Takao is easily accessible by train, taking about one hour from the center of Tokyo, and is a mountain where hiking can be easily enjoyed. The mountain is visited by many tourists and climbers throughout the year.
Since ancient times, Mt. Takao has been considered a sacred mountain for Shugendo (mountain asceticism). There is also a legend that Tengu, or heavenly goblins, have existed on Mt.
The elevation is 599 meters.
It is designated as the Meiji no Mori Takao National Park.
On the side of the mountain are tourist facilities such as Takaosan Yakuoin Temple with its cultural assets, the Monkey Garden and Wild Plant Garden, the Mt. Takao Beer Mount (beer garden is available only in summer) located 500 meters above sea level, and the Mt. Takao BBQ Mount (hand-held BBQ service is available only in spring and fall).
The Mt. Takao Cable Car can be used to reach the middle of the mountain without climbing the mountain trails.
The 271-meter climb from Kiyotaki Station at the foot of the mountain to Mt. Takao Station on the hillside takes about 6 minutes, with the steepest point at 31°18’, the steepest cable car track in Japan.
The area is rich in vegetation because it is located at the boundary between warm-temperate broad-leaved forest zone (evergreen broad-leaved trees such as oak), cool-temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest (beech, dogtooth oak, oak, etc.), and middle-temperate forest (coniferous forest such as fir, tsuga, etc.).
There are several giant cedar trees that are said to be 700 to 1,000 years old.
From the summit, the eastern side of the mountain commands views of the Kanto Plain, centering on the cities of Hachioji and Sagamihara, as well as Mount Tsukuba, the Boso Peninsula, and even Enoshima Island. On the west side, the Tanzan Mountain Range and Mt. Fuji. During the few days before and after the winter solstice, Diamond Fuji can be seen as the sun sets directly over Mt.
There are well-maintained trails to the summit, and visitors can enjoy low-mountain climbing by a combination of various routes. It takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to reach the summit on foot.
Because of the well-maintained trails and the cable cars that make it easy to climb the mountain, the mountain attracts many climbers of all ages and genders, with more than 2.6 million climbers per year, making it the most visited mountain in the world.
Tororo soba (buckwheat noodles), a specialty of Mt. Takao, was originally served to visitors to the Yakuoin Temple on Mt.
From Shinjuku Station to Takao Station
Approx. 50 minutes by Keio Line
44 minutes by JR Chuo Line (Chuo Special Rapid)
From Takao Station to Takaoyamaguchi Station on the Keio Line: 3 min.