Brian and Stuff

A blog about technology and various other things...

Hiking Mt. Takao 高尾山

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The next mountain I decided to try within a reasonable distance to Tokyo was Mt. Takao. Let’s start with a couple of things about Mt. Takao:

  • It’s allegedly the most hiked mountain in Japan.
  • It’s busy as fuck.
  • A lot of people hike this thing.
  • Do you like the idea of a crowded train but out in nature? Mt. Takao is the right place for you.

At least it was a beautiful day out.

The latest batch of people getting off at the station to join the larger group.

In case you’re not into making a one-hour train ride out there and back, they have 5-star accommodations right next to the mountain.

A super helpful map.

Monkeys!! I hope this is the place where Jojo retired.

At this point in the hike, if there’s not anything awesome at the top of these stairs, I’m burning the whole place down…

Around the temple was the busiest area of the hike. I’d suggest to get there earlier than 10 AM to avoid this mess.

And here’s the payoff of the hike, being able to see Mt. Fuji on a clear day.

I started the tracker a bit late, so I didn’t track the whole hike.

Hiking Mt. Mitake 御岳山

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As I’m finally getting over my jet lag related to my recent move to Japan, I’m starting to wake up at a normal time. Today was a beautiful spring day, so I decided to head out to hike Mt. Mitake. I had heard about this mountain from others. Couple of things first:

Do I need any special equipment to hike Mt. Mitake?

Nope, I just wore some athletic shoes. I saw a lot of people wearing some serious hiking gear (camelbak, mountain-climbing shoes, etc.), but I didn’t see the need.

Can I buy water at the mountain?

There’s a 7-11 prior to getting on the bus to the cable car and stores at the top, so yep.

Anything you wish you knew before you hiked it?

I skipped the cable car going up to make it more “challenging”. Yeah, about that…

Heading out of Ebisu…

It’s a beautiful day out, time to get out of the city…

Plenty of time to grab coffee before getting over to Shinjuku to take the express train. The dude at the station looks like he’s ready to conquer that mountain and anything else in his way, so I’m assuming he’s heading out there…

 

Not a popular train in the morning

… but a bunch of people got on along the hour-plus train ride:

I’d really recommend taking the bus. There’s not a lot to see on the way and you’ll cut a decent amount of time off the trip.

A map of the trails? I don’t know

An ancient Torii inscribed with the ancient phrase “Are you sure you don’t want to take the cable car???”

Then get ready to see this for the next 30-40 excruciating minutes of climbing

A sign to remind you how you didn’t have to go through the BS of hiking this mountain

These hiking courses are available for the people that probably took the cable car (60, 90, and 120 minute hikes)

And as one last FU to me, this high-grade climb

And I finally made it to the shrine.

At this point, why not just walk down? The worst that’ll happen is I roll to the bottom.

And I made it.

Here’s a breakdown of the hike and the elevation change.

 

What better way to celebrate you pushing yourself and making a long, difficult hike?? A whole bunch of Taco Bell, of course.