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Mount Takao in a Day: Cable Car, Summit Hike, Hachioji Ramen and a Tattoo-Friendly Onsen in Tokyo

Top rated
5.0
Activity provider: Irie Tokyo Tours
Mount Takao in a Day: Cable Car, Summit Hike, Hachioji Ramen and a Tattoo-Friendly Onsen
Mount Takao in a Day: Cable Car, Summit Hike, Hachioji Ramen and a Tattoo-Friendly Onsen 2
Mount Takao in a Day: Cable Car, Summit Hike, Hachioji Ramen and a Tattoo-Friendly Onsen 3
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A seven-person day on Tokyo's own mountain — monkey park, 1,300-year-old temple, a real hike, ramen, and a hot spring that welcomes tattoos.

Mount Takao in a Day: Cable Car, Summit Hike, Hachioji Ramen and a Tattoo-Friendly Onsen: Key Facts

PriceFrom $150 per person
Duration8 hours
Group sizeUp to 7 people
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Choose from 1 available option

Full-Day Mount Takao Tour

Eight hours with a guide, museum and monkey park admissions, the cable car or chairlift, the summit hike, ramen lunch an...
8 hours
English
$150
Free cancellation

Full description

Mount Takao is inside Tokyo. The train from Shinjuku takes under an hour and puts you at the foot of a 599-metre mountain covered in old-growth forest, which is why it is the most-climbed mountain on earth by visitor numbers and why most travellers never hear about it.

The day is deliberately varied. It starts at the Takao 599 Museum, where the mountain's flying squirrels, tanuki, insects and fungi are displayed properly rather than as an afterthought. Then the cable car or chairlift up through the canopy — the chairlift is the better choice if you are not afraid of heights, because you sit in the open with the trees going past.

From there it is a moderate hike on a made path to the summit, where Fuji is visible on a clear day, and back down past Yakuo-in, a Buddhist temple founded in 744 and still working, with Shinto shrines threaded through the same grounds. The monkey park on the way holds over ninety Japanese macaques.

Lunch is Hachioji ramen — the local style, cut with raw onion rather than the usual scallion — with soba and vegetarian options available.

The day ends in a natural hot spring at the foot of the mountain, and this is the detail worth booking for: it is tattoo-friendly, which most Japanese onsen are not. Anyone with visible tattoos is routinely turned away elsewhere, so a guided day that ends in a bath you are actually allowed into solves a real problem. Towels are included.

The group caps at seven. Your guide waits at the ticket gates of Takaosanguchi Station holding a yellow tennis ball, which is as findable as it sounds.

Tour Itinerary

Itineraries are customisable as per your request

The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.

Meet at Takaosanguchi Station

Takao 599 Museum and the mountain's wildlife

Cable car or chairlift up through the forest

Monkey park with over ninety macaques

Yakuo-in temple, founded in 744, and its shrines

Hike to the 599-metre summit

Hachioji ramen lunch

Natural hot spring, tattoos welcome

Includes

  • English-speaking guide for the full day
  • Takao 599 Museum admission
  • Monkey park admission
  • Cable car or chairlift up the mountain
  • Hachioji ramen lunch, with soba and vegetarian options
  • Natural hot spring visit
  • Towels for the hot spring

Excludes

  • Transport to and from Takaosanguchi Station
  • Additional food and drinks
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Important information

Meeting point

Takaosanguchi Station ticket gates, 2241 Takaomachi, Hachioji, Tokyo 193-0844 — the guide waits holding a yellow tennis ball.

Weather

This runs outdoors, so the operator can call it off for rain, wind or sea conditions, and that decision is usually made on the day. If they cancel, you choose: another date, or your money back in full. We do not keep a booking fee on a tour that did not run.

Know before you go

  • Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more
Duration 8 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $150
$150
Need a custom booking or have a larger group?Contact Support via WhatsApp
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more

Traveler Reviews

5/5
based on 108 reviews
Guide
5/5
Value for money
4.8/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
P
Phoenix
July 18, 2026

this was an amazing trip!! Jordan was extremely nice and answered my many questions! the onsen was so relaxing, and not too hot at around 40 degrees, and the cold spring at 20. the actual hike was so beautiful, and the temple and shrines were magnificent. I actually got the chance to see the monks walk by as well.

5
R
Robbie
June 3, 2026

Jordan was an amazing guide! He took me on an incredible hike, and showed me so many amazing sights on the mountain. The onsen visit after was the perfect way to end the day. Thank you for such a wonderful experience!

5
R
Radmila
May 19, 2026

Amazing,,Jordan is fantastic,helpful,professional,simply the best.High recommend for everyone.

5
R
Radmila
May 17, 2026

Was amazing,Jordan is excellent guide,very informative,kind,simply the best

5
R
Ria
April 25, 2026

Jordan was incredible from start to finish, was super accommodating and chilled. We had a great day out, would definitely recommend as a city break from Tokyo!

5
J
Jessica
April 19, 2026

Our guide, Jordan, was fantastic! very knowledgeable and easy going. Highly recommend!

5
Z
Zariana
April 16, 2026

Jordan was amazing: very friendly, approachable, fit & very knowledgeable. Jordan made our day on Mt Takao & the Hot spring. We saw Mount Fuji from the top of Mount Takao - which is very exciting. The vegi Ramen we had for lunch was so delicious - truly amazing! Exceed expectations by far. Recommend this 1-day trip wholeheartedly to anyone in Tokyo: so full of different experiences & immersing yourself in the life of the Japanese. Love it 👍👍👍

5
A
Andrea
April 15, 2026

Absolutely amazing value for the amount of activities packed into one experience - a wonderful experience at that! Our guide, Jordan, was an extraordinary host. His calm demeanor made it easy for us to open up and ask questions, which he would reply with memorable stories/insightful answers. This was one of the best experiences we’ve done during our 1st visit to Japan. Aloha and mahalo nui loa, Jordan! - Andi & Nick

Frequently Asked Questions

Takaosanguchi Station ticket gates, 2241 Takaomachi, Hachioji, Tokyo 193-0844 — the guide waits holding a yellow tennis ball.
The price does not cover transport to and from takaosanguchi station, additional food and drinks and hotel pickup and drop-off. Everything it does cover is listed in full on this page, so if something is not on that list, budget for it separately.
Expect uneven ground and some climbing, and mud after rain. Trainers with grip are the minimum and proper shoes are better. The pace follows the group, so tell your guide early if you want it slower rather than at the point you are struggling.
Irie Tokyo Tours. We book with them directly rather than through a reseller, which is why we can confirm your place with the operator before taking it as final.
We confirm your booking with the operator before we treat it as final, and we need at least one day's notice outside India. Once it is confirmed you get the meeting point, the time and a contact number for the day. If the operator cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.
English-speaking guide for the full day, Takao 599 Museum admission, Monkey park admission, Cable car or chairlift up the mountain, Hachioji ramen lunch, with soba and vegetarian options, Natural hot spring visit, Towels for the hot spring
The duration of the Mount Takao in a Day: Cable Car, Summit Hike, Hachioji Ramen and a Tattoo-Friendly Onsen is typically 8 hours. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for a smooth check-in. Your guide will meet you at the designated meeting point and ensure the experience runs on schedule while remaining flexible to your pace.
For most experiences, we highly recommend an early morning start. This allows you to avoid the midday heat, bypass the largest crowds, and capture the best lighting for photography. Your guide can advise on the optimal timing based on the season and specific attractions included.
Yes, once your booking is completed via our secure payment gateway, you will receive an instant confirmation email with your tour details, meeting point address, guide's name, and direct contact information. You can also view and manage your booking through your AsiaByLocals account dashboard.
Yes! All our private tours are fully customizable. Whether you want to add extra stops, skip certain locations, change the pace, or adjust the start time — simply let your guide know in advance or on the day. We aim to create a personalized experience tailored to your interests and energy level.
We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may be subject to a partial charge depending on the tour type. Weather-related cancellations for outdoor and boat tours are handled on a case-by-case basis, with full refunds or free rebooking offered when safety is a concern.
Most of our experiences are family-friendly and suitable for children of all ages. However, some tours involving extensive walking, water activities, or early morning starts may be better suited for children aged 5 and above. Please check the specific tour description for age recommendations, or contact us for personalized family itinerary advice.
After booking, you will receive detailed meeting point instructions via email. Most tours include complimentary hotel pickup within the central area. For tours without pickup, your confirmation email will include the exact address, Google Maps pin, and your guide's phone number for easy coordination. Guides typically arrive 10 minutes early and will message you on WhatsApp.
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, Apple Pay, and Razorpay for Indian cards. All payments are processed through a PCI-compliant secure gateway with 256-bit encryption. You can also pay in multiple currencies — the price is automatically converted to your local currency at checkout.
Yes, all AsiaByLocals guides are licensed professionals who have been rigorously vetted through background checks, skill assessments, and customer reviews. Many hold government-issued tourism licenses, university degrees in history or cultural studies, and have years of experience leading tours for international travelers. Every guide maintains a minimum 4.5-star rating to remain active on our platform.
Late March to early April for cherry blossom, or late October to early December for autumn colour and the clearest skies. Contrary to most advice, October is Tokyo's wettest month (234.8 mm), not the June rainy season. Full month-by-month figures are in our best time to visit Tokyo guide.
Get a Suica or Pasmo IC card and budget ¥1,000–¥1,400 a day. Do not buy a JR Pass for a Tokyo-only trip — it costs ¥50,000 and excludes Tokyo Metro and Toei entirely. Note JR East raised Tokyo fares on 14 March 2026, so Metro is now cheaper than JR on several routes. See getting around Tokyo.
Shibuya Sky releases tickets only 14 days ahead at 00:00 JST — it cannot be booked months in advance. teamLab Borderless tickets drop at 12:00 JST on the 1st of each month. Our 3-day Tokyo itinerary lists every booking deadline.
Yes — a Japanese licence or an International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention. 1968 Vienna Convention permits are not valid in Japan. Licences from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan need an official JAF translation instead. Arrange it before you fly; see the Tokyo go-kart guide.
Yes — the highway bus from Busta Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko takes about 1h 45m for ¥2,200. But manage expectations: Fuji is visible on 84% of December mornings and only 23% of July mornings, and cloud builds through the day, so go early. Details in our Mount Fuji day trip guide.
Edomae sushi (the Tokyo Bay style, where curing began as a workaround for having no refrigeration), monjayaki — a runny griddle dish unique to Tokyo with 80+ specialists on Tsukishima's Monja Street — and soba. Also worth knowing: Tsukiji Outer Market never closed; only the wholesale auction moved to Toyosu. See the Tokyo food guide.
The crossing itself takes about ninety seconds. What makes it worth an evening is one street back — Nonbei Yokocho, a lantern-lit alley of tiny bars a minute away that almost nobody who photographs the scramble walks into. Note street drinking is banned in the area 18:00–05:00 year-round, though the ordinance carries no fine. See the Shibuya Crossing guide.
Yes, some. Japan's cashless ratio reached 58% in 2025, so over 40% of payments are still cash — and card refusal is most likely at small independent izakaya, ramen ticket machines and market stalls. Tipping is not expected anywhere.
Starting from$150