A day on Mt. Takao from Shinjuku: trails, the cable car and lift, the temple, autumn leaves, food and the hot spring.
10 articles
Mt. Takao is about an hour from Shinjuku on the Keio Line. Which ticket to buy (Takaosan Kippu, day pass, onsen ticket or visitor set), the weekend reserved-seat train, and a realistic day plan.
Distance, time, difficulty and toilets for Mt. Takao's three main trails from the official trail map, what each one is like underfoot, and which to walk up or down.
Takao cable car and chairlift fares (¥490 one way), first and last runs by month, child and lift age rules, the new IC card gates from November 2026, and how to avoid the queues.
Where a stroller works on Mt. Takao (and where it doesn't), routes for babies, preschoolers and school-age kids, child fares, the nursing room, toilets and free rainy-day stops.
Yakuoin, the 1,200-year-old temple halfway up Mt. Takao: how to get there, the daily goma fire ritual and how to join it, the tengu, vegetarian temple lunch, and what to look for.
Mt. Takao's leaves usually peak from mid-November to early December. Where to see them, what changes in November (prices, tickets, evening cable cars) and how to dodge the busiest weekend crowds.
Where on Mt. Takao you can see Mt. Fuji (the summit and Momijidai), when the air is clearest, and how to plan for the December 'Diamond Fuji' sunset, including cable car hours and what to bring.
Ukai Toriyama serves charcoal-grilled chicken and beef in private rooms near Mt. Takao. Course prices, hours, how to book online, the cancellation policy and the free shuttle bus times from Takaosanguchi.
The hot spring right next to Takaosanguchi Station: prices (¥1,100 weekdays), hours, the strict tattoo rule, what to bring, bathing etiquette and Keio's weekday onsen ticket from Shinjuku.
The monkey park and wild plant garden 3 minutes from the Takao cable car: about 90 Japanese macaques, some 300 wild plants, hours, the new 2026 prices, the November high-season fee and how to fit it in.