were only allowed to ascend the mountain until 3pm and after 3pm they could start descending. This was to avoid too much passing traffic on the trail.
Trail 7: The Inariyama Trail
Difficulty: Moderate-Challenging
Length: 3.1 km (2 miles)
Estimated Time: 100 minutes
Description: This hike through the forest offers great views of the changing leaves and passes by the Shinto Inari Shrine. This trail can get slippery and muddy, so be mindful of the weather. The Inariyama Trail travels from the bottom of the Mount Takao to the summit.
Trail 8: The Takao-Jimba Trail
Difficulty: Moderate-Challenging
Length: 15.3km (9.5 miles)
Estimated Time: 5 hours and 20 minutes
Description: The Takao-Jimba trail connects Mount Takao and Mount Jinba. The paths are well maintained but also has several steep sections. Due to the length of the trail it can be considered more challenging. Consider visiting in spring for the cherry blossoms and in fall with the changing foliage.
Other Atttractions:
Monkey Park
The Takaosan Monkey Park houses a population of Japanese macaques, often called snow monkeys. The park provides visitors with an opportunity to observe these monkeys up close in a natural environment. The monkeys roam freely within the park, but they are not entirely wild, as they have been raised and habituated to people.
Feeding the Monkeys: Visitors can purchase snacks (like apple slices) to feed the monkeys. Be sure to follow the park’s rules, as you are not allowed to feed them anything not provided by the staff.
Entry Fee: Around ¥500 for adults, ¥200 for children.
Location: It’s located along the trail up to the summit, and you can visit it while hiking or after taking the cable car.
Yakuoin Temple
Yakuoin Temple, a Buddhist temple situated about halfway up Mount Takao, was founded over 1,000 years ago in the 9th century. The temple is dedicated to Yakushi Nyorai, the Healing Buddha, and is considered a sacred site where many come to pray for good health, protection, and longevity.
Hiking in Winter on Mount Takao
While the trails are open year-round, hiking in winter can be especially rewarding because the crisp, clear air provide the best visibility to see a snowcapped Mount Fuji. The trails remain open during winter, though some sections may become slippery in areas where ice or snow has accumulated, especially on steeper paths. If you plan to hike in winter, it’s important to wear appropriate footwear to avoid slipping. Additionally, winter hiking means fewer crowds. The Takaosan Cable Car and Chair Lift remain operational in winter, providing an easier way to reach the summit without having to navigate the cold or icy trails.
Food at Mount Takao
An assortment of traditional Japanese foods can be purchased along the way or at the summit of Mount Takao. Many restaurants offer traditional mountain foods enjoyed by hikers in Japan. Dishes like soba noodles and tempura are typical Japanese comfort foods for the perfect energy boost needed for a hike.
For something sweet, kibi dango try these popular chewy sweets made from rice flour and often coated in a sugary or powdery coating, like kinako (roasted soybean flour).
Another popular treat in Japan, especially during colder months, yaki imo or roasted sweet potatoes. They can often be found along the trails of Mount Takao, sold by street vendors in small carts.
We got steamed pork buns from a food stall along the way. And I have to say it was one of the nicest freshest pork buns I have had in a while (Konbini steamed buns can’t even compare).
What to wear for a hike at Mount Takao?
Layers. For fall and winter, I definitely recommend layering as it can be quite chilly in shady areas or early in the morning but then warm up in the sun or from the effort of the hike. When we went, the weather forecast predicted temperatures from 4-10 degrees C or 40-50 degrees F. I wore fleece lined pants, a light jacket and one of my running long sleeve tops. Since the weather was good all week, the trails were not muddy and an old pair of running shoes sufficed. There were some people wearing hiking shoes and some older ones that also had hiking poles handy.
We also carried a small back pack for snacks and drinks. There were many places to buy food along the way but since it was a weekend, some of the lines were quite long.
Our Experience
This year in Toyko, we had a very late fall season with warmer temperatures stretching all the way to mid-November. In the last couple weeks, it has finally started cooling off. Arriving at 8:30 am on a Saturday, there were already many hikers arriving. Starting on Trail 1, we meandered our away slowly to the start of Trail 4. We found many trees were at different stages of transition. Some had completely lost their leaves, while others were a vibrant red or orange color. Switching to Trail 4, we thoroughly enjoyed the less frequented path through the forest to the summit. After filling up our camera rolls with shots of Fuji-san at the summit, we grabbed a quick bite and then slowly made our way down Trail 3.
Trail 3 might have been my favorite of the trails. I forgot for a moment that I live in one of the busies cities in the world. For a few moments, I was transported to a serene walk where the air smelled earthy and fellow hikers cheerfully greeted us with Konnichiwa. Trail 3 takes you back to Trail 1, where we made a quick detour up to the Yakuoin Temple before heading for the base of the mountain. Near the foot of the mountain, I had previously made a mental note in the morning to hit up one of the cute cafes there. Our apple pie lattes were the perfect end to this year’s fall hike. (They also had some special Japanese brews available that I will have to check out next time). We managed to get an express train to Shinjuku and were in our pajamas by 6pm.
For more of our adventures and of our life in Japan, check out some of my other posts: