This Picturesque Mountain Is A Day Trip From Tokyo With Gorgeous Hiking & Natural Scenery

The island nation of Japan is known for having one of the busiest metropolitan centers in the entire world: Tokyo. While the city is a wonder in and of itself, it is easy to forget that there are so many other unmissable tourist destinations to see in Japan. Indeed, the countryside just outside of Tokyo is filled with bucolic villages, fields, and mountains, the most famous and filmed of which is the iconic Mount Fuji. However, there is another picturesque mountain that is just a day trip from Tokyo that offers gorgeous hiking and natural scenery: Mount Mitake.

Called Mitakesan by the locals, this mountain is located in the heart of Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park. Spanning more than 1,250 square kilometers, the park is an excellent place to visit for anyone looking to escape the buzz of Tokyo and take in the tranquil natural landscapes of the Okutama region. Mitakesan itself is practically unspoiled, with numerous hiking trails leading to waterfalls, valley views, and deep green forests.

On a scale of hiking difficulty, Mitakesan ranks among the easiest mountains to climb in Japan. This makes it an excellent option for beginner or amateur hikers who still want to appreciate the beauty of the Japanese countryside without being as challenged as they would be somewhere like the breathtaking Yakushima National Park in Kyushu. Mitakesan offers just as much, if not more, reward in terms of culture and scenery.

Japan has one of the world's leading railway systems. As such, anyone visiting Tokyo who wants to make the trip out to Mount Mitake needs to take advantage of its efficiency. It is by far the best and easiest way to access the mountain. From Tokyo Station, catch the orange JR Chuo Line to Ome Station. The earlier in the morning you chose to depart, the more likely you are to catch the trains that go all the way to Ome Station. Otherwise you will have to transfer to another train at Tachikawa. This portion of the ride should take about 75 minutes.

Once you've arrived at Ome Station, transfer to the JR Ome Line and head straight into Mitake Station, which is 20 minutes away. From here, you have two choices to access Mount Mitake. You can either walk 40 minutes or catch one of the local buses to connect with the lower station (Takimoto Station) of the cablecar operated by the Mitake Tozan Railway. 

The cable car will take you to the upper station (Mitakesan Station), and then it is a 30-minute walk to the summit. On the way, you'll pass a visitor center where you can purchase a detailed trail map of the area. And while you've technically summited Mitakesan, your journey on this beautiful mountain has only just begun.

Mount Mitake is a sacred mountain that holds great spiritual significance. One of the highlights of a trip to Mitakesan is to stop at the beautifully constructed Musashi Mitake Shrine, located on the mountain's summit. Visitors can enjoy walking around the grounds and observing locals coming to the shrine to worship. Hikers should take off their shoes when entering one of the shrine's many temples. Failure to do so is a big mistake all too many tourists make when visiting Japan.

After the temple, follow the signs that lead to the Mitake Rock Garden. The trail leads off past some beautiful small waterfalls, picturesque streams, and comes with views of the valley below. The going can get steep at times, but it's only moderately difficult, and no advanced mountaineering skills are required. The 1.5 kilometer Rock Garden trail takes about an hour to complete from the shrine. Hikers looking for more can continue to venture to nearby peaks like Mount Odake. Just be sure to keep an eye on the clock so you can catch your connecting trains back to Tokyo.

While Mitakesan is available to hike year-round, some of the best times of year to visit are spring and autumn. Not only is the weather perfect, but the blooms of spring and the vivid colors of autumn will make for a truly striking experience on this sacred mountain in Japan.