Ōmiharashidai Viewpoint (Mt. Takao) — Attraction in Tokyo

This viewpoint was absolutely gorgeous—10 out of 10, stunning, and totally worth the visit. The hike to reach the observation deck isn’t difficult at all. You can take either the cable car or the chairlift up, and then follow one of the trails—the blue trail or the red trail—to reach the top. I highly recommend doing one trail up and a different one on the way down since each offers its own unique, beautiful views.

The observation deck itself offers sweeping, breathtaking scenery. It’s peaceful, spacious, and lets you really take in the area around you. Along the way and near the top, there are several food vendors. Some take card, while others are cash only, so be ready for both. There are also plenty of vending machines for drinks if you need to hydrate.

That said, I strongly recommend bringing your own water for the hike it makes everything more comfortable, especially in warmer weather.

Whether you're into nature, photography, or just relaxing with a view, this spot...

Mt. Takao was a super fun hike day. It has hiking options for all levels. It's quite touristy (but not in a foreign tourist trap way, it has a lot of local visitors) but that didn't take away from the fun. The food vendors on the way up were the perfect compliment (get some of the dango with soy sauce glaze).

Couple things to note--take the cable lift up to the actual hiking starting points. You can technically walk up to it but that walk is a hike in itself. It's about 1.2 miles of very steep incline. We are both in decent shape and our legs were rubber. Once you get to the starting point you can either take the paved path the rest of the way (very low difficulty with some steps) or you can take one of several other hiking paths of varying difficulty.

The top has a shop with some hot brothy noodles and plenty of vending machines to quench your thirst. The views up at the top are great and includes a great angle to see Fuji San (if he decides to grace you with...

最初の一瞬だけ乗り越えたら楽になるよ！ I recently visited Mt. Takao with a friend, and it was a great experience! We hiked up the mountain, took some time to relax at the top, and then rode the cable car back down.

The hike was refreshing and perfect for clearing the mind you don’t have to overthink, just enjoy the moment. My calves felt a bit tense afterward, but it was totally worth it. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a peaceful getaway.

Once you push through the tough parts, the rest is much easier.

At the top of Mt. Takao, it’s a bit of a gamble whether you’ll get to see Mt. Fuji or not—but that’s part of the journey during the hike! The anticipation makes it even more exciting, and the experience is rewarding no...