Mt. Takao Day Trip from Tokyo: Getting There from Shinjuku, Cable Car Prices, Trails, and the 2026 Autumn Rules

This guide is based on official information from Keio Corporation, Takao Tozan Electric Railway, the Takao Visitor Center (Tokyo Metropolitan Government), and the Hachioji Convention & Visitors Association (information as of October 2026). Fares, timetables, and trail restrictions can change. Check the official pages listed at the end before you go.

If you have one free day in Tokyo and want to walk up a real mountain, Mt. Takao (高尾山, Takaosan) is one of the easiest choices. A Keio Line train runs from Shinjuku to Takaosanguchi Station (高尾山口駅) at the foot of the mountain, and the cable car station is a short walk from the exit.

According to the Hachioji Convention & Visitors Association, the mountain is 599 m high, received three stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japon in 2007, and is said to attract around 2.6 to 3 million hikers a year.

This guide follows the order getting there, going up, choosing a trail, autumn notes.

The Basic Plan

1. Take the Keio Line from Shinjuku Station to the terminal station, Takaosanguchi.
2. Walk about 5 minutes to Kiyotaki Station, the lower station of the cable car.
3. Ride the cable car (about 6 minutes) or the chairlift (about 12 minutes) to the middle of the mountain, or skip them and walk from the bottom.
4. Follow Trail 1 past Yakuo-in Temple to the summit (599 m).
5. Return the same way, or come down a different trail.

Getting There from Shinjuku

Keio Line: no transfer needed

The simplest way is the Keio Line from Shinjuku Station to the terminal, Takaosanguchi. The Keio Line splits on the way into services for Keio-Hachioji and for Takaosanguchi, so check that the train's destination is Takaosanguchi before you board.

You can also take the JR Chuo Line to Takao Station and change to the Keio Takao Line for one stop to Takaosanguchi.

Weekend reserved seating: the Mt. TAKAO train

On Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays, Keio runs a fully reserved-seat train called Mt. TAKAO. Keio's website lists a fastest travel time of 43 minutes.

• You need a seat reservation ticket in addition to your fare. If you board without one, you pay 1,000 yen on the train, and a seat is not guaranteed.
• The Takao-san ticket below can also be used as the fare for this train.
• Times are from Keio's website (October 2026). Please confirm before you go.

Takao-san ticket (高尾山きっぷ)

Keio sells a discount ticket combining a round trip on the Keio Line (20% off) with a discounted cable car or chairlift ticket. Prices from Shinjuku Station (revised October 1, 2025):

It is sold at ticket machines at Keio Line and Inokashira Line stations and is valid only on the day of purchase. If you plan to walk up and ride down, the one-way version is enough.

Cable Car and Chairlift

Both start near Kiyotaki Station and cost the same.

Fares (same for both)

Payment is accepted by cash, transport IC cards (Suica, PASMO, etc.), contactless credit cards (one person per card), and QR tickets bought online.

The cable car is 1,000 m long with a 271 m height difference. The chairlift is 872 m long and can feel exposed if you are afraid of heights.

Which Trail?

The Takao Visitor Center publishes these lengths and standard times (no breaks, for reference only):

The Visitor Center notes that there is no trail on Mt. Takao without steps. There are no streetlights on the mountain, so check sunset time and carry a map and a headlamp or flashlight.

How to choose

• First visit, or hiking with older people or children: cable car up, Trail 1 to the summit, and the same way back. It is paved and has the most toilets.
• You want a trail that feels like a mountain path: go up Trail 6 or the Inariyama route, and come down by Trail 1 or the cable car.
• Rain, or just after rain: Trail 4 and the Inariyama route can be muddy, and Trail 6 has stream sections. Stick mainly to Trail 1.

Autumn 2026: Dates and Rules

When are the leaves best?

The Hachioji Convention & Visitors Association says the autumn leaves on Mt. Takao are usually best from mid-November to early December. In the Takao Visitor Center's October 2 report, the foot of the mountain, the cable car line, and the Yakuo-in area were still green, and the summit area ranged from green to just starting to change.

Takao Autumn Leaves Festival

The association warns that the leaf season is the most crowded time of the year and recommends avoiding peak hours and weekends or holidays.

Trail 6 is uphill only in autumn

The Takao Visitor Center announced that from Saturday, October 31 to Sunday, December 6, 2026, the section of Trail 6 from Biwataki to the junction with Trail 5 is uphill only, all day, to reduce crowding and accidents. During this period, plan to come down by another trail.

Short Checklist

• Shoes: non-slip sneakers or light hiking shoes (all trails have steps)
• Clothing: layers you can take on and off. The summit and early mornings or evenings are cooler in autumn
• Water and snacks: the Hachioji association suggests bringing plenty of water and salty snacks
• Headlamp or flashlight: there is no lighting on the mountain
• Cash or an IC card: both work for the cable car and chairlift
• Rain gear in case the weather changes

At the summit, the Takao Visitor Center is free to enter and open 10:00–16:00. It is closed on Mondays (if Monday is a national holiday, it closes on the next weekday instead) and over the New Year period. You can check current trail conditions and nature information there.

Summary

• Take the Keio Line from Shinjuku to the terminal, Takaosanguchi. No transfer. On weekends, the reserved-seat Mt. TAKAO train is an option.
• The Takao-san ticket from Shinjuku is 1,450 yen for adults (train round trip plus cable car round trip) or 1,090 yen (cable car one way).
• The cable car takes about 6 minutes and the chairlift about 12. One way is 490 yen for adults.
• For a first visit, take Trail 1. For a mountain-path feel, take Trail 6 or the Inariyama route.
• The 2026 Autumn Leaves Festival runs October 24 to December 13. Leaves are usually best from mid-November to early December.
• October 31 to December 6: Trail 6 is uphill only, so come down another way.

Official Sources

• Keio Corporation: Takao area
• Keio Corporation: Mt. TAKAO train (Japanese)
• Keio Corporation: discount tickets (Takao-san ticket, Japanese)
• Keio Corporation: Takao-san ticket price list (PDF, Japanese)
• Takao Tozan Electric Railway: timetable and fares (Japanese)
• Takao Tozan Electric Railway: access (Japanese)
• Takao Tozan Electric Railway: courses (Japanese)
• Takao Visitor Center: trail guide (Japanese)
• Takao Visitor Center: Trail 6 uphill-only notice, Oct 31 to Dec 6 (Japanese)
• Takao Visitor Center: autumn leaves report, updated October 2 (Japanese)
• Hachioji Convention & Visitors Association: Mt. Takao
• Hachioji Convention & Visitors Association: Autumn Leaves Festival (Japanese)
• Hachioji Convention & Visitors Association: mountain safety (Japanese)

Many of the official pages above are in Japanese. A browser translation tool works well for fares and timetables, but please double-check numbers on the original page.

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Related

• Mt. Fuji Mountain Huts 2026: How to Book, What to Expect, and Which Route to Choose
• 春の高尾山ハイキング完全ガイド (Japanese: spring hiking guide for Mt. Takao)