Getting Around Mt. Takao

Nearly 70% of Japan is comprised of mountains. Though the most famous of these is surely Mt. Fuji, plenty of other peaks are worth a visit. If you’re in Tokyo, start with Mt. Takao: despite being only 40 km west of one of the world’s largest cities, Takao is a true piece of nature and can be reached in less than an hour from the city centre. In fact, while Fuji requires advance planning and a laborious hike to scale the summit, Mt. Takao is easy to get both to and around, making it a popular destination for visitors of all ages.

Direct Service on the Keio Line

For the cheapest and quickest route to the mountain, take the Keio Line from Shinjuku Station. Trains leave every 20 minutes and offer direct service to Takaosanguchi Station at the base of Mt. Takao. A one-way ticket costs approximately 400 yen, but those in-the-know opt for the full-day discount bundle, available at any of the Keio Line’s ticket machines. From the English menu, select the “Discount Ticket” option and then purchase a roundtrip ticket bundled with admission to either the cable car or chairlift, which knocks 20% off the total price. Another tip: once on the train, don’t get sucked straight into your smartphone. Instead, watch from the window as the western suburbs of Tokyo disappear into the folds of the rising mountain ranges west of the city.

Take a Hike

Three main trails extend from base to summit, with an additional five paths offering detours or alternative routes. The most popular is the Omotesando Trail (Trail 1), an easy-to-hike, paved trail that winds among most of the mountain’s must-see attractions. There’s a surprising amount to take in on your way up. Check out an on-site map to choose your route from options including a mid-climb observation deck, a monkey park, Jataki Waterfall, Yakuo-ji Temple, and a beautiful wooden suspension bridge. Depending on the number of detours you take, walking the Omotesando Trail takes anywhere from 90 minutes to a couple of hours.

Ride the Cable Car

If you’re unable to or uninterested in walking the whole way up Mt. Takao, there are two alternatives to expedite your journey. The fastest is a cable car leaving every 15 minutes and climbing from Takao’s base to its halfway point (approximately 271 metres of the total 599) in a tidy 6 minutes. If you didn’t buy your ticket as part of the bundle at Shinjuku Station, rates are still reasonable: one-way passage is 480 yen, while a round trip is 930, and cars operate from roughly 8:00 until 17:45. Takao’s cable cars are popular, and despite having a capacity of 130 passengers, queueing may be required (and you still might not get a seat). Nevertheless, it’s a convenient trip that also holds the distinction of being the steepest cable car track in Japan.

Hang from the Chairlift

For an al fresco shortcut, take the mountain’s chairlift, originally installed to coincide with a spike in tourism during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. It’s a nice way to cut time off your climb while staying close to nature, and a chance to share a private moment should you be visiting with a date (it also takes about 15 minutes as opposed to the cable car’s 6, giving you more time away from crowds during the busy fall or spring seasons). The chairlift is the same price as the cable car, but with slightly shorter operating hours. If you plan on taking either on the way back down, make sure you arrive with plenty of time: even if you’re already in the queue and/or hold a ticket, missing the boarding deadline means you’re out of luck!

Extra Credit

Mt. Takao is also a great place for a workout: though most opt for a leisurely stroll up the mountain, you’ll likely spot a few die-hard athletes running to the top as a particularly punishing addition to their training regime. If you can’t keep up with their pace, live vicariously through their efforts and flash them a supportive thumbs-up as they zip by.

Takaosan

Tokyo

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