Mount Takao Beginner’s Guide | How to Walk Without Getting Lost, Even for First-Timers

Tourist guideThe appeal of Mount Takao cannot be fully described by simply saying, “It’s a mountain that even beginners can climb.” At an altitude of 600 meters, it is home to Yakuoin Temple, which boasts a history of over 1200 years, and offers cedar groves, natural forests, streams, suspension bridges, and scenic views along multiple trails. On your first visit, start not just by reaching the summit, but by choosing “which part of Mount Takao you will hike.”

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Overview of the Takao Mountain Beginner’s Guide

• Theme: Choosing a course based on the scenery you want to see on your first trip to Mount Takao
• Main courses: Route 1, Route 2, Route 3, Route 4, Route 6, Iroha no Mori
• Transportation: Use cable cars or chairlifts to adjust walking distance.
• Before departure: Check the course, estimated descent time, comfortable shoes, and weather and road conditions.

COURSE GUIDE

First, take Trail 1 to see faith and nature.

1 Route No. 5 is the main approach to Mount Takao, walking along a path lined with giant cedar trees, passing through Yakuoin Temple, and heading towards the summit. Along the way, at Konpiradai, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Kanto Plain, making it possible to enjoy mountain hiking and temple visits in one continuous flow. If you use the cable car or chairlift, you can shorten the distance you walk on the mountain trail and start your hike from around Yakuoin Temple.

COURSE CHOICES

Choose a course based on your purpose.

If you want to “walk through the forest,” take Trail 2, which winds through the woods around Kasumidai, or Trail 3, which allows you to observe plants along the way. If you want to cross Miyama Bridge, the only suspension bridge on Mount Takao, take Trail 4.

If you want to experience the sound of the stream and the beauty of Biwa Falls, take Route 6. On the Iroha no Mori course, you can walk while viewing signposts with explanations of the trees and waka poems corresponding to the 48 characters of the Japanese syllabary.

Even on the same mountain, each trail has a different theme: Trail 1 focuses on “nature and history,” Trail 4 on “forests and animals,” and Trail 6 on “forests and water.” Choosing a trail based on the scenery you want to see, rather than just reaching the summit, will help you experience the unique charm of Mount Takao.

BEGINNER CHECK

Three things beginners should decide

4 On trails like Route 6 and Route 7, where the path width, stairs, and conditions along the stream change, choose comfortable walking shoes such as sneakers.

Things to protect at Mount Takao

Mount Takao is a place of nature and religious significance. Please refrain from picking plants, stay on the designated hiking trails, and walk quietly in areas with temples, shrines, and people’s homes. When taking photos during crowded times, move to the side of the path, and it’s a good idea to decide on a meeting place in case you get separated from your companions.

The real mountain hike begins once you arrive at Takaosanguchi Station.

Mount Takao isn’t a place where you climb straight up from the station to the summit. The experience of Mount Takao begins even before you start walking, from the shops and riverside paths leading from Takaosanguchi Station to Kiyotaki Station, to the mountaintop station after taking the cable car or chairlift, and the approach to Yakuoin Temple. Make sure to stock up on drinks and use the restrooms around the station before choosing your route for the day.

1 The distinctive features of Mount Takao can be seen along the trail.

1 The main trail is mostly paved, and it’s the main approach to the summit, passing through cedar trees and Yakuoin Temple. If you use the cable car, you can reduce the amount of walking on the mountain trails while still being able to see the giant cedar trees, tengu motifs, and temple grounds in one continuous flow. If it’s your first time, don’t just aim for the summit; include time to rest at Yakuoin Temple to get a better feel for what Mount Takao is all about.

4 Routes 1 and 6 are chosen as “different mountains”.

4 The highlight of Trail No. 1 is the Miyama Bridge, the only suspension bridge on Mount Takao. Even though it’s a short distance, you get the feeling of walking through the forest, and combining it with Trail No. 1 adds a nice change of pace.

6 Route 1 follows the stream, offering a course where you can enjoy the Biwa Falls and the sound of flowing water. After rain or when it’s crowded, the footing and path conditions can change, so choose your route based on the weather, even if it’s the same Mount Takao.

Consider the entire day at Mount Takao, including the time after descending the mountain, as a complete day.

After descending from the summit, you can combine your visit with exploring the shops around Takaosanguchi Station, the Takao 599 Museum, or visiting hot springs. By not using up all your energy on the climb and leaving one activity planned for after descending, you’ll feel more satisfied even on days when you don’t reach the summit. Mount Takao is not a place where “the climb is the end,” but rather a place to enjoy nature, religious sites, and the town around the station.

When choosing a course on Mount Takao, don’t work backward from “reaching the summit.”

For first-time visitors to Mount Takao, the first thing that often comes to mind is aiming for the summit. However, if you decide on a specific goal, such as seeing the cedar trees at Yakuoin Temple, crossing the suspension bridge, or listening to the sound of the stream, the path you should choose will change. Trails 1, 4, 6, and Iroha no Mori are all on the same mountain, but they offer different experiences.

Even on days when you use the cable car, you can choose where to walk.

Even if you take a cable car or chairlift to gain altitude, you’ll still have to walk from the mountaintop station to Yakuoin Temple, the summit, and the entrance to the alternative trail. Don’t decide whether to use transportation based on whether it’s “easier” or “more difficult,” but rather on where you want to use your energy. The meaning of the same mode of transport changes depending on whether you’re spending time on the approach to the temple and exploring the temple grounds, or walking through the forest and along the streams.

Enjoy Mount Takao even on days when you can’t reach the summit.

Even if you give up on reaching the summit due to crowds, rain, or your physical condition, there are still places to experience, such as the path from Takaosanguchi Station to Kiyotaki Station, the cedar avenue, the area around Yakuoin Temple, and the views from the mountaintop. Rather than forcing yourself to reach the goal, choosing what you can see of Mount Takao today is a way of walking that respects nature and the place of worship.

Official Information

TAKAO 599 MUSEUMCourse Guide ↗

Guide to visiting Takaosan Yakuoin Temple ↗

Course distances, estimated times, and traffic conditions vary depending on the season and weather. Please check official sources before departure.

Next to read

• View outing information by area in Tama.
• Read articles about outings in Tama