Hiking Mt. Takao: An Easy Nature Escape from Tokyo

Hiking in another country has always been on my list—just something different from our usual city explorations. So on our second trip to Tokyo, I made sure hiking was part of our itinerary, and Mt. Takao felt like the perfect place to start.

Less than an hour from central Tokyo, it offers forested trails, shrines, temples, seasonal scenery, and, on a clear day, a glimpse of Mt. Fuji—all without requiring a long journey outside the city.

What I loved most was how quickly the atmosphere changed. As soon as we arrived, Tokyo’s pace seemed to fade into cooler air, quieter paths, and trees surrounding us. And because there are several ways to experience the mountain, from hiking the trails to taking the cable car or chairlift, you can make the day as easy or as challenging as you want.

In this guide, I’ll share what our Mt. Takao hike was like, the route we ended up taking, and some practical things to know if you’re planning your own visit.

Mt. Takao at a Glance

Getting to Mt. Takao from Tokyo

We traveled from our hotel in Asakusabashi. From there, we walked to Bakuroyokoyama Station on the Shinjuku Line, then transferred at Meidaimae Station to the Keio Line to reach Takaosanguchi Station. It took us roughly an hour and fifteen minutes.

Upon reaching Takaosanguchi Station, we walked to Kiyotaki Station, where we purchased our tickets for the cable car and chairlift.

In our case, we bought a round-trip ticket. We decided to take the cable car going up and the chairlift back down—a combination that saved us some hiking time while still letting us experience the mountain trails.

For most of our travels around Japan, we relied on Google Maps. It made navigating the train lines, transfers, and walking routes much easier, especially when we were figuring things out as we went.

Mt. Takao Trails: What to Know

Mt. Takao has eight hiking trails, including Trails 1 through 6, the Inayama Trail, and the Mt. Takao–Mt. Jinba Trail. Among them, Trail 1 is the easiest and most popular route. It has a paved path and several attractions along the way, including shops, teahouses, the Monkey Park, and Yakuo-in Temple. The cable car and chairlift make Trail 1 accessible to beginner hikers.

We initially followed Trail 1, but eventually wandered away from the paved route in search of a quieter trail.

If you’re planning your own hike, you may want to check the trail guide on the official Takao Mountain Railway website. It has more information about the different trails, along with a downloadable map in English.

Our Route: From the Cable Car to the Summit

Since we were among the first to board the cable car, we managed to get a spot near the front beside the operator.

The ride took about six minutes, and the view on the way up was beautiful. It was early December, and there were still traces of autumn on the mountainside—patches of red, orange, and yellow mixed in with the greens and bare branches. I couldn’t help but take photos and videos along the way.

When we reached Takaosan Station, we were greeted by a long queue for Tengu Yaki. My husband decided to try it, I think mostly out of curiosity, while I wandered around trying to figure out where we should start hiking.

As I looked at the trail map, I have to admit, I was a little disoriented. I hadn’t done an in-depth search about Mt. Takao before the trip. We just knew one thing: we wanted the quieter, unpaved trail.

We initially followed Trail 1, passing the Monkey Park and several other sights before reaching Joshinmon Gate and the grounds of Yakuo-in Temple.

Somewhere along the way, we left the paved route and ventured into the forest. At that time, we honestly weren’t sure which trail we were on anymore. Looking back at my photos and their location data while writing this, I believe we eventually followed Fujimichi, which connects to the middle of Trail 3, then continued toward Trail 5 before reaching the summit.

Fujimichi extends from the side of Daihonbo at Mt. Takao Yakuo-in Temple. The Takao 599 Museum’s trail guide helped me make sense of the route we took when I was retracing our steps later.

If you’re looking at the map and feeling confused by the interconnected trails, you’re not alone. Several routes connect with one another, and some are loops, which can make it a little confusing if you’re not familiar with the mountain.

The Trail We Loved

When we left the paved path, the experience changed completely.

I honestly enjoyed this part of the hike. Compared with the busier paved route, the forest trail felt much quieter, and we only passed very few other hikers along the way.

Since we visited in early December, the autumn colors were no longer at their peak, but there were still beautiful traces of the season around us. Red, orange, and yellow leaves peeked through the greenery, creating these little pockets of color along the trail.

We stopped for photos and short clips, but mostly, I just enjoyed being surrounded by trees and walking at a slower pace.

Reaching the Summit

Eventually, we followed the signs and made our way toward the summit.

After all that quiet, we were suddenly greeted by a crowd of people enjoying the view. That’s when we knew we were already at the summit.

We were blessed with a clear day, because from the summit, we could see a glimpse of Mt. Fuji in the distance. It wasn’t a full, unobstructed view—the surrounding mountains framed most of it. But honestly, even that little glimpse felt special.

Aside from Mt. Fuji, you could also see the bustling Tokyo Metropolis in the distance on the other side.

We found a spot and sat there for a while, just taking it all in. We also knew we couldn’t stay too long since we had to make our way back in time for the chairlift.

Ending the day on a chairlift was one of my favorite moments of our Mt. Takao adventure. As we descended, the sky was beginning to glow, with the mountains and Tokyo stretching out in the distance.

After a day of walking through the forest, it felt like such a peaceful way to end our hike.

It might sound shallow or simple, but I was in awe—grateful that God let me experience all of this.

Cable Car + Chairlift: What We Chose

We chose to take the cable car uphill and the chairlift downhill. It saved us time by starting our hike from a higher section instead of starting at the base of Mt. Takao.

The cable car ride takes about six minutes, while the chairlift takes about 12 minutes and offers a slower, open-air ride back down. 

If you’re short on time or energy, you don’t necessarily have to hike both ways. Mt. Takao makes it easy to mix and match your options.

One important note: operating times vary by season. The current official schedule lists different closing times for the cable car and chairlift throughout the year, so it’s worth checking the current Mt. Takao cable car and chairlift schedule⁠ before your visit.

When to Visit Mt. Takao

Mt. Takao can get crowded, particularly on weekends and during autumn foliage season.

We visited on a weekend in early December and could still see traces of autumn color, so it’s easy to understand why the mountain attracts so many visitors during this season.

If you’re hoping for a quieter experience, consider visiting on a weekday, starting earlier in the day, or exploring some of the less-crowded trails.

Final Thoughts: A Different Side of Tokyo

Mt. Takao reminded me that you don’t have to travel far from Tokyo for a nature escape.

For me, the best part wasn’t necessarily reaching the summit. It was the quiet stretch of forest, the remnants of autumn leaves, the unexpected route we found ourselves taking, and eventually riding the chairlift down as the sun began to set over the mountains and Tokyo.

If you’re looking for an easy nature escape from Tokyo, Mt. Takao is one that I would happily recommend. And if I get the chance to visit again, I would love to explore more of the trails we didn’t get to see, and maybe start from the base.

Planning more day trips from Tokyo?

Mt. Takao is just one of the five destinations I included in my guide to easy day trips from Tokyo.

Read: 5 Best Day Trips from Tokyo You Can Easily Do in One Day