HOME Tokyo and Surroundings Tokyo Mt. Takao How to Get to Mount Takao: Best Train & Ticket Information (Plus Handy Discount Info)
How to Get to Mount Takao: Best Train & Ticket Information (Plus Handy Discount Info)

How to Get to Mount Takao: Best Train & Ticket Information (Plus Handy Discount Info)

Last updated: 5 January 2021

The world's most-climbed mountain, Mt. Takao is located about 50 minutes by train from Shinjuku Station. Thanks to its accessibility, it is a super popular sightseeing and hiking destination. There are several hiking courses, including full-scale mountain climbing, and cable cars are available for those who don't want to climb. Many people visit all year round, regardless of age or skill level.

Here are some recommended ways to get to Mt. Takao and information on purchasing tickets. Choose the most convenient one for you, and enjoy an amazing view overlooking Tokyo, a relaxing hot-springs soak after your climb, and the delicious gourmet food of Mt. Takao.

How to get to Mount Takao by train

The vivid green Keio Line wrapping around Mt. Takao
The vivid green Keio Line wrapping around Mt. Takao

While you can get to Mt. Takao by car or bus, the train is your best bet to avoid traffic, especially during crowded periods such as the autumn foliage-viewing season. Take the Keio Line from Shinjuku Station to Takaosanguchi Station. When you get off, you'll see Mount Takao right before your eyes.

Mt. Takao Discount Ticket: A Great Deal on the Keio Electric Railway

The Mt. Takao Discount Ticket, sold by the Keio Electric Railway, is a great way to enjoy sightseeing on Mt. Takao at an affordable price. It includes a train ticket to Takaosanguchi Station and a discount coupon to use on either the Mt. Takao Cable Car or the Eco-Lift.

Tickets to Takaosanguchi Station and the Cable Car or Eco-Lift are normally sold separately. Buying them together with the Mt. Takao Ticket saves you about 20%. The Cable Car and Eco-Lift are quick ways to get from the foot of Mt. Takao to the middle of the mountain.

Mt. Takao has a rather low altitude of 599 meters, so you can hike from the base to the top in about 100 minutes along the easiest course. The Cable Car and Eco-Lift will get you there in less than an hour. The Mt. Takao Ticket is highly recommended for those who don't want to hike, or who simply want to travel in a comfortable outfit.

The cable car departs from Sanroku Station at the foot of Mt. Takao and runs up the steep 31-degree slope in about 18 minutes. A one-way trip to Mt. Takao Station halfway up the mountain (elevation 488 meters) is about 1000m long and takes around 6 minutes.

You can enjoy Mt. Takao's natural scenery from the train window, including the beautiful cherry blossoms in the spring and colorful foliage in the fall. The cable car has a long history, launched in 1927, and becoming a modernized, fully-automated vehicle in 1968.

The last cable car departs from Takaosan Station at 5:30 or 6:30PM (depending on the season), so be sure to check the schedule so you don't miss the last train down! There is a beer garden, Takaosan Beer Mount, located near Takaosan Station, open from July 1st to October 15th in 2020 (normally June 15th to October 15th). The last cable car departure is extended to 9:15PM when the beer garden is open.

*As a preventative measure against COVID-19, there may be some service changes at Mt. Takao Beer Mount for 2021.
*If Beer Mount is closed due to weather conditions, the cable car departure time will not be extended.

The Eco-Lift departs from Sanroku Station at the foot of the mountain. It can seat two people and is fully open so you can enjoy the scenery. The ride is slower than the cable car, traveling 872 meters in 12 minutes one way. Enjoy a leisurely ride over the mighty Mt. Takao scenery and the slope covered in beautiful Kitayama cedars.

For a small fee, you can also have your picture taken as you ride the lift. The last ride departs at 4:30PM (4:00 from December to April). Please note that it ends earlier than the cable car, and make sure to be aware of the departure schedule as you enjoy your climb.

・Purchasing Your Ticket
Mt. Takao Discount Tickets can be easily purchased at automatic ticket vending machines at all stations along the Keio Line and Inokashira Line.

1. Select the "Discount Ticket" option on the vending machine panel
2. Select "Mt. Takao Ticket"
3. Select "One-way ticket" or "Round-trip ticket"
4. Select the number of riders and purchase
*Ticket valid only on day of purchase
*Tickets unavailable from December 31st to January 3rd

Save with the Keio Line/Inokashira Line One-day Pass

The Keio Line/Inokashira Line One-day Pass is recommended for both foreign residents and Japanese people alike who live in Japan. It includes sightseeing in Tokyo along with Mt. Takao, with unlimited rides on both the Keio Line and Inokashira Line.

There are many used clothing stores, theaters, and live venues along both the Keio and Inokashira Line, including Kichijoji, where the Ghibli Museum (advance reservation required) and Inokashira Park are located, and Shimokitazawa, which is rich in culture. Climb Mt. Takao in the daytime, then head to Tokyo for dinner and a tour of the city at night!

Kichijoji is a stop along the Inokashira Line. It regularly ranks amongst Japan's best cities to live in, and has a wide shopping street full of eateries and stores, and parks with natural sceneries. It is a city that you can easily spend the whole day at.

Inokashira Park is a 5-minute walk from the station, and a symbol of Kichijoji. It was the first suburban park in Japan and boasts a history of over 100 years. Inokashira Pond, located in the center of the park, has a circumference of 1.5 kilometers, and you can even rent a rowboat!

There is also a zoo and a mini amusement park with attractions for the whole family. In the spring, experience hanami, or cherry blossom viewing, while sitting under nearly 500 cherry blossom trees. In the fall, check out the beautiful autumn colors of the Japanese maples, cherry blossom, ginkgo, and zelkova trees.

For shopping and dining, we recommend checking out Kichijoji Sun Road Shopping Street, which is a 3-minute walk from the station. It is a lively shopping street with many cafes, zakka shops, long-established restaurants, and chain stores.

The arcade is a convenient place where you can sightsee comfortably regardless of weather, whether it's raining or the sunlight is too strong. At night, head to Harmonica Yokocho alley to enjoy Japanese sake in one of the many izakayas.

Shimokitazawa is a spot known for its Japanese fashion culture. There are many unique specialty shops that sell both used and vintage clothing and goods. Shimokitazawa has the largest number of second-hand clothing shops in Japan. You can often find high-quality, second-hand clothing from Europe, and casual American outfits. It's like a treasure hunt for clothes!

There are also many types of cafes, including retro cafes that serve cakes and coffee, and specialty Japanese tea shops that offer matcha and Japanese sweets. They're a great place to kick back for a much-needed break after shopping.

・Purchasing Your Ticket
The One-day Pass is available at the automatic ticket vending machines located in all stations along the Keio Line and Inokashira Line.

1. Select the "Discount Ticket" option on the vending machine panel
2. Select "Free Ticket"
3. Select "Keio Line/Inokashira Line One-day Pass"
4. Select the number of riders and purchase
*Ticket only valid period on day of purchase.

都内から日帰りで行ける高尾山は季節によって異なる魅力があり、四季を通じて一年中楽しめる山です。思い立ったらすぐに行けるアクセスの良さ、手軽さが魅力なので、ぜひ何回も通ってみてくださいね。

Recommended for Foreign Visitors in Japan: Save Up To 50% with a Special Passenger Ticket!

We also recommend the Special Passenger Ticket for tourists. There are 4 types.

1. Mt. Takao + Keio 1-Day Ticket
・Price: 12 years and up: 1690 yen; 6-11 years: 840 yen (*Free for children under 6)
・Includes: Keio Line/Inokashira Line 1-day Ticket + Mt. Takao Cable Car/Lift Round-trip Ticket + Mt. Takao Monkey Park and The Wild Plant Garden Admission Ticket

2. Mt. Takao + Keio 1-Day Ticket Ukai Toriyama
・Price: 12 years and up: 7380 yen; 6-11 years: 3710 yen (*Free for children under 6)
・Includes: Keio Line/Inokashira Line 1-day Ticket + Mt. Takao Cable Car/Lift Round-trip Ticket + Ukai Toriyama Lunch Special

Mt. Takao + Keio 1-day Ticket - Ukai Chikutei
・Price: 12 years and up: 12,480 yen; 6-11 years up: 3760 yen
・Includes: Set of Keio Line/Inokashira Line 1-day Ticket + Mt. Takao Cable Car/Lift Round-trip Ticket + Ukai Chikutei Original Dinner Course

Keio Amusement Ticket - Yomiuriland
・Price: 18 years and up: 2520 yen; 12-17 years: 2220 yen; 6-11 years: 1660 yen
・Includes: Set of Keio Line/Inokashira Line 1-Day Ticket + Yomiuriland Admission Ticket and Three-Ride Ticket

Discounts and benefits for tourist facilities along the railway line are also included

Discounts and Benefits
(1) Mt.Takao + Keio 1-day Ticket, Mt.Takao + Keio 1-Day Ticket Ukai Toriyama, and Mt.Takao + Keio 1-Day Ticket Ukai Chikutei

1. Keio Takaosan Onsen Gokurakuyu Face Towel Voucher (Face towel gift exclusively for facility users)
2. Keio Department Store Shinjuku 5% discount coupon


(2) Keio Amusement Ticket - Yomiuriland
1. 500-yen coupon for MITSUI OUTLET PARK TAMA MINAMI OSAWA (for purchases of 5,000 yen or more)
2. Free Toppings Coupons for Tokyo Meatrea

How to Purchase
You can buy your tickets before or after coming to Japan.
1. You can make reservations and payments at overseas travel agencies and online travel sites. When you arrive in Japan, claim your ticket set at the Central Honshu Information Plaza in Keio Shinjuku.
2. You can also purchase tickets directly at the Central Honshu Information Plaza in Keio Shinjuku.
(Excludes Mt.Takao + Keio 1-day Ticket - Ukai Toriyama and Mt.Takao + Keio 1-day Ticket - Ukai Chikutei)

Mt. Takao is a great day-trip destination, easily accessible from Tokyo. Open all year round, it is full of different attractions you can enjoy in every season. Feel free to visit as many times as you like and experience them all!

Written by:

Medium Inc.

Medium Inc.

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*This information is from the time of this article's publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.

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