Enjoy Mt. Takao Surrounded by Autumn Colors! A 1-Day Fall Model Course for Mt. Takao

The nearest station to Mt. Takao is Takaosanguchi Station on the Keio Line.
You can get there directly by train from Shinjuku Station in Approx. 1 hour, so there is little chance of getting lost.
However, be careful not to confuse it with Takao Station on the Keio Line, which has a similar name.
If you are visiting Mt. Takao on a weekend or holiday, the Keio Railway “Mt. TAKAO” train is recommended.
After leaving Shinjuku, trains bound for Takaosanguchi stop only at Meidaimae (boarding only), then run non-stop to the final stop. It connects Shinjuku and Takaosanguchi in as little as 43 minutes.

The starting point of this model course is Takaosanguchi Station on the Keio Line.
Just outside the station, Takaosan Fumoto Park is also a small autumn foliage spot, so make sure to stop by.

Walk for 2 to 3 minutes from Takaosanguchi Station toward the base of Mt. Takao, and you will arrive at Kiyotaki Station Plaza.
There are also patches of autumn leaves along the way, so don’t miss them.

The stone pillar of Yakuoin Temple at Kiyotaki Station Plaza and the area in front of the cable car station are popular photo spots with plenty of autumn leaves.
In particular, many people take commemorative photos with the Yakuoin stone pillar and the autumn leaves in the background.

After enjoying the autumn leaves at Kiyotaki Station Plaza, return to the stone pillar of Yakuoin Temple and take the road on the front right side of the pillar to Trail No. 1.
If you take the cable car, you will skip Konpiradai, one of the foliage spots, so head up on foot from the base instead.
After walking along Trail No. 1 for a while, you will come to a fork in the road. Continue straight and walk for about 5 minutes to reach Konpiradai.
From Konpiradai, you can enjoy a panoramic view of central Tokyo along with maple and ginkgo trees, and on clear days you can also see Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Tower.

After walking a little farther from Konpiradai, you will arrive at Takaosan Station on the cable car line.
Takaosan Sumika, located right next to the station, is a complex with a soba restaurant, cafe restaurant, souvenir shop, and more.

Stop by Takaosan Sumika and try its signature sweet, Tengu-yaki.
Freshly baked on the spot, Tengu-yaki is packed with sweet bean paste made from black soybeans from Hokkaido.
The crisp, fragrant outside and chewy inside pair perfectly with the mildly sweet black soybean filling.
Take a break with a Tengu-yaki while sitting on one of the scenic benches near the facility.

After a short break, head back up Trail No. 1.
At the fork between Otokozaka and Onnazaka, both paths join again later, so choose whichever you like.

Walk a little along the side path from the point where Otokozaka and Onnazaka meet, and you will arrive at the Bussharito Pagoda.
The pagoda surrounded by autumn leaves is beautiful, of course, but the path leading to it is also colored by autumn leaves, so don’t miss it.

Head back the way you came to the point where Otokozaka and Onnazaka meet, and take a break at Gomadokoro Gongen Chaya there.
The specialty here is sesame dango, grilled over charcoal and filling the front of the shop with a fragrant aroma.
Each skewer contains Approx. 2,300 sesame seeds kneaded into the dumplings, which come in two varieties, golden sesame and black sesame, and you can choose from three sauces: mitarashi made with Tokyo soy sauce, the shop’s special soy-based sauce, or walnut miso.
You can also enjoy “Hachioji ramen,” made with chopped onions, inside the shop.

After your break, continue along Trail No. 1 for about 10 minutes to reach Yakuoin Temple.
Its formal name is “Takaosan Yakuoin Yukiji Temple.” It is a head temple of the Shingon sect and is counted as one of the three great head temples in the Kanto region, alongside Naritasan Shinshoji Temple and Kawasaki Daishi Heikenji Temple.

Its principal object of worship is Izuna Daigongen, an incarnation of Fudo Myoo, and the mountain is said to be home to tengu, the deity’s attendants, so many tengu statues can be found throughout the temple grounds.

Autumn leaves can be found throughout the temple grounds, so enjoy them as you stroll around.
A recommended photo spot is the torii gate in front of the main shrine. Capture the vivid red leaves and torii together for a distinctly Japanese scene.

After walking for Approx. 30 minutes from Yakuoin Temple, you will reach the summit.
Autumn leaves are scattered throughout the open area at the top, and with benches, rest areas, and teahouses available, you can admire the leaves while taking a break.

It is also recommended to take a commemorative photo at the summit marker of Mt. Takao with the autumn leaves in the background.

From the observation deck at the summit, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Tanzawa mountains colored by autumn leaves and Mt. Fuji.
On a clear day, Mt. Fuji should appear so large that it feels close at hand.

After enjoying the view from the summit, have lunch at Akebonotei, the shop closest to the observation deck.
Recommended dishes are “tororo soba,” a Mt. Takao specialty, and “nameko soba,” topped with plenty of nameko mushrooms and mountain vegetables.
If soba alone is not enough, try ordering “miso dengaku” topped with ginger-flavored miso as well.

Near the observation deck, there is a path leading to Oku-Takao. Walk along it for Approx. 10 minutes and you will reach Momijidai, the last autumn foliage spot on this model course.
Not only are there trees around Momijidai that turn a deep crimson, but from the viewpoint you can also see Tanzawa and Mt. Fuji.

Return from Momijidai to the summit, then head down Trail No. 1 toward Takaosan Station on the cable car line.
It is also recommended to buy souvenirs at the souvenir shop inside Takaosan Sumika next to the station.

If you take the cable car from Takaosan Station, you can reach the foot of Mt. Takao in about 6 minutes.
However, during the autumn foliage season, the cable car station gets very crowded, and waits of over 1 hour can occur. If you still have enough energy, try walking back down Trail No. 1 instead.
After descending, enjoy exhibits at the Takao 599 Museum at the base of the mountain, which introduce the animals and plants that live and grow on Mt. Takao.
There is also a cafe inside the facility, so it is recommended to take a break before enjoying the exhibits.

After your break, head to “Keio Takaosan Onsen / Gokurakuyu,” right next to Takaosanguchi Station, to soothe your hiking fatigue.
Surrounded by the rich natural beauty of Mt. Takao, relax in a variety of baths, including the microbubble cypress bath and sauna, in an outstanding location.
There is also a restaurant inside the facility, so finish your day with a meal and a beer after your bath.

We have introduced a 1-day model course for fully enjoying the autumn leaves of Mt. Takao.
If you follow this model course, you will likely experience 120% of the charm of Mt. Takao in autumn.
Mt. Takao may have the image of being an easy mountain to climb, but there are also steep slopes, so be sure to prepare properly before hiking.
If you want to learn more about the charms of Mt. Takao in autumn, be sure to check out this article as well, which introduces autumn foliage spots, recommended hiking routes, and useful points to know.