This was really fun! Would come back.

I booked a ticket on Klook that included tickets for the train, monkey park and garden. I was very confused as to how to get to Mt Takao but luckily one of the staff from an information counter explained it to me. Basically you have to take the Keio line (red line) but there are trains at certain timings that go all the way to the entrance of Mt Takao. If you decide not to take the trains at those timings, you have to change trains at least once. It would be good to ask the station staff if you are unsure of which timing to take the train at. From Shinjuku to the last stop where I got off at, it took around 50mins.

There are quite a number of shops and eateries at the base of the mountain. Get some money ready because some of these eateries look really good (a pity I didn't have enough time to explore them!). Make your way up and you'll soon see a stop that includes a toilet and entrances to the cable car and chair lift.

I was pleasantly surprised because there was no queue for the chair lift. I went up a few flights of stairs and managed to take a chair lift almost immediately. Let me also say that if you have severe acrophobia, it would be best not to take the chair lift. At a certain point in time, your legs are dangling while there's only a net and little vegetation below. Also, going up on the chairlift is not the main issue. It's going down - I saw multiple people put their hands over their faces while going down because it can get really steep and scary. There'll also be a photographer who will help to take photos and they'll print your photo out for you when you reach the middle of the mountain, which is where you alight from the chair lift.

Along the route to the top of the mountain, there will be many things to see and do. I spotted quite a number of shops selling dango and one stick is actually quite big - if your appetite is smaller, you can share it with your family or friends. Mt Takao also has a monkey park and garden which I thought was really nice. You can even feed the monkeys for a small fee! Near the top of the mountain, there'll be a temple. They sell amulets as well, which I got because I love amulets. I also spotted a shop that sold nuts and other types of food.

When I reached the top of the mountain (finally!), it was as if I had trudged into a sea...a sea of people. It was so, so crowded. I decided to pop into a restaurant (yes, there's a restaurant at the top of the mountain) and the food was not bad.

One necessity that is sometimes forgotten is insect repellent. Really, this is a must bring. I never expected so many insects on this mountain. It was quite hot as well - I took off my jacket because I was perspiring.