Standing at 599 meters tall, Mt. Takao overlooks the city of Hachioji in the western region of Greater Tokyo.
Scenic views every step of the way
A super easy hike (if you can call it that), it takes less than an hour to reach the top of Mt. Takao for the average person. There is no rough terrain and the path is all man-made concrete (yup, any weakling could do it!). Along the way, there are lookout points where you can admire the vast scenery of Greater Tokyo, overlooking the city of Hachioji.
Food Stores & Souvenirs
Somewhat of a tourist area, Mt. Takao has become a family-friendly destination with plenty of facilities such as food stores, souvenir shops, and public toilets. There is also a notoriously long hotdog store where you can do some cheeky poses before running up to the top of the mountain like a hippie.
Observatory Deck
After a relatively easy hike up, you can bathe in the glory of the sunlight as you pose for your model career. The observatory deck at the top can be quite packed with people, but you’ll eventually find an empty space for some juicy pics. The top of Mt. Takao offers scenery abundant in mountain ranges and forests.
Rare views of Mt. Fuji
Of course, the highlight of Mt. Takao’s peak is, well, another mountain. Yes, Mt. Fuji steals the show once again to remind all other mountains who’s boss in Japan. Quite a rare view from here, you can see the snowy cap highlighted as the rest of Mt. Fuji is covered modestly by the landscape, much like an elegant conservative woman.
Of course, if you are planning to visit Japan, you’ll need a way to get around the country as efficiently and affordably as possible. Japan Rail provides an abundance of travel passes to suit your travel needs. So whether you are traveling individually or as a group, the JR Pass is every traveler’s go-to for getting around and making the most of your time in Japan!