Mt. Takao: Cable Car Halfway Up, a Walk from Takaosan Yakuo-in Temple to the Summit, Finishing with a Hot Spring

This course begins at Takaosanguchi Station on the Keio Line. After learning about the nature and trails of Mt. Takao at the nearby TAKAO 599 MUSEUM, take the cable car halfway up the mountain. Walk along Trail 1 to visit Takaosan Yakuo-in Temple, then proceed to the summit at an elevation of 599 meters. If the air is clear, you can see Mt. Fuji. After descending to the foot of the mountain, soothe your hiking fatigue at Keio Takaosan Onsen Gokurakuyu, located right next to the station.

History and Regional Charm

Mt. Takao is a 599-meter-high mountain located about 50 kilometers west of central Tokyo. Since the Edo period, it has been widely known as a mountain of faith and as a recreational destination.

Halfway up the mountain stands Takaosan Yakuo-in Temple. According to temple tradition, it is said to have been founded in 744 by Gyoki on the orders of Emperor Shomu. The current principal image is Izuna Daigongen, considered an incarnation of Fudo Myo-o. Tengu are regarded as his attendants possessing the power to ward off disasters and bring good fortune, and Mt. Takao is also known as a mountain of tengu worship.

The forests of Mt. Takao sit on the boundary between the evergreen broadleaf forests typical of warmer regions and the deciduous broadleaf forests typical of cooler regions. Because of this, it has a rich variety of plant life, and it is said that there are about 1,600 species of plants and thousands of species of insects. This nature has long been protected. The Hojo clan of Odawara protected the mountain during the Sengoku period, followed by the Tokugawa Shogunate in the Edo period, and in 1967 it was designated as Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park.

In the first travel guide to Japan published by Michelin of France, it was selected as a three-star tourist destination among mountains alongside Mt. Fuji. Its annual number of climbers has also been ranked number one in Japan. It is a mountain where you can experience both temple faith and protected forests in a single day.

Key Highlights

• ​TAKAO 599 MUSEUM​​: Opened on August 11, 2015, about a 4-minute walk from Takaosanguchi Station. The "599" in its name comes from the elevation of Mt. Takao. It introduces the mountain's nature through specimens of seasonal flora preserved in acrylic resin and the "NATURE WALL," which projects images onto a beech tree and the stuffed animals around it.
• ​Takaosan Yakuo-in Temple​​: A grand head temple of the Chisan sect of Shingon Buddhism, whose official name is Takaosan Yakuo-in Yukiji Temple. Statues of tengu stand throughout the grounds, and the Izuna Gongen-do Hall, which enshrines the principal image Izuna Daigongen, was built between 1729 and the following year. The stone staircase of Otokozaka Slope has 108 steps, matching the number of earthly desires.
• ​Summit of Mt. Takao​​: From the observation deck at the summit, you can look out over the Tanzawa mountain range extending to the west. If the air is clear, Mt. Fuji is also visible, and the summit has been selected as one of the "100 Views of Mt. Fuji in Kanto." In the days close to the winter solstice, "Diamond Fuji," where the setting sun sinks into the peak of Mt. Fuji, can be seen.
• ​Keio Takaosan Onsen Gokurakuyu​​: A day-use hot spring facility opened by Keio Corporation on October 27, 2015, next to Takaosanguchi Station. You can enjoy natural hot springs welling up from about 1,000 meters underground in open-air rock baths. The pride of its restaurant is "Tororo Soba," made with Takao's specialty grated yam.

Recommended Route and Travel Time

The estimated time required is about 6 hours. Walk about 4 minutes from Takaosanguchi Station on the Keio Line to arrive at TAKAO 599 MUSEUM. Checking the trails beforehand on the "599 GUIDE" monitors inside will make it easier to choose a path suited to you.

Kiyotaki Station for the cable car is about a 3-minute walk from Takaosanguchi Station. Board either the green "Aoba" or the red "Momiji" car to ascend a steep slope reaching a maximum gradient of 31 degrees 18 minutes. You can also ride up on the two-seater Echo Lift while viewing the forest close up. At Kasumidai, where Takaosan Station stands halfway up, the path merges with the trail taken by those who hiked up Trail 1 from the foot.

Walking along Trail 1 from Takaosan Station for about 20 minutes brings you to Takaosan Yakuo-in Temple. Along the way, you will pass in front of Tako-sugi, whose roots resemble an octopus. Past Joshinmon Gate, the path splits into the stone-stepped Otokozaka Slope and the gentle Onnazaka Slope, but either route merges further ahead. After paying your respects, walking along Trail 1 for about 20 minutes from Takaosan Yakuo-in Temple brings you to the summit.

For the return trip, follow Trail 1 back to Takaosan Station and take the cable car or lift down to Kiyotaki Station. If you are confident in your stamina, you can also hike all the way down Trail 1. The entrance to Trail 1 is near Kiyotaki Station. Once back at Takaosanguchi Station, head to Keio Takaosan Onsen Gokurakuyu next door. Bringing your own face towel and bath towel is standard practice.

On Mt. Takao, trails may freeze until early spring, and the sun sets early from autumn to winter. Because this mountain is where the campaign to carry trash home originated, please take all your trash back with you.

Experience Summary

Learn about the mountain's nature at the museum and take the cable car halfway up. Pay your respects at Takaosan Yakuo-in Temple with its standing tengu statues, and gaze at the Tanzawa mountain range and Mt. Fuji on clear days from the summit. Finally, wash away your hiking sweat at the hot spring next to the station. This course lets you enjoy both a sacred mountain and protected forests at a comfortable pace.