Here we write articles that cover various aspects, such as climbing stories, gourmet tales, and many other informational nuggets about Mt. Takao, and practical places such as parking lots and toilets!
Enjoy a diversity of writing styles as our staff collaborates to keep you updated!
Mt. Takao has the largest number of hikers/visitors annually in the world. The season for Fall leaves is particularly crowded. Typically, around 11/23 is the best time to see the autumn leaves, and it is the most crowded time. The photos in this article were taken from November 23 to 25 in 2018. It was…
Ura-Takao is famous for its plum blossoms, and the “Takao Baigo Plum Festival” held at the beginning of March each year. The pink and white plum blossoms are a breathtaking sight. Kogesawa Plum Grove is near the “Oshita” bus stop. From Takao Station, take a bus bound for “Kobotoke”. From there, there is a tunnel…
Many people who go to Yakuo-in to celebrate “Hatsumode” (The first shrine/temple visit of the new year). If you’re already planning on coming why pick up a Goma (buddhist talisman) while you’re at it! Though pricey, you can order a Goma starting from 3,000 yen (prices vary depending on the size of your donation to…
Mt. Takao has many mountain trails such as the 6 Natural Research Trails and Inariyama trail. You can find these trails on any map of Mt. Takao, but there are other trails on Mt. Takao that only hikers familiar with the area pass through. One such trail is called “Fuji-do”, which leads from the side…
There is a very large and nice restroom just below the summit of Mt. Takao. It is a two-story restroom, not at all like the mountain outhouses one might expect on a hike. As soon as this restroom was completed in 2012, I knew I had to write a post about it! This photo is…
Takaosan Yakuo-in Temple holds the Fire Festival on the second Sunday of March every year. This is a public event surrounding Mt. Takao’s traditional Fire Walking Ritual. It is a big event with a tall, brightly burning bonfire. The venue is a parking lot that is converted each year for the event. I arrived at…
Each year on Feb. 3rd we celebrate the festival of Setsubun. In Takao the Setsubun ceremony is held in Yakuo-in Temple. Every year, sumo wrestlers, popular singers and other cultural icons are invited to Setsubun to share in the joy of the festival. One part of the festivities involves throwing dried soy beans seven times…
“Diamond Fuji” is a special event when the sun sets right above Mt. Fuji. The end results looks very much like a shining diamond. We can observe Diamond Fuji from the summit of Mt.Takao around the winter solstice in December. I went to the top of the mountain on December 20th because I wanted to…
