Mt. Takao Day Trip Itinerary from Tokyo: Which Trail, Hiking Times and the Last Cable Car (2026)
Short answer: for a first visit, walk up Trail 6 (Biwa Waterfall, 3.3 km, 100 minutes) and down Trail 1 (Omotesando, 3.8 km, 80 minutes). That is about 3 hours of walking, and the train from Shinjuku is ¥860 per adult round trip. Not a hiker? Ride the cable car or chair lift and the trip costs ¥1,840 (≈¥1,470 with the Mt. Takao Ticket). Whatever you choose, be at the cable car before the last car down: 17:45 on weekdays and 18:00 on weekends from September to November. Walking times and hours from the official Takao Tozan trail map and timetable, checked 2026-10-10.
Pick your trail
| Trail | Length | Up / down | Difficulty | What it is like |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trail 1 (Omotesando) | 3.8 km | 100 / 80 min | ★★ | Passes Yakuo-in Temple and the famous Octopus Cedar, with nature signboards. 5 toilets. |
| Trail 6 (Biwa Waterfall) | 3.3 km | 100 / 80 min | ★★★ | Forest and water, past Biwa Waterfall, where you may see waterfall training even in winter. Toilets only at Kiyotaki Station and the summit. |
| Inariyama Trail (Ridgeline) | 3.1 km | 100 / 80 min | ★★★★ | A ridgeline through the seasons, with maple leaves in autumn. The hardest of the three. No toilets on the trail. |
| Trail 4 (Suspension Bridge) | 1.5 km | 50 / 40 min | ★★ | Forest, a suspension bridge and lots of birdsong, from the middle of the mountain. No toilets on the trail. |
| Trail 3 (Katsura Forest) | 2.4 km | 60 / 50 min | ★★ | A quiet walk through katsura trees, from the middle of the mountain. No toilets on the trail. |
| Trail 2 (Kasumidai Loop) | 0.9 km | 40 min loop | ★ | A loop near the cable car and lift top stations, around the Monkey Park and Wild Plant Garden. No toilets on the trail. |
| Trail 5 (Summit Loop) | 0.9 km | 30 min loop | ★ | An easy loop around the summit. No toilets on the trail. |
Lengths, times and difficulty come from the official Takao Tozan trail map; toilets from Takao Tozan's trail page. Times are walking only, without breaks. Trails 1, 6 and Inariyama start at the foot of the mountain near Kiyotaki Station, a short walk from Takaosanguchi Station, and end at the 599 m summit. The longer Takao-Jimba Trail (15.3 km, ★★★★★, 5 hours 20 minutes one way) continues from the summit over Mt. Shiroyama and Mt. Kagenobu to Mt. Jimba. That is a full hiking day, not a side trip.
Four plans for one day
| Plan | Walking | Train + ride per adult, from Shinjuku | With the Mt. Takao Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. Hike up Trail 6, down Trail 1 | about 3 hours (100 + 80 min) | ¥860 (Keio ¥430 each way) | not for you (it always includes a ride) |
| B. Ridgeline up, Trail 1 down (Inariyama up) | about 3 hours (100 + 80 min) | ¥860 | not for you |
| C. Cable car or lift up, walk down Trail 1 | the upper part of Trail 1 to the summit, then 80 min down | ¥1,350 (+ ¥490 one way) | ≈¥1,080 |
| D. Cable car or lift both ways | the upper part of Trail 1 to the summit and back, plus Trail 2 or 5 if you like | ¥1,840 (+ ¥980 round trip) | ≈¥1,470 |
Children aged 6–11 pay ¥440 (plans A and B), ¥690 (C) or ¥940 (D). The cable car and lift cost the same: ¥490 one way, ¥980 round trip. The cable car takes about 6 minutes and the two-person chair lift about 12. The Mt. Takao Ticket takes 20% off the Keio round trip and the ride; Keio does not publish the yen price per station, so the ≈ figures are 20% off rounded to ¥10. Try your own group in the Mt. Takao day trip cost calculator.
Which plan? Go with A if you are fit and want the forest and the waterfall. Choose B for the ridgeline and autumn colours, but it is the hardest of the three main trails (★★★★) and has no toilets. Choose C or D if you have children, bad knees or little time; walking down Trail 1 (plan C) gives you the temple and the cedar without the climb.
Plan your day backwards from the last cable car
- Riding down? Take the cable car if you will be late: the chair lift's last ride on weekdays is 16:30 from May to November and 16:00 from December to April, well before the last cable car.
- Walking down? Takao Tozan's own advice is to plan so you are off the mountain before sunset. Once the sun goes down, the forest becomes completely dark. If you stay for the sunset view, bring a torch or headlamp.
- The cable car runs about every 15 minutes, more often when it is busy. Times change for maintenance and events, so check the Takao Tozan timetable on the day.
A sample day (plan A)
This is a plan, not a timetable. Adjust it to when you leave.
- Morning: Shinjuku to Takaosanguchi on the Keio Line (¥430 per adult). On weekends and holidays the reserved-seat Mt. TAKAO train leaves Shinjuku at 10:00 and 11:00 and takes about 45 minutes at the fastest. The seat costs ¥400 online or ¥500 at a ticket machine, on top of the fare.
- Up Trail 6: about 100 minutes. Use the toilet at Kiyotaki Station first: Trail 6 has toilets only there and at the summit.
- Midday: the summit (599 m). Takao Tozan suggests bringing lunch if you will be on the mountain at lunchtime, because some trails have no shops. If you have energy left, walk Trail 5 around the summit (30 minutes).
- Afternoon: down Trail 1, about 80 minutes, past Yakuo-in Temple and the Octopus Cedar. Too tired? Leave Trail 1 at the top stations and ride the cable car or lift down (¥490).
- Home. On weekends the Mt. TAKAO train leaves Takaosanguchi at 14:15, 15:15, 16:15 and 17:15 (about 51 minutes at the fastest). Regular Keio trains run all evening.
What to bring
From Takao Tozan's hiking guide:
- Rain gear. The weather in the mountains changes fast.
- Water, because there are almost no taps on the mountain, and lunch if you will be there at midday.
- An extra layer. It can be colder at the top than you expect.
- Long trousers and shoes that do not slip. Avoid skirts, jeans and brand-new shoes.
- A torch or headlamp if you might be out near sunset.
- A bag for your rubbish. Take everything home. Fires and picking plants are not allowed anywhere on the mountain.
- Emergency: call 119. For advice on whether you need an ambulance, Tokyo's line is #7119 (24 hours).
Rather hike with a guide? PR
- Mt. Takao hiking tours on Viator guided hikes from Tokyo, some with the train included
- Mt. Takao tours and tickets on Klook tours and passes
Affiliate links: booking through them supports this site at no extra cost. Prices on partner sites may differ from the official prices on this page.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to hike Mt. Takao?
On the main trails, about 100 minutes up and 80 minutes down, according to the official Takao Tozan trail map. That applies to Trail 1 (3.8 km), Trail 6 (3.3 km) and the Inariyama Trail (3.1 km). Up one trail and down another is about 3 hours of walking, plus breaks.
Which Mt. Takao trail is best for beginners?
Trail 1 (Omotesando), rated ★★ of 5 on the official map. It passes Yakuo-in Temple and has 5 toilets, more than any other trail. Trail 6 is rated ★★★ and the Inariyama Trail ★★★★, the hardest of the three main trails.
Can you do Mt. Takao in half a day?
Yes. The fastest weekend Mt. TAKAO train takes about 45 minutes from Shinjuku. Ride the cable car (6 minutes) or chair lift (12 minutes) up, walk to the summit and back on the upper part of Trail 1, and ride down. Hiking up and down on foot takes about 3 hours of walking on top of the trains.
What time is the last cable car on Mt. Takao?
From September to November the last cable car leaves at 17:45 on weekdays and 18:00 on weekends and holidays. It is earliest in December to February (17:15 / 17:30) and latest in April, May, July and August (18:00 / 18:30). The chair lift stops earlier: 16:30 on weekdays from May to November.
How much does a Mt. Takao day trip cost from Tokyo?
From Shinjuku, per adult: ¥860 if you hike both ways (Keio round trip), ¥1,350 if you ride the cable car or lift one way, and ¥1,840 if you ride both ways. The Mt. Takao Ticket takes 20% off the train and the ride, about ¥1,080 or ¥1,470. Food is extra.
Official sources (checked 2026-10-10)
- Takao Tozan trail map in English (lengths, walking times, difficulty): https://www.takaotozan.co.jp/course/img/course_map_english.pdf
- Takao Tozan trail page (toilets): https://www.takaotozan.co.jp/course/
- Takao Tozan cable car and chair lift timetable and fares: https://www.takaotozan.co.jp/timeprice/
- Takao Tozan hiking guide (what to bring, rules, sunset advice): https://www.takaotozan.co.jp/guide/
- Keio Mt. TAKAO reserved-seat train: https://www.keio.co.jp/zasekishitei/index_mt.html
- Keio fares from 1 October 2023: https://www.keio.co.jp/news/update/news_release/news_release2023/nr20230623_unchin.pdf
- Mt. Takao Ticket: https://www.keio.co.jp/global/tickets/discount/
Times and prices change. Always confirm with the operator before you travel.
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