Mt. Takao is located in the western part of Hachioji, and the areas surrounding the mountain are designated to as the Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park.
The mountain has a height of 599 meters above sea level. It is known for being an easy-to-climb mountain, and many tourists visit there throughout the year.
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Mt. Takao is even famous as Tokyo's popular spot for autumn leaves as it offers a very beautiful view of the red and yellow-dyed mountains during the season.
The required time to reach the top of Mt. Takao varies by route, from around 1.5 hours to around 2 hours by foot.
Mt. Takao is used to be a sacred place for practitioners of Shugendo (mountaineering asceticism; obtaining enlightenment by secluding oneself in the mountains and go under rigorous training).
During the Meiji era, most of Mt. Takao's forest became the property of the Imperial Household as an Imperial forest. Even today, the forest is designated to as the Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park and the nature surrounding Mt. Takao is carefully preserved and protected.
The mountain has been given the highest ranking of "3 stars" as a tourist spot by the 2007 Michelin Guide, therefore it became as a famous tourist spot not only in Japan but around the world as well.
Accessible by train for 46 minutes from Shinjuku via the Keio Line, Mt. Takao is visited by many hikers everyday and receives around 2.6 million visitors throughout the year, therefore making it as the most-climbed mountain in the world.
Mt. Takao has a cable car and a lift to halfway up the mountain where there is Takaosan-yakuoin Temple that possesses cultural assets. There are also features such as Mt. Takao Monkey and Wild Grass Park, Takao Takosugi (octopus cedar) and Takao Beer Mount (Beer Garden) where you can view the extravagant scenery during summer season.
Around the base of the mountain, there are numerous facilities where you can find enjoyment even without climbing the mountain, such as public bathing areas like "Keio Takaosan Onsen Gokurakuyu", a tourist information office, Mount Takao Trick Art Museum and "Takao 599 Museum(
HP)" that introduces the flora and fauna of Mt. Takao.
Although there are low mountains for beginners where they can easily climb to it as if they are hiking, some courses without pavement also exist, so it is recommended to wear sneakers and free-moving clothes when taking those courses. Bringing a rain protection gear is also recommended as the mountain weather changes easily.
