Experts' Choice Award Mt. Takao
What the experts agree on
Tokyo's go-to hiking escape just an hour from the city, Mt. Takao welcomes beginners and seasoned hikers alike with multiple routes and cable car shortcuts to the 600m summit, plus forested trails to explore.
“Mt Takao, located in the city of Hachioji (just outside Tokyo), peaks at almost 600m.”
– Michelin Guide
Fodor's "When the concrete skyscrapers of Shinjuku become a bit too much, you can escape to the foot of Mt. Takao and the heavily wooded Meiji Memorial Forest Park that surrounds it in about an hour." Full review
Travel + Leisure "Easily one of Tokyo's favorite hiking place, Mt. Takao has a lot to offer the day tripper. Those not wanting to hike all the way up to the summit can take a cable car or a chair lift halfway up. " Full review
Time Out "A popular day trip for hiking beginners and experts alike, Mt Takao isn’t just a daytime destination, with much to explore at night too" Full review
Lonely Planet "A beautiful, unassuming peak where hikers use sticks for walking rather than selfies, Mt Takao could well be the perfect complement to the popular Mt Fuji hike and one of Tokyo's best day..."
Lonely Planet "The many walking trails of Mt. Takao in Hachioji City are busy on weekends and public holidays, but on typical weekdays you can ascend one of the trails in comparative solitude. At 1965..."
National Geographic "Make a half-day excursion to the 2,000-foot-tall Mt. Takao, where several well-kept hiking trails terminate at a peak crowned by a picturesque Buddhist temple that dates to 744 A.D...."
Lonely Planet "Deep in the west Tokyo suburbs sits Mt Takao, a 599m-tall peak topped by an observation area, beer garden and Buddhist temple. There are several walking trails to the top, all of which..."
Lonely Planet "You don't have to go to all the way to Hakone for great views of Mt Fuji. When the weather is clear, Fuji looks resplendent from the top of 599m Mt Takao. Still within Tokyo's boundaries,..."
