Hey everyone, just came back from a 1-month trip to Japan and wanted to share a hike I did up Mount Takao in late August.
**BASIC INFO**
Mount Takao (高尾山) is a 599-meter tall mountain in Tokyo. It’s probably the most popular hiking spot for people living and traveling in Tokyo due to its accessibility and proximity, being less than an hour’s train ride from Shinjuku. And with 8 trails and cable car, Mount Takao can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
**GETTING THERE**
From Shinjuku Station I took the Keio Line to Takaosanguchi (高尾山口) Station.
**THE HIKE ITSELF**
From the station I walked for a few minutes to Trail 6, also called the Nature Research Trail. It’s one of the main hiking courses at 3.3 kilometers, where I was able to hike amongst nature. Along the way I took a short detour to the Biwa-taki Waterfall, which is a water dojo for Shinto trainees to cleanse their body and mind. It’s closed to the general public, but I was able to catch a view of the waterfall from the entrance.
Being a popular hiking course the trail is well-maintained, with signs to guide me along the way. Even though I was hiking solo, I didn’t feel alone or in danger since there were many other people doing the same trail.
At the summit there are toilets and places for you to get snacks and beverages, along with an open space where I took a short break before going down the mountain. The fun part about Mount Takao is that you can choose different trails for the ascent and descent. On that day I decided to go down Trail 1, which is a course that’s very beginner friendly due to it being well-paved and easy to walk.
The trail also took me through Takaosan Yakuoin Temple, known for both the Buddhist practice of shugendo or mountain asceticism, as well as its devotion to tengu, a mythical figure in Shinto belief that is believed to be messengers of the gods. Compared to Trail 6 which took me through greenery and water, Trail 1 was definitely more of a spiritual experience.
Overall Mount Takao is great if you’re looking to do a day hike and escape the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. And while it’s not that low of a mountain at 599 meters, even courses like Trail 6 aren’t very tough in my opinion.
That’s it! If you have any questions please feel free to ask and I’ll do my best to answer them.