(高尾山) Mt. Takao Hike

Mt. Takao was the first mountain I climbed in Japan, and will always hold a special place in my heart. Well, “strolled at” might be more appropriate (I took the cable car/chairlift).

Budget: JPY1,400 (~USD13) from Tokyo

• JPY700. Train, Nakano Station to Takaosanguchi Station.
• JPY700. Train, Takaosanguchi to Nakano Station.

Hike Date / Difficulty (Elevation: 599m / 1965ft)

• Hike Date: Autumn 2016, Winter 2018, Spring 2019.
• Difficulty: 1.5 out of 5 (no cable cars)
• Route below is around 6.9 kilometers, with an elevation elevation change of ▲561m/ ▽570m
• Map Link

When to Go
Anytime during the year, but they recommend autumn (around October-November). However, it also gets significantly crowded then.

Special Notes

• Weather forecast: English / Japanese. 
• Mt. Takao unfortunately is the most touristy of all mountains I’ve ever hiked – so expect crowds, stores, and plenty of paved paths.
• Plenty of trails to choose from, and quite a lot of maps in the area. 

Itinerary

• 04:25am. Train from Nakano Station to Takao Station, then transfer to Takao line to go directly to Takaosanguchi Station (高尾山口駅)
• 05:26am. Arrival at Takaosanguchi Station. Start hike.
• 07:00am. ETA: Summit.
• 08:19am. ETA: Takaosanguchi Station. Explore a bit, then go home.