Mt. Takao Recreation Forest：Forestry Agency

Mt.Fuji-view from Mt. Takao
Specimen forest of Japanese Ceder
Suspension Bridge of Trail 4
Takao-san Yakuo-in Temple
Dagoba
View of central Tokyo from Mt. Takao
Entrance of Mt. Takao
Yakuo-in Temple
Yakuo-in Temple

Mt. Takao Recreation Forest

447.58ha

Elevation Average : 200―600m

The world's most-climbed mountain! With its diverse wildlife and long history and culture,
this is the capital's biggest outdoor museum.

The world's most-climbed mountain! With its diverse wildlife and long history and culture, this is the capital's biggest outdoor museum.

Newest information
Area
Activities
Overview
Latest Information
Usage Guide
Facility
Map
Address
Access
(Distances and times are
provided as a guide only)
Management office
contact details
Information on Other Local
Tourist Attractions
Official Tourist Information
Recreation Forest
Management Committee
Supporters
Other

Newest information: CHECK
Please visit official tourism websites for the latest updates and information.

Area: Kanto

Activities: Flower-viewing Autumn leaf viewing Waterfall viewing Birdwatching Picnics (lawn area/park) Mountain climbing Areas for paddling/fishing (pond/lake/river) Guided tours Note 1 (English-language explanation)(charge applies) (reservation required) Monkey park(charge applies) Day-trip bathing facilities(Outside the forest)(charge applies)

Overview

Geographical/topographical features: Mount Takao is one of the mountains located at the southeastern end of the Chichibu Mountains, which are part of the Kanto Mountain Range extending from the Kanto region to the Chubu region. It has an elevation of 599 m and is located about 40 km to the west of Shinjuku in the heart of Tokyo.
Historical/cultural features: While not part of Mt. Takao Recreation Forest itself, Takao-san Yakuo-in Temple is located virtually in the center of the Recreation Forest. This is the special head temple of the Chisan branch of New Shingon Buddhism and was built in 744 C.E. by the Bodhisattva Gyoki. Its location on a sacred mountain has attracted many worshippers over the centuries and the area is also home to an avenue of very old sugi, Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) and a training ground for waterfall-based ascetic practices. Along with the temple, these have been designated as cultural properties by Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
During the Sengoku period, Mount Takao was ruled by the Hojo clan, but it then passed into the hands of the Tokugawa clan after the Hojo were defeated by the Toyotomi clan. Nevertheless, the forest continued to be protected, with the ban on felling trees that had been imposed under Hojo rule maintained and even more proactive tree-planting taking place.
Climate, flora and fauna: The boundaries of warm temperate laurel forests (evergreen broad-leaved trees such as kashi, evergreen oak (Quercus)), cool temperate deciduous broad-leaved forests (including buna, Japanese beech (Fagus crenata Blume); inubuna, Japanese blue beech (Fagus japonica Maxim); konara (Quercus serrata); and honoki, Japanese bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia obovata)), and middle temperate forests (including coniferous forests of momi, fir (Abies firma) and tsuga, Japanese hemlock (Tsuga sieboldii)) meet in this area, so it has a rich array of plant species. Around the hiking trail that leads from the Omiharashi-Enchi lookout at the summit to Mount Kobotoke-Shiroyama is a manmade forest of sugi, Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) and hinoki, Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa), providing a contrast to the scenery of the natural forest near the summit.
A wide range of plant and animal life lives in the abundantly diverse forests of Mount Takao: there are at least 1,600 varieties of plant, including the Takao sumire (Viola yezoensis f. discolor) and Takao higotai (Saussurea sinuatoides), which were both first discovered on Mount Takao; at least 25 species of mammal, including musasabi, Japanese giant flying squirrel (Petaurista leucogenys) and tanuki, raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides); at least 70 species of bird, including oruri, blue-and-white flycatcher (Cyanoptila cyanomelana) and ruribitaki, red-flanked bluetail (Tarsiger cyanurus); and between 4,000 and 5,000 species of insect.
Attractions: In addition to its convenient location just an hour from the heart of Tokyo, part of the appeal of Mount Takao lies in the fact that even those with less physical strength can use the cable car or chairlift to reach the observation platform, which offers views of Shinjuku's skyscraper district. In addition, the summit is only about an hour's walk from there. Restaurants and shops can be found in the Recreation Forest, while the nature study trails and other well-maintained mountain trails provide the chance to view a variety of plants and wild birds. All in all, there are endless ways to enjoy the forest, whatever the season or weather, and whatever your physical condition or mood on the day of your visit.
Climbed by approximately 2.6 million people every year, it is the world's most-climbed mountain.
While Mount Takao can be climbed with relative ease, a minimum level of equipment is required. Please ensure that you wear sports shoes or hiking boots when you visit, as climbing in fashion shoes, such as sandals or pumps, is dangerous.
Other: The Takaosanguchi Station building was designed by Kengo Kuma and built from local materials.

Latest Information

Warnings: ・Some of the mushrooms that grow in the forest are dangerous, so do not taste any at your own judgment, under any circumstances.
・Some footpaths can be treacherous underfoot in places, so please take care while walking.

Usage Guide

Entrance fee: None
Opening seasons and hours: There are no specific opening hours for the Recreation Forest itself. However, caution is required if going into the mountains after sunset, because there is no lighting at night.
Takao Visitor Center (Tokyo Metropolitan Government facility):
Opening hours: 10: 00-16: 00 Closed: Mondays (the following day if this falls on a national holiday) and the New Year's holiday period
Accommodation options: There are few accommodation facilities in Takao, so visitors are advised to use facilities in central Hachioji or stay at a hotel in downtown Tokyo, as the Recreation Forest can be reached in under an hour from the heart of the capital.

Facility: Toilets and drinking fountains Toilet (accessible) Walking trail Parking lot (Outside the forest)(charge applies) Observation platform Visitor center (staffed only) Vending machine Shop Restaurant Campsite (free) Free public wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) Specimen forest/Botanic garden/Museum (No foreign languages spoken) Accommodation facilities (Hotels / Japanese inns)(Outside the forest)

Map: pdf

Address: Takao-cho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo

Access (Distances and times are provided as a guide only)

By public transport

・The Recreation Forest entrance is 5 minutes on foot from Takaosanguchi Station
From the Recreation Forest entrance to the summit
・Cable car (Kiyotaki Station to Takaosan Station (6 minutes)), then 60 minutes on foot
・Chair lift (Sanroku Station to Sanjo Station (12 minutes)), then 65 minutes on foot

・Shinjuku Station (Keio Line: 50 minutes) → Takaosanguchi Station
・Tokyo Station (JR Chuo Line: 60 minutes) → change at Takao Station (Keio Line: 5 minutes) → Takaosanguchi Station

By car

・Ken-O Expressway Takaosan IC → Route 20 (toward Shinjuku) → Recreation Forest (1.5 km)
・Chuo Expressway Hachioji IC No. 2 Exit → Route 16 → Route 20 → Recreation Forest (9 km)
* There are few parking lots and frequent traffic jams in this area. We recommend that visitors use public transport.

Paid parking lots are available along Route 20, but they do not have room for many vehicles.

Nearby tourist facilities

・TAKAO 599 MUSEUM is 5 minutes on foot from the Recreation Forest entrance.

Google Map

Management office contact details: Tokyo/Kanagawa District Forest Office
Takao Forest Visitors Communication Center
TEL：0463-32-2867
https://www.rinya.maff.go.jp/kanto/tokyo_kanagawa/index.html

Information on Other Local Tourist Attractions: TAKAO 599 MUSEUM [External link]

http://www.takao599museum.jp/

Official Tourist Information: Hachioji Visitors & Convention Association [External link]

http://www.hkc.or.jp/

Takao Tozan Railway [External link]

http://www.takaotozan.co.jp/

Recreation Forest Management Committee: Kanto Regional Forest Office
Tokyo/Kanagawa District Forest Office
Tel: 0463-32-2867
Fax: 0463-32-2868
Takao Forest Visitors Communication Center
Tel (IP): 050-3160-6040
Fax: 042-663-7229

Supporters: ー

Other: ー

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