Overview

Mount Takao (高尾山, Takaosan), standing at 599m tall, is one of the closest mountains to hike to central Tokyo, offering beautiful scenery, an interesting temple and a variety of different routes.

Mount Takao has been a sacred site for over 1,000 years. Mountain ascetics called "Yamabushi" would train here, in practices such as waterfall asceticism and sutra reading. There are sights at the base and along the way to the summit, including a Buddhist temple, as well as views of Tokyo to admire.

Yakuoin, an attractive temple, stands along the trail near the mountain's summit, and many visitors stop there to pray to Shinto mountain gods (tengu) for good fortune. Statues of the gods, one with a long nose and one with a crow beak, can be found at the temple and also other spots around the mountain. Mount Takao has a cable car and a lift (ski lift style) that can take you most of the way up. It’s located in the Tama region at the western edge of Tokyo, about an hour by train from Shinjuku Station.