高尾山 – Mount Takao

Since I had the day free, I decided to take a day trip out to Takaosan (Mt. Takao).   Known for being protected by tengu, Mount Takao is still considered a sacred mountain and has been a center of mountain worship for over a thousand years.   As is not uncommon with many religious establishments in Japan, there are mixed elements of both Shintoism and Buddhism here, but the temple Yakuoin near its mountain top is most noted for worship (for more information from Wikipedia, click HERE)

Because it’s still located within Tokyo, Mount Takao is also the closest natural recreation area to central Tokyo, so many people come for hiking.  Consequently, it can get very crowded on the weekends, though when I went it was surprisingly quiet.

I woke up at 9 and caught the 10:02 train from Gotanda to Shinjuku.  From there I grabbed a Keio line Semi-Special Express to Takaosanguchi Station… And I got a seat!  Yes!  Lately I’ve been caught in rush-hour-canned-sardine trains, so my back and knees have not been happy…

Before I post the pictures I took of this trip, I’d like to add that more than halfway there I realized I forgot my camera.  Or worse… lost it because I was almost positive I put it in my backpack.  I was almost about to turn right around, but it took me over an hour to get here.

I decided to take a lift car up part of the mountain, to get a good feel for the place.  Which was an unsettling ride that I’m not so sure I want to take again.

It’s really nice and cool up here.  It was really quiet and uncrowded for a Saturday.  I can hear the cicadas ^_^.  The trees were quite a sight, and the view from near the top was spectacular.  I’m amazed such a place exists so close to the bustling city of Tokyo.

There was a tree named Takosugi which (who?) was more than 450 years old!

The main temple on Mt. Takao is called Yakuoin, and it’s known for being protected by tengu.

As is customary for every temple here… there were a lot of stairs -_-.

It was pretty shaded by trees up here, but I’m still glad I remembered to wear sunblock.  Being up here is kind of making me feel lonely though… Since the only ones who’ve come here alone aside from me are old men.  Speaking of which, I apparently took the “male” route up the mountain… The one with the stairs.  The “female” route is a sloping path… Which I took back down.

 Stopped at a restaurant on the way and had tempura zarusoba.  In summer the thing to eat is soba here.

Rode the cable car back down… Much less scary than the lift >_>.  Felt safer too.  I asked about the camera at the station… Will ask at Gotanda Station as well and Shinjuku too if necessary.  It would kind of suck (but also be nice at the same time) if it happens that I left it at home, because asking around and trying to describe my camera to all these stations is not easy.

After retracing my steps back to my apartment, there was my camera, right in the genkan entrance, as if indignant about being left behind.  It must have fallen out of my backpack as I left the room.  Still, I’m relieved I didn’t lose it!

Vital Information:

• Mount Takao Website (English)

• Not English Friendly, but there are volunteer English guides available on certain dates (reservation is required, link to website is HERE)

• Less than an hour on the Keio Line from Shinjuku, from there cable car/lift takes you halfway up the mountain.