Mt. Mitake 御岳山 (929m, 3047ft) is really popular sightseeing and hiking place for a day in Tokyo. I have been there a few times. It is called Mitakesan in Japanese.
Hiking to Mt. Mitake is easy if you use bus and cable car from the bottom of the mountain.
There is a large and beautiful shrine Musashi Mitake-jinja Shrine 武蔵御嶽神社 on Mt. Mitake 御岳山.
Let's have a break at scenic place!
You can enjoy one day hike in the moss forest.
Access
Train (Mitake 御嶽 Station) → Bus → Cable car → Walking to Mt. Mitake 御岳山
JR Ome 青梅 Line Mitake 御嶽 Station is situated in the mountain forest district.
There are many stations that have the same or similar names all over Japan. When we use the train schedules on a timetable, website, or smartphone application, those types of stations are confusing to find.
There are the information center and bathrooms outside of Mitake 御嶽 Station. In the information center, you can take a free map and other informative brochures about this area . Some maps are in English and the maps might be really useful to you. (Look around both the first and second floors.)
Station building
There is a river in front of the station.
Taking a walk along the river sides is also good.
There is the bus stop in front of the station.
Get on the bus from the rear door. It takes about 10 minutes to the cable car.
Bus fare: 290 yen (one way)
Time table is below.
Get off at ケーブル下 Cable-shita Bus Stop. Don't worry. It is the last bus stop.
Walk up to the cable car station for about 5 minutes.
Do you want to walk to the shrine without taking the cable car?
I don't recommend it because the road between the cable car stations is boring. The road pass thorough in boring forest.
Takimoto 滝本 Station of the cable car
Buy the ticket at the ticket vending machine.
One way: 600 yen
Round trip: 1130 yen
Take the free map.
There is a souvenir shop.
Wasabi (Japanese horseradish)
Grated wasabi root is good spice for sushi, sashimi and so on.
Wasabi cubic rice crackers
My favorite wasabi cracker is below. (It isn't sold at this store.)
Mitakesan 御岳山 Station of the cable car
There are bathrooms.
Char-grilled rice dumplings 300 yen (It is served with sauce.)
だんご Dango
Char-grilled river fish 500 yen
川魚の塩焼き Kawauo-no-shioyaki
It's my favorite food!
Mitakesan Station of the cable car ⇒ Mt. Mitake
Mitakedaira 御岳平 is observatory located next to Mitakesan Station.
April 2017 (Spring) ↑
The season of cherry blossoms
September 2017 (Fall) ↑
There is another observatory near Mitakesan Station. You can take the lift to the top.
Let's go to Musashi Mitake-jinja Shrine 武蔵御嶽神社!
It is a good idea to stop by Mt. Mitake Visitor Center 御岳ビジターセンター.
You can get the free English map. There are bathrooms.
Mt. Mitake Visitor Center 御岳ビジターセンター
April 2017 (Spring) ↑
The house next to the tree is a restaurant Komadori Baiten 駒鳥売店.
September 2017 (Fall)
Ancient Japanese Elm Tree
神代欅 Jindai-keyaki
It is one of the natural monuments in Japan.
Shopping Street 商店街 Shoutengai
Nice view from inside the restaurant Komadori Baiten 駒鳥売店. (No Smoking)
Soba topped with grated Yamaimo (yam) 930 yen
I had Tororo Soba とろろそば at Komadori Baiten 駒鳥売店 on the shopping street.
A restaurant Senbonya 千本屋
There is a picture menu board in front of the restaurant.
Tasty green tea and pickles (Free of charge)
Deep-fried pork cutlet on rice bowl 1100 yen
カツ丼 katsudon
About the two restaurants:
No service fee / No cover charge
No admission
The shrine is upstairs.
If you will pass the shrine and directly go into the forest (Nagaodaira 長尾平, Rock Garden ロックガーデン), walk to the left.
Treasure Hall
宝物殿 Houmotsuden
If you want to see inside the hall, the admission is 500 yen.
Open: Saturday, Sunday and National holiday
Musashi Mitake-jinja Shrine 武蔵御嶽神社
This place is the top of Mt. Mitake 御岳山 (929m, 3047ft).
Website (in Japanese)
Nagaodaira, Nanayo Falls, Rock Garden
This recommended round trip route takes two hours and a half (2:30) from Mitakesan Station of the cable car.
At this fork, check your map and choose a path among the three.
Nagaodaira 長尾平
Nagaodaira 長尾平
Tokyo in the distance as seen from the observatory, the day was clear enough to see the downtown core.
Nanayo Falls 七代の滝 ⇒ Rock Garden ロックガーデン
From the fork, you walk down the steep trail for a while.
Nanayo Falls
七代の滝 Nanayo-no-taki
* Actually it is small falls but it has relaxing atmosphere.
You walk up steep stairs after visit the falls.
If you are tired of walking you can go back to Mitakesan Station of the cable car from this fork.
There are two statues on Tenguiwa Boulder 天狗岩 beside this fork.
Tenguiwa Boulder (Tengu-iwa Rock)
天狗岩 Tenguiwa
These are small.
Let's head to main trail! (Rock Garden)
Rock Garden ロックガーデン
Rock Garden ロックガーデン
Rock Garden ロックガーデン
Rock Garden ロックガーデン
Rock Garden ロックガーデン
Rock Garden ロックガーデン
Mitake-sawa Rest Area
御岳沢休憩所 Mitake-sawa Kyuukeijo
Ayahiro Falls
綾広の滝 Ayahiro-no-taki
It is small falls.
Let's go back to the station via another trail.
Tengu Perching Tree
天狗の腰掛け杉 Tengu-no-koshikake-sugi
On the way to the station, you can stop by this tall Japanese cedar.
Information
Musashi Mitake-jinja Shrine 武蔵御嶽神社
Website (in Japanese)
Mitake Tozan Railway (in English)
Mitake Tozan Railway (in Japanese)
Mt. Mitake Maps (in Japanese)
Photos were taken in 2017. The fares are as of November 2019.
Another hiking place in Kanagawa 神奈川 Prefecture located next to Tokyo.
Do you want to go trekking in the best moss forest?
