Mount Takao

Located west of Tokyo, at the eastern end of the Kanto Mountains, Mount Takao is one of the sacred mountains in the Tama region, 599 meters above sea level and designated as Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park. In autumn, the mountains are full of maple leaves, and it is only an hour's drive from the city center, and is called "the mountain with the most climbers in the world" that is crowded with tourists. All of these are good choices. The best time to enjoy the autumn leaves of Mount Takao is mid-November, when it will be crowded. Even if you want to go in other months, avoid weekends and holidays. It takes about three hours to go up and down the mountain. You can also take a cable car or crane from the foot of the mountain to the mountainside and hike to the top. Take a cable car ride and enjoy the scenery. Mountaineering cable cars are also known as little trains. The green trees along the slope track are very enchanting, and you can see the dazzling red maples in autumn. You can take a photo at the place where you ride the cable car wearing a conductor's hat. Japan's popular group Arashi also took a group photo here. The crane is a seat suspended by a cable. It is more exciting to ride. Although it is not equipped with seat belts, there is a protective net below. Hold the handrail and be careful of falling objects. The distance between the cable car and the crane is similar, but the crane is more exciting. Various hiking routes The hiking routes on Mount Takao have very complete marking points, and each route has different characteristics and fun. Route 1 (Omotesando Course) is a popular route from the foot of the mountain to the summit, intersecting with the cable car and crane drop-off points. After getting off the bus, there is an observation deck where you can see the Tokyo cityscape very well. On a clear day, you can see Mount Fuji, and at night, you can enjoy the gorgeous night view with sparkling lights. Continue climbing the mountain and reach Jingxinmen, where there is a huge cedar tree next to it and a statue of a "lucky octopus". It is said that touching the octopus will bring you good luck. Then you will see a fork in the road. The left side is called "Men's Slope" with steep stairs, and the right side is called "Nus Slope" with a slow road, and both roads are on the mountainside of Yaowangyuan. Yakohin was built by Emperor Shomu and has been visited by countless people for over 1200 years. In front of the main hall is a Tengu statue, the symbol of Mount Takao, which is said to enshrine real people who have trained on the mountain and acquired magical and spiritual powers. Such long-nosed stone statues can be seen all over the mountain, which is very interesting. You can also wash your hands and pray for blessings at Yaogen and ask for a signature. Then, take Route 1 for about 1 km to reach the top of the mountain. At the top of the mountain, there is a visitor's center and Route 5, which is very beautiful to walk and enjoy the mountain scenery. From the top of Mount Takao, there is a hiking trail to Mount Takao and Mount Shinba (Takao Mountain, Shinba Road), which passes through Mount Hakusan, Mount Shinshin, Mount Dojo, and Mount Shinba. It takes about 5 and a half hours on foot, but it is not suitable for ordinary tourists, so please try it. If you want to experience a different landscape of Mt. Takao, you can try trails 3 and 4, but the starting point is not at the foot of the mountain, but near the Shinshinmon Gate, and pay attention to the signs. Route 3 (Katsura Forest Course) has temperate and subtropical forest scenery mainly along the road. Route 4 (Suspension Bridge Course) has a suspension bridge along the way, and you may see animals in the forest. Route 6 (Biwa-no-ki Course) starts at the foot of the mountain and is a route that does not go through Hachio-gen. Along the way, you can see Biwa Falls, but it is difficult to walk. You can climb up. From here, you can go down the mountain and take routes 1, 3, and 4 to go down the mountain. There is also a less popular and more difficult Inariyama hiking trail (Inariyama Course). You can bring your own food and water to Mt. Takao. There are also places to sell food along the way, concentrated near the cable car and crane disembarkation points. Tengu-yaki is a famous snack here. You may want to try it. Takahashi-ya Soba, also at the foot of the mountain, is a popular restaurant.