Mount Takao (Takaosan) is a 599 m mountain in Hachioji, on the western edge of Tokyo. From Shinjuku it is a ¥430 ride on the Keio Line to Takaosanguchi Station, and the cable car station is about a 5-minute walk from there. This guide compares the cable car, the chairlift and three walking trails, and covers trains, parking and what changes in winter.
In short
- Shinjuku to Takaosanguchi Station on the Keio Line costs ¥430 (the same by IC card). On Saturdays and public holidays, a reserved-seat train takes as little as 43 minutes.
- The cable car and the chairlift both cost ¥490 one way and ¥980 round trip for adults. The cable car is faster: about 6 minutes, against about 12 minutes by lift.
- Walking to the summit takes about 1 hour 30 minutes on any of the three main trails (No. 1, No. 6 and Inariyama).
- In winter the sun sets early. The last cable car in December leaves at 17:15 on weekdays and 17:30 on weekends and holidays; the last lift is at 16:00.
- From Sunday, November 1, 2026, the cable car and lift accept IC cards (Suica, Pasmo and similar) at the gate.
Checked with official pages on October 11, 2026.
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1. Which way up: cable car, lift or on foot?
Takao Tozan Electric Railway
The cable car and the lift cost the same, so the choice is about time and view; the three trails are free. All of them start near Kiyotaki Station, about 5 minutes on foot from Takaosanguchi Station. You cannot reserve a time for the cable car or the lift.
| Way up | Fare / distance | To the top | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cable car | ¥490 one way (¥980 round trip) | 6 minutes to Takaosan Station | Not possible |
| Chairlift | ¥490 one way (¥980 round trip) | 12 minutes to the top station | Not possible |
| Trail No. 1 | Free, 3.8 km | About 1 hour 30 minutes | Not needed |
| Trail No. 6 | Free, 3.3 km | About 1 hour 30 minutes | Not needed |
| Inariyama Trail | Free, 3.1 km | About 1 hour 30 minutes | Not needed |
Fares are the adult prices on the railway’s cable car and lift page (checked October 11, 2026). Children aged 6 to 11 pay ¥250 one way and ¥500 round trip. The round-trip discount ended after a notice dated September 5, 2025, so a round trip is simply twice the one-way fare, ¥980.
2. How do I get there from Shinjuku?
Keio Corporation
The Keio Line fare from Shinjuku to Takaosanguchi Station is ¥430, and an IC card costs the same. On Saturdays and public holidays, the reserved-seat train “Mt.TAKAO” (Mt.TAKAO号) runs the route in as little as 43 minutes. The seat ticket is sold separately.
The “Takaosan Ticket” (高尾山きっぷ), sold at Keio Line and Inokashira Line stations, bundles a round-trip train ticket to Takaosanguchi Station with a cable car or lift ticket. It is not sold at Takaosanguchi itself, so buy it at the station where you board. This guide does not give its price because the official price list could not be read.
From the first train on Sunday, November 1, 2026, the cable car and lift accept taps from IC cards (per the railway’s notice of September 1). Each person needs their own card, and the auto-charge function of Suica and Pasmo cannot be used for this. Discounts, such as those for people with disabilities, still use paper tickets.
3. What is the difference between the cable car and the lift?
Takao Tozan Electric Railway
The cable car runs from Kiyotaki Station to Takaosan Station in about 6 minutes, with a departure every 15 minutes. Its steepest section is 31 degrees 18 minutes, which the railway describes as the steepest track in Japan. From Takaosan Station, Trail No. 1 leads on foot to the temple Yakuo-in.
The lift is a two-seat chairlift that takes about 12 minutes from the bottom station to the top station. It costs the same as the cable car and gives you more time to look at the scenery. Small animals such as dogs and cats cannot ride the lift, so use the cable car if you have one.
Winter hours: the last cable car in December leaves at 17:15 on weekdays and 17:30 on weekends and holidays, and the same applies in January and February. The first car in January and February is at 8:00. The lift’s last ride is at 16:00 from December to April, 30 minutes earlier than in May to November (16:30 on weekdays). Hours can change around the New Year and on other special days, so check the railway’s notices before you go.
| Name | Mount Takao Cable Car and Lift |
|---|---|
| Address | Takaomachi, Hachioji City, Tokyo (Kiyotaki Station) |
| Hours / Closed | Cable car: last departure in December 17:15 on weekdays, 17:30 on weekends and holidays. Lift: last departure December–April 16:00 |
| Phone | 042-661-4151 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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4. How long do the walking trails take?
Takao Tozan Electric Railway
All three trails to the summit take about 1 hour 30 minutes, according to the railway. The summit is 599 m, and the upper cable car and lift stations are at about 472 m, so using a ride cuts the climb a lot.
- Trail No. 1 is also the approach road to Yakuo-in. It is 3.8 km long and has 5 toilets along the way.
- Trail No. 6 (6号路, the Biwa Falls course) is 3.3 km. There are toilets only at Kiyotaki Station and at the summit.
- Inariyama Trail (稲荷山コース, a ridge course with views) is 3.1 km and has no toilets.
Shorter paths circle the summit area, such as Trail No. 2 (900 m) and Trail No. 5 (900 m). Trails can close temporarily for repairs or weather. Hachioji City asks visitors to check the Takao Visitor Center website before they go.
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5. What should I plan for in winter?
Takao Tozan Electric Railway and Hachioji City
The railway’s hiking guide asks visitors to plan to finish the descent before sunset and to carry a flashlight or headlamp in case it gets dark. The last weekday cable car in December is at 17:15, so if you walk down, leave the summit in the early afternoon.
The guide also advises bringing one more layer than you think you need, wearing non-slip shoes and long trousers (skirts and jeans are not recommended). Hachioji City also asks visitors to prepare for the cold in winter.
Around the winter solstice in December, the railway says you can see “Diamond Fuji” (the sun setting on the summit of Mount Fuji) from Omihari. On clear winter days, Mount Fuji and the Southern Alps can also be visible.
If you want night views of autumn leaves in Tokyo, see Autumn leaves in Tokyo 2026: light-up events and daytime gardens.
6. Where can I park?
Hachioji City
The Hachioji City Takaosan Foot Parking Lot is open 24 hours and holds 80 cars. By day (8:00 to 17:00) it costs ¥200 per 30 minutes, with a daily maximum of ¥800 on weekdays and ¥2,000 on weekends and holidays (for up to 12 hours after entry). In May and November, the weekday maximum is also ¥2,000. At night (17:00 to 8:00) it costs ¥200 per 60 minutes. The maximum applies once; after 12 hours the normal rate returns.
The lot is close to the Takao-san IC on the Ken-O Expressway. The railway also lists the Yakuo-in prayer hall car park (250 spaces, open 8:00 to 16:00) and the car park at Times Keio Takaosan Onsen Gokurakuyu, which is free for 3 hours for Gokurakuyu hot spring users. The prayer hall lot only accepts cars from 8:00 to 16:00, so check the time if you will be back in the evening.
| Name | Hachioji City Takaosan Foot Parking Lot |
|---|---|
| Address | Takaomachi, Hachioji City, Tokyo |
| Hours / Closed | 24 hours |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
Common questions
Can I reserve the cable car?
No. The railway does not take reservations for ride times.
How much is the fare for children?
Children aged 6 to 11 pay ¥250 one way and ¥500 round trip. Children under 6 ride free, but a child ticket may be needed under some conditions.
Can I bring a dog?
Dogs and other small animals cannot ride the lift. Use the cable car.
Next steps
- Pick your way up and your last way down, and work back from the last cable car or lift time.
- Buy a Takaosan Ticket at your boarding station, or bring an IC card if you travel on or after November 1, 2026.
- Check the railway’s notices and the Takao Visitor Center site for closures on the day.
Sources
5 pages we checked
- Takao Tozan Electric Railway: Cable car and lift fares and times (Japanese), checked October 2026
- Takao Tozan Electric Railway: Trails (Japanese); Hiking guide (Japanese), checked October 2026
- Hachioji City: Mount Takao (Japanese), updated November 21, 2024
- Hachioji City: Takaosan Foot Parking Lot (Japanese), updated July 6, 2026
- Keio Corporation: Shinjuku Station, checked October 2026
Fares and hours may change. Checked with official pages on October 11, 2026.
