Best Hiking Routes and Activities

Only 90 minutes from central Tokyo, Mount Ontake in Ome City offers a peaceful day trip to the wild beauty of Chichibu Tama Kokai National Park. At an altitude of 929 meters, Ontake is home to an ancient shrine, moss-covered forest and traditional mountain huts called Ontake. like. Whether you’re looking for a scenic walk or want to experience rural Japan that’s still accessible from the capital, Mount Ontake is a great getaway that’s only a short trip from the capital but feels far away.

Here’s how to spend a day exploring one of Tokyo’s most beautiful yet often overlooked mountain resorts.

Morning: Take the cable car to the Holy Highlands

Start your day aboard the Ontake Tozan Railway, a shorter but steep cable car that takes you from Takimoto Station to Ontakesan Station in about six minutes. From there, it’s a 20-minute gentle uphill walk through a picturesque village with old wooden inns and souvenir shops. Musashi Ontake Shrine ——The spiritual center of the mountain.

Musashi Ontake Shrine was built more than 2,000 years ago and is located on the top of a mountain. It is dedicated to the wolf god “Oinuma” who is said to protect travelers, so it is also a popular spot for tourists to bring their pet dogs to pray for blessings. This shrine is a fusion of history and nature, and on a clear morning the views of Tokyo and the Kanto Plain are stunning. If the weather is good, you can even see the Tokyo Skytree in the distance.

Late morning: Choose your adventure route

From here, you can customize your hike based on time and fitness. Here are the best climbing and hiking routes, all starting from the Ontake Visitor Center. Each offers unique terrain and atmosphere:

Rock Garden Loop Route (2.5 hours round trip)

There’s a reason this is the most popular route. This 1.5-kilometer trail follows a clear mountain stream through lush, moss-covered canyons and dramatic rock formations. Along the way, stop at Nanayo Falls, or take an easier route and avoid the steep stairs to avoid overexertion. It’s family-friendly, with benches, toilets and beautifully landscaped seating areas throughout.

Sunrise Mountain Route (2 hours round trip)

Mount Hinode is 902 meters above sea level and has one of the best panoramic views in the area – you can see everything from the Tokyo Skytree to the Tanzawa Mountains. From the Ontake Visitor Center, you can follow a tree-lined forest path to the summit; this route is famous for its azaleas and rhododendrons, and is especially beautiful in winter when the surrounding mountains are covered with snow. Finally, you can choose to return the same way you came, or go down the mountain to Tsurukuru Hot Spring in Hinode Town, which is the perfect end to your hiking trip.

Otsukayama Course (1 hour round trip)

Looking for something lightweight? The Otsukayama Trail is an easy walk through mixed forest, perfect for picnics or forest bathing. In spring, the path turns into a tunnel of pink rhododendrons, and in autumn, gold and orange leaves cover the path.

Dazhushan route (5 hours round trip)

For experienced hikers, the trail to Dazhu Mountain (1,266m) is a true mountain hike. The route includes rocky outcrops, chain-assisted scrambling and densely forested trails – it’s a demanding route, but on a clear day Mount Fuji can be seen from the summit. This is one of the “Three Famous Peaks of Okutama” and is perfect for those looking for a challenge.

Lunch: Enjoy mountain delicacies to replenish your energy

Return to the village near the shrine for lunch. Many of the small, family-run shukubo inns and restaurants here offer vegetarian dishes, such as Three-course soba noodles — Soba noodles with seasonal mountain vegetables — or Tororo Gohanyam mud rice, local delicacies.

Try Momijiya, known for its terrace views and local specialties like soba and udon noodles with special walnut sauce, mountain vegetable tempura and hearty soups.

Evening: forest bathing and descent

Before returning, take a quiet stroll among the towering cedars lining the path near the shrine. If you visit in late autumn, the entire area will be awash in fiery red and golden foliage, especially noticeable around mid to late November.

As the sun begins to set, ride the cable car down and back to Ontake Station. The journey back to Tokyo is easy, but you’ll feel like you’ve traveled a lot further.

How to get to Mount Ontake from Tokyo

• By train: Take the JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku Station to Ome Station (about 75 minutes). Transfer to the JR Ome Line and ride to Ontake Station (about 20 minutes).
• From Ontake Station: Take a short bus (10 minutes) or taxi to the cable car base station (Takimoto).

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