A 6-minute walk from “Takaoyamaguchi Station” on the Keio Line. At the foot of Mt. Takao is the “Kiyotaki Station” (cable car) and the “Sanroku Station” (lift).

The triangular-roofed station building towering above the greenery gives the station a quaint atmosphere.

A very cute cable car. It is surprising that such a small car can accommodate up to 135 passengers at one time.

The ride takes approximately six minutes. Standing at the front of the train, I fully enjoyed the “steepest gradient in Japan at 31 degrees and 18 minutes. I was so impressed by the angle, which I had never experienced before.

The moment the train passes an oncoming car is also very outstanding.

After arriving at the “Mt. Takao Station” on the mountainside, we will take the first moutain trail. The first trail will take us to “Takao-san Yakuoin-ji” (Yakuoin Temple).

A few minutes later, passing by the Takao-san Monkey and Wild Plant Garden, we found a humorous statue of an octopus with the words “Kaiun Hippari Tako” (lucky octopus) written on it.

Looking back, we see a magnificent sacred tree 37 meters high with a trunk circumference of 6 meters. The tree is 450 years old, and its roots curl up like the legs of an octopus, making it a distinctive “Takosugi”.
Why was this cedar enshrined as a sacred tree? There is a famous legend about it.

Mt. Takao is known as a sacred mountain for tengu (long-nosed goblins) worship. One day, when the tengu were preparing the path leading to Yakuoin Temple, the roots of a tree protruding from the path became an obstacle, and they decided to cut it down. The roots curled up overnight, and the path was opened overnight.

The “lucky octopus” mentioned earlier is enshrined next to the octopus cedar, which is believed to bring good luck by “opening the way” to good fortune. Many climbers are familiar with this power spot, where patting the octopus on the head attracts luck.

Even more eye-catching is the “Rokkonshoujyo ishiguruma” with the word “body” written on it, which is located near the “Kaiun Hippari Tako”.

At the junction of the male and female slopes, there was a stone wheel with the word “nose” written on it.

“Rokkon” refers to the human organs, including the five senses “eyes” “ears” “nose” “tongue” and “body” as well as the “will,” which is the mind. The “Rokkonshoujyo ishiguruma” is used to pray to the gods and Buddha to purify the six roots that have been defiled.

There are about 18 stone wheels for purification of the six roots scattered throughout the mountain. The stone wheel is located at the center of the wheel, and when the wheel is rotated six times while chanting the number of times the wheel is turned to 108, which is the same as the number of troubles a person has.

Incidentally, we were not able to use the stone wheel on this day because it was undergoing safety measures. Very unfortunate…

Instead of taking the steep “Otoko-zaka” with its 108 steps, we chose the gentler “Onna-zaka” and strolled leisurely while soaking in the negative ions. About 20 minutes from “Takaoyamaguchi Station,” the gates of Yakuoin Temple came into view.

“Mt. Takao Yakuoin Yuki-ji,” a historic temple founded over 1,200 years ago, is one of the three major temples of the Chisan sect of Shingon Buddhism, alongside Naritasan Shinshoji Temple and Kawasaki Daishi Heiken-ji Temple. It enshrines Izuna Daigongen, a deity protected by tengu.

As soon as we passed through the gate, we saw a Karasu Tengu, said to be skilled in swordsmanship. Its placement was perfect, and we found ourselves captivated by its dignified appearance for a while.

As we proceeded through the temple grounds, we noticed the “Negai Kanau Wakuguri,” a ring said to represent the wisdom of the principal deity. By passing through the ring while earnestly making a wish and then striking the large staff (Daishakujo) beyond it, it is believed that one can remove worldly desires and gain wisdom.

The key is to strike the Daishakujo firmly while clearly reciting your name and address. This is said to help your wish reach the principal deity more effectively.

We climbed the steps and finally arrived at the “Main Hall” to pay our respects.

The “Main Hall” enshrines Izuna Daigongen. As the origin of tengu worship on Mt. Takao, it is filled with numerous tengu figures. On both sides of the staircase are Karasu Tengu, and to the right stands a large tengu mask that exudes a unique presence, making it impossible not to feel its power.

After visiting the “Main Hall,” be sure to get a goshuin (300 yen). You can request it at the shrine office, and they will provide it on the spot.

At the shrine office, original Yakuoin temple goshuin books are also available. There are five types in total.

To commemorate the event, I received a yellow stamp book (1,800 yen tax included) with a bird tengu!

You should not miss the 2-3 minutes of the dynamic way he writes. Just observing the work is an invigorating experience!

In addition, there are also lucky charms and ema (votive picture tablet) with designs of tengu (long-nosed goblin) and octopus at the shrine office.

A lucky charm with a design of a tengu with a brave expression costs 800 yen.

The “Place and Pass (Octopus)” charm, very popular among students preparing for entrance exams, is 800 yen. It is sometimes out of stock depending on the time of the year.

To reach the summit, we will visit the Yakuoin and the inner sanctuary of Yakuoin. In late April, beautiful mansaku flowers could be seen blooming behind the inner sanctuary.

It takes about 30 minutes to reach the summit from Yakuoin Temple.

At the summit, there is the “Takao Visitor Center” where visitors can learn about the nature around Mt. Takao, a teahouse, and two restrooms.

If you are lucky you can see Mt. Fuji from the observatory on a clear day, but unfortunately we could not see it on this day. Next time, I would like to visit in the morning when the weather is clear and the air is clean!

On the return trip, we took Trail No. 4, which passes by the suspension bridge. Depending on the weather, the path may be muddy, so if you are wearing slippery shoes, it is recommended to use Trail No. 1, the same route as the ascent.

Unlike the well-maintained Trail No. 1, this path follows a more natural hiking trail. Along the way, there are sections of the ridge without handrails, so caution is needed.

Mt. Takao is home to over 1,600 species of plants. These are Shaga flowers, which bloom from mid-April to late May. Their delicate pastel colors standing out against the greenery make them irresistible to photograph.

The gradient of greens is so captivating that we often found ourselves stopping in our tracks to admire it.

About 20 minutes from the summit, we reached the suspension bridge, “Miyama Bridge.” It didn’t sway much while crossing, and its sturdy construction was reassuring.

After descending the mountain trail for another 15 minutes, we returned to our starting point at “Takaoyamaguchi Station.” Fully immersed in the breath of nature, our sense of satisfaction was even greater!

“Takao Sumika”, located near Mt. Takao Station, is a place where you can satisfy your appetite and your soul with delicious food at the end of your climb.

The word “Sumika,” which means “home to various creatures, including tengu,” this complex offers gourmet foods and local specialties unique to Mt. Takao.

This is “Sanpuku (Mitsufuku) Dango (400 yen tax included per dango)” sold on the first floor. The freshly made dango is handed to the customer with the auspicious call, “Manpuku with Sanpuku, which stands for Daifuku, Happiness, and Wealth!

The gentle sweetness of the special walnut miso paste will relieve the fatigue of mountain climbing. The dumplings are large, about 4 cm in diameter, and are very satisfying. The crunchy outside and moist inside, which can only be achieved over charcoal, making it a memorable dish.

This is Tororo-soba (1,100 yen tax included), a specialty of Mt. Takao, on the menu at the Soba Restaurant on the first floor. It is said that the dish became famous in the old days when local people gave visitors to Yakuoin temple a dish of grated yam, which was said to be tonic and relieve fatigue.

The nihachi-soba, made of 100% domestic buckwheat flour and topped with thick, sticky yam, is superb. After working up a sweat, beer (700 yen tax included) was also excellent!

In addition, the second floor “Cafe Restaurant SUMIKA TABLE” offers original coffee and special curry under the supervision of “Cazana Coffee,” a leading coffee specialty store in Hachioji.

Visitors can go up to the rooftop to enjoy a different view of the landscape different to the view from the summit.

This is a tengu-yaki (200 yen including tax) from “Takao Tengu Yaki” on the first floor. Unlike Sanpuku dango, the dough is crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, and the black bean paste is just the right amount of sweetness.

It is just the right size for eating while walking.

The beer garden at “Beer Mount,” located even higher up than “Mt. Takao Sumika,” runs from mid-June to mid-October each year. We can’t wait for its opening.

On the way back from the mountain to “Takaoyamaguch station” on the Keio Line, there are plenty of places to relax!

First, let me introduce you to TMH. (TAKAO MOUNTAIN HOUSE). where you can taste a selection of craft beers and hand-drip coffee.

This is TOKYO WHITE (1,300 yen tax included). This craft beer is citrusy and has a light taste. A total of seven kinds of craft beer were on sale on this day. You can relax on the wooden deck terrace with your beer or coffee in hand.

The store was built by renovating a private house. Perhaps this is the reason why you feel a sense of nostalgia in spite of the stylish space.

Further ahead is the “Takao Sankakudo”, a freshly fried donut store that opened in February 2024. The iconic white exterior makes it a landmark in the town.

This is a plain donut (480 yen including tax). The shape of the donut is a triangular shape, which is auspicious and wishes “good things to come” to our customers.
It is easy to hold and eaten like a rice ball! The taste is not so sweet which is also a nice feature.

The softness and elasticity of the glutinous texture is due to the tapioca flour in the mixture. For takeout, you can enjoy freshly fried doughnuts.

In addition to plain doughnuts, there are four types of doughnuts: custard, chocolate, green tea, and red beans. The homemade gelato is also highly recommended.

Lastly, we would like to introduce “Keio Takao-san Onsen Kyokurakuyu”, located adjacent to “Takaoyamaguchi Station”. By proceeding through a dedicated passageway from the station, you will be able to find……..

The dynamic building is right in front of you.The open-air rock bath uses natural hot spring water from approximately 1,000 meters underground.

In addition, there is a cypress bath with microbubbles, a sitting bath, and a sauna. You can soak in the bath for a long time and warm yourself to the core. It is the perfect place to end your trip.