Hiking, mountain climbing, and nature walks in Tokyo? It’s easier to find than you might think!

The hustle and bustle of Tokyo attracts millions of tourists every year, but for many, there's nothing more refreshing and relaxing than a little break from the crowds and a breath of fresh mountain air! For travelers and Tokyoites alike, hiking on the outskirts of Tokyo has become increasingly popular in recent years, as a way to work up a sweat and let the mind wander in new directions. Fortunately, these hikes are surprisingly easy to get to, and often accessible even for inexperienced hikers. Thanks to well-worn paths, convenient facilities, and even optional cable cars to shorten the climb, these three scenic spots in and around Tokyo are perfect for anyone looking to stretch their legs and see the city from a new angle!

Mount Takao

As a fairly easy hike in a convenient location, Mount Takao tends to be the first local hike for many arriving in Tokyo. The mountain is well within city limits, although it might tell you something about the size of Tokyo when you hear that Mount Takao is about an hour from the center of the city. The hiking trails are a straight shot on the Keio Line from Shinjuku Station, one of Tokyo's biggest transportation hubs. Mount Takao rises 599 meters into the air in the more rural area of Hachioji, a city within a city to the west of Shinjuku, and it's basically in Tokyo's backyard.

Mount Takao's popularity doesn't just come from the convenient public transportation access, but also from the variety of options when it comes to reaching the peak. There are six different hiking routes, not to mention the cable car! Some of the routes are easy enough that you'll hear people joke "you could push a baby carriage to the top!" More challenging routes include the Inariyama Trail, which winds through Mount Takao's richly forrested mountainside, and Route No. 6, which passes by a cheerful mountain stream. For those enthusiastic mountain climbers who can't stop at reaching the top of just one mountain, there's also a route that goes from the peak along the ridge to neighboring Mount Jinba. With the wide variety of climbing options, it's a good place for novice mountainers to find their feet. Lucky climbers who reach the top on days with good visibility get a great view of Mount Fuji, too!

Mount Takao is also a popular koyo viewing spot in Tokyo during the autumn, and when the weather cools and the leaves start to turn, the top of the mountain gets crowded with visitors who often bring picnic blankets to relax and enjoy the scenery. Plus, the mountain has long been a place of spirituality, with a Shingon Buddhist temple on the mountainside, a history of strictly disciplined mountain ascetics, and a close connection to the tengu – a mythical figure that wavers between god and magical creature. Souvenir shops on the mountain tend to sell a lot of tengu goods, and dango rice balls made with ten ingredients called Tengu no Jukkokuri Dango – a confusing English/Japanese pun that relies on "ten" (10) and "gu" (具/ingredient or filling).

Mount Takao (高尾山)
Takaomachi, Hachioji, Tokyo
Access: Keio Takaosanguchi Station
Mt. Takao Magazine (jp)

Mount Mitake

Reaching 929 meters into the air, Mount Mitake is a little taller than Mount Takao, but it’s also a little farther from the center of the city. Despite being about a 2 hour drive from Shinjuku, and requiring a mix of trams, buses, and cable cars when traveling with public transportation, the mountain is still well within Tokyo’s official borders, in the more suburban western area of Ome. Neighboring Tokyo’s notoriously green and woodsy area of Okutama, Mount Mitake feels more like a “proper mountain” than Mount Takao, and it's known as something of a “power spot” in the wilds of Tokyo. It has, after all, been a major part of Japan’s traditional mountain worship since ancient times. To this day, every year a crowd of visitors hikes up the mountain on New Year’s Eve to watch the first sunrise of the year at Musashi Mitake Shrine. 

Mount Mitake doesn’t have that many different trails, but reaching the top can take more than 4 hours! Many people just go for a day hike, but anyone looking for a real mountain retreat might enjoy the chance to stay overnight and luxuriate in the fresh mountain air. Despite the mountainside location, a small community has grown up around Musashi Mitake Shrine, and there are a handful of hotels, restaurants, and small shops, including an onsen resort.

Those who really want to make the most of the hiking experience and fill their lungs with mountain air, without worrying too much about steep paths to the peak, might want to try the Mount Mitake Gururi route. For a little over three hours, the trail meanders across the mountains, past waterfalls, streams, rocks, and through the forest, providing a refreshing tour of the local scenery, doable even in the heat of summer.

Mount Mitake (御岳山)
Mitakesan, Ome, Tokyo
Access: From JR Mitake Station, take a bus to Takimoto Station, then take the cable car to Mitakesan Station.
Hiking Trails (jp) | Brochure (jp)

Mount Tsukuba

Ready to venture a little outside of Tokyo? Mount Tsukuba is way out in Ibaraki Prefecture, but the mountain is still surprisingly convenient to get to using the TX Tsukuba Express, so it's still a popular choice among Tokyoites looking to really stretch their legs and get out of town. Since ancient times, there has been a saying of sorts in Japan, "Fuji in the west, Tsukuba in the east," putting this lofty mountain on the same level as the world-famous Mount Fuji. An object of worship and a major landmark, Mount Tsukuba is also a popular place to watch the sunrise.

Mount Tsukuba actually has two twin peaks, Nyotai 877 m (2,877 ft) and Nantai 871 m (2,858 ft), and both are fitted with cable cars that can take sightseers right to the top. But if you're looking to break a sweat, there are several hiking trails as well, ranging from half an hour to almost four hours. It's a great place to enjoy the scenery far from Tokyo, and plant lovers often visit to enjoy the 1,000+ different varieties of greenery along the trails.

In early spring, Mount Tsukuba has a particularly spectacular plum orchard that bursts into bloom, and most years the mountain hosts a plum blossom festival to enjoy the flowers. Then in fall, crowds once again arrive at the mountain, this time to enjoy the beauty of the autumn leaves that turn the mountain yellow, orange, and red. If the mountains are calling, read more about hiking on Mount Tsukuba!

Mount Tsukuba (筑波山)
Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki
Access: From the TX Tsukuba Express Tsukuba Station, take the shuttle bus to Tsutsujigaoka Station.
Official Website (en)

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