Mt. Takao is said to have been opened in 744 by Gyoki, a high priest of the Nara period, and prospered as a place for Shingon Buddhism and Shugendo.
The whole area including the summit is designated as “Meiji no Mori / Takao Quasi-National Park”, which protects the nature and buildings in the mountain.
Since 2007, it has been continuously rated as the “3-star” mountain by the Michelin Green Guide.
Mt. Takao is a rare mountain in terms of botany because it has a temperate forest such as beech (deciduous broad-leaved forest) and a warm forest such as oak (evergreen broad-leaved forest).
This is equivalent to the number of plant species native to the whole of England, and from this rich vegetation, Mt. Takao is also called the “plant treasure mountain”.
It is said that this kind of nature has been preserved while being about an hour away from the center of Tokyo, and that is why it was rated 3-star by Michelin.
There are many well-managed mountain trails and cable car / lift, and Mt. Takao is a mountain that even beginners can enjoy walking comfortably.
In recent years, with the 3-star Michelin reputation, Mt. Takao has beenthe most popular hiking area near Tokyo.

History

Rules and manners for climbing Mt. Takao

In order to leave the wonderful nature of Mt. Takao to future generations, in November 2007, the “Takao Area Liaison Committee” was formed mainly by local companies and organizations, and “Mt. Takao Usage Rules” were established. In order to enjoy Mt. Takao, please respect and observe the following rules.

1. Be well prepared for the climbing.
   On Mt. Takao, mountain trails sometimes freeze until early spring, and the sun falls early in winter. For life and physical safety, you should consult with a mountaineering experience, check the destination and route information, and avoid unreasonable behavior.
2. No littering. Pick up and carry out your own garbages.
   Mt. Takao is the birthplace of the “Carry out your own garbages”. The littering of garbage has a negative impact on the natural environment, landscape and wildlife. Take all your trash home without throwing it away. Also, make sure that you don’t bring anything that will become trash.
3. Do not deviate from trails.
   If you walk off the Trail, you may get lost or damage the vegetation. Also, since there is a risk of falling, let’s walk without deviating from the trail.
4. Do not capture or harrass wildlife.
   Diverse wildlife is an important member of nature. Please refrain from collecting animals and plants in order to preserve the ecosystem.
5. Put out fire completely after use.
   Let’s stop causing fires such as throwing out cigarettes.
6. Please help keep public facilities such as restrooms clean.
   Let’s make sure that everyone who visits Mt. Takao can use it comfortably.
7. Keep pets on leads.
   When walking with pets, clean up feces and body hair, connect them with leads, put them in cages, and walk so as not to inconvenience others due to body odors or calls.
8. No vehicles including mountain bikes.
   In order not to give pedestrians a sense of crisis and to prevent damage to the mountain trails and vegetation, do not use mountain bikes or other vehicles on the mountain trails.
9. Do not feed animals.
   Feeding wildlife can have a negative impact, so stop it.