Takaosan, the Mountain of the Tengu
The most accessible mountain from Tokyo, 50 minutes from Shinjuku: Yakuoin temple, a stronghold of Shugendo, and on a clear day a view that reaches Mount Fuji.
The points that matter.
The view of Mount Fuji from the summit, on a clear day
Yakuoin temple and its tengu statues
The fire-walking ceremony, mid-March
A genuine natural breather within an urban stay
Le programme
Takaosan, the Mountain of the Tengu
Mount Takao rises to 599 metres and can be climbed on foot, by funicular or by chairlift depending on your preference. Yakuoin temple, founded in the 8th century, is lined with statues of tengu, the winged guardian creatures of the mountain. From the summit, the view stretches over the Tokyo megacity and, in December, over the diamond Fuji, a sunset aligned exactly with the peak of Mount Fuji. A mountain inn serves local specialities, tororo soba and dango.