Hike this mystical mountain and be rewarded with a view of Mt. Fuji
Mt. Takao is the most popular climbing spot in the Kanto area, located about 50 kilometers west of the city center. It is a wonderful mountain, designated as Michelin three star spot along with Mt. Fuji in 2007, and it’s a national park where you can leisurely enjoy mountain hiking even on a day trip. The mountain has been especially important to Japanese since 744, when Emperor Shomu commanded the creation of Yakushiji, a famous temple, and thereby encouraged followers to come to the mountain. Known as one of Tokyo's best outlooks, the view from the observation deck is of a big panorama overlooking the Kanto Plain, with skyscrapers in the distance. Leave the hustle and bustle of the city for a rejuvinating day where you'll connect with nature in a spiritual setting.
1) Meet guide at Keio Takaosanguchi Station (9:00)
2) Takao 599 Museum (9:05-9:30)
At 599m tall, Mt. Takao isn't particularly tall, however it is filled with abundant flora and fauna and covered in hiking trails, both accessible concreted trails and wild dirt tracks far off the beaten path. First you will walk to the Takao 599 Museum where you can learn about the plants and animals that inhabit this mountain. Watch a beautiful 3D lightup showing the four seasons of Takao, and feel free to ask your guide any questions you may have.
2) Hike Mt. Takao (9:30-13:30)
After the museum, you will then begin your ascent of Mt. Takao. The trails range in difficulty from easy to serious hiker so let your guide know what you prefer. On the way up, the guide will offer explanations of the wildlife you encounter, the views and the Budhhist and Shinto shrines and statues you'll see along the way. At any point along the trail you can stop for a breather, or to have a snack and a drink. 
3) Yakuo-in Temple (11:00)
Mt. Takao is considered a sacred mountain and has been a place of worship for over 1000 years. On the way up the mountain you'll pass through the Yakuo-in Temple where you can pray to Shinto-Buddhist mountain gods (tengu) for good fortune. 
4) Lunch (11:30)
After reaching the summit of the mountain, you can have lunch at your choice of restaurant. There are several shops selling typical Japanese fare such as soba or curry rice, while the temple has a Buddhist meal set on offer (vegan friendly) if you want something more special.
5) Takaosan Onsen (13:30-14:30)
Descend the mountain either on foot or by cable car or chairlift (the chairlift has no safety bar so be prepared to hold on tightly!). Then ease your tired muscles in a relaxing hot spring. Experience seasonal pools such as the pink "sakura bath", as well as several outdoor hot pools. If you have time after the onsen, the guide will show you around the town. You can see all the nostalgic old shops and hidden temples. Please note that the person with tattoos are not allowed to bathe in the hot springs.
・Enjoy views of Mt. Fuji from the top of Mt. Takao
・Revel in the seasonal beautify of Mt. Takao and the surrounding area
・Relax after your climb in the soothing waters of an onsen (hot spring)
・Learn about the mountain’s plant life at “TAKAO 599 MUSEUM”
・Learn about the mountain’s natural beauty and history from a local guide.
・Please wear suitable clothes and footwear.
・The tour has you walk both up and down the mountain, with a chair lift or cable car ride at the end. However, if you wish to ride the cable car or chair lift both ways, you will be responsible for your own fare and that of the guide as well. The one-way fare for either mode of transportation is ¥480 for adults and ¥240 for children.
・The guide will instruct you on how to use the hot springs.
・In cases of bad weather, the tour may have to be canceled as late as the day of the tour.
・Hotel pickup and drop off is available within Tokyo for an additional ¥10,000 per group. This includes the train fare.
・Persons with tattoos are not allowed to bathe in the hot springs.
・During the peak travel seasons of March, April, and October, please be aware that there will be an additional charge of 2,000 yen per person for the tour.
| Price | ¥13,000 per adult ¥13,000 for 2 persons or more |
|---|---|
| Duration | 5.5 hours |
| Hours of availability | Start time：9:00 am |
| Inclusions | ・English Guide |
| Exclusions | ・Hotel pick up & drop off |
| Participants | 1〜6 people |
Keio Takaosanguchi Station exit gates
Sarah（Singapore）★★★★★
Great day trip
If you want to get out of Tokyo for the day, this is definitely a great option. The scenery & views are fabulous. The route we took down the mountain was quite strenuous so lovely to relax in the onsen afterwards!!. The museum was small but certainly worth a visit. If you want to eat before you head back to Tokyo, do it earlier as many restaurants closed around 6pm.
Rie was a fantastic guide and is highly recommended!
Jason Townsend-Rogers（U.S.）★★★★★
Excellent Tour!
I thought that this tour was an excellent way to learn more about Tokyo while also having the opportunity to get some hiking done as well.
Wengling Chen（USA）★★★★★
An enjoyable tour at Mt Takao
I had a good time with my guide and I learned a lot of things I will definitely not discover on my own. We also had a lot of interesting conversations on our way. The hot spring at the end of the tour is also great!
Natalie Tan（Singapore）★★★★★
Wonderful day on the mountain
We were fortunate to have wonderful weather for our trip- 17C in December! The skies were blue, and there was still a lot of the beautiful autumn foliage that mount Takao is so famed for. The views were breathtaking, and we were able to see Mount Fuji clearly! Our guide, Tatsu, was friendly and knowledgeable. His grasp of English was excellent, and his ability to tell us about the history of the mountain was very good. He took us to a lovely spot for lunch, and then down the mountain for a very special onsen experience (although perhaps not for the overly modest amongst us!) A note about the chair lift- unlike European chair lifts, there were no restraints or safety belts of any sort- somewhat frightening if travelling with a young child!
Roshini （Singapore）★★★★★
Had a great time
Had a great time and a lifetime experience hiking the mountain with the hot spring. It was nice meeting you. And thank you so much for the gifts towards the end of the trip. Please help me thank your wife for writing my name in Japanese too. I love it. It's so sweet of the kind gesture. Thank you for directing me to Nagano. I am on my way there now. It have been pleasure talking to you yesterday too. Do let me know when you visit Singapore with your family one day. Will bring u for some good indian food as mentioned. Thank you!
Reisa Jiang（China）★★★★★
Enjoyed Hiking!
Went on a full day hiking tour with Yoshi San, who was friendly, knowledgeable and fluent in English. Well planned trip and great experience. Highly recommended.
Tanja（France）★★★★★
Wonderful hiking in a peaceful area
Starting at the station, we met Tatsu-san and discussed what our preferences were. We opted for more hiking and started our walk. Our guide showed us all the hotspots of the mountain. The hike is partly on a paved mountain road along shrines and holistic spots. The other part was on normal hiking trails through wonderful, lush forests.
But what made our adventure so special were all the stories and insights into Japanese life and culture Tatsu-san gave us.
The visit of a traditional, japanese bath was the perfect finish after our hike.
We highly recommend the tour to Mt. Takao to everybody who is looking for nature and culture at the same time.
Glenn（USA）★★★★★
Mt Takao Hiking Tour Captured Splendor and Culture Richness of Japan
This Mt. Takao hiking tour was one of the highlights of my 3 week vacation in Japan. There are multiple trails that you can choose to take (easy to somewhat rigorous). Trail 6 was the “middle ground” and most scenic for me - ascending dirt trails, to climbing a few hundred steps on a wooden staircase. You’re often hiking along running streams and mini-falls. The terrain was thoroughly gorgeous and lush. Once to the top, the views were spectacular. There’s even a simple Japanese restaurant at the top, offering excellent soba, ramen, etc. My local guide, Tatsu, was excellent. He always took the time to answer my questions and provide many photo ops along the way. In addition, Tatsu was always ready to provide rich historical and cultural contexts to the many Buddhist temples and shrines we encountered along the way. This hike truly captured the beauty, majesty and rich history of Japan. Had the perfect ending, soaking and relaxing in natural hot springs (Japanese Onsen) at the base of the mountain. Highly recommend this hiking tour!
Francis（China）★★★★★
Wonderful day in Takao!
Tatsu was such an experienced guide with fluent English and massive knowledge of Takao san. I am so happy he guided us.
BROGAN（Australia）★★★★★
Excellent experience and tour guide!
The whole experience from start to finish was amazing. Our guide Tatsu was nothing short of fantastic. The knowledge and tips he provided throughout the day helped make the experience even better and he was very respectful of our needs all day. The views at the summit were incredible and well worth the climb.
Highly recommend this tour!
Tiia Ladvelin（Finland）★★★★★
Lovely winter day at Mount Takao with a perfect guide
We had an amazing time hiking to Mount Takao. Tatsu was such a knowledgeable and friendly guide, and really went the extra mile to make the trip tailored and personal to us.
Elena Raccuia（USA）★★★★★
Great experience and tour guide!
Tatsu was a wonderful tour guide. The hike is beautiful, and his knowledge and tips made the experience even better. I highly recommend this tour!
Caryn（USA）★★★★★
Hiking and more on Mt. Takao
This is a beautiful area for hiking, easily accessed by train, and offers trails of varying degrees of difficulty, from paved to rocky, leading to vistas at the top of both Tokyo and Mt Fuji. You will see shrines and religious sites that are interesting; the area is important to those considering the historic pilgrimage from Tokyo to Mt Fuji. Our guide Mori was wonderful and knowledgeable. The hike itself was about 90 minutes to the top, but we had great weather and it wasn't crowded, so we went quickly, choosing to linger at the top and then taking the funicular down to the base area, stopping at the temples. We finished with a nice soba lunch at the base, followed by a bath and massage at the onsen by the train station. We had not been to an onsen before, so some guidelines were important to know. Mori helped us navigate all this and we were so grateful and had a wonderful day.
Helen Perkins（Australia）★★★★★
Very enjoyable. Highly recommended
Highly recommend this tour. Our guide Keita san was fabulous. He had a wealth of knowledge about all areas we visited during the tour and was very helpful and insightful throughout. The temple ceremony was a highlight. Great way to spend a day outside of Tokyo city. Thankyou for a great day.
