Trail running near Tokyo at Mount Takao for trail lovers

Review of trail running near Tokyo at Mount Takao. Take the Takao Line train from Shinjuku Station, just 50 minutes for 430 yen, and you’ll arrive at Mount Takao, which offers 7 trail routes to choose from based on difficulty levels.

I intended to try the Inari Trail, the hardest route through dense forest and steep climbs, but it was temporarily closed due to unsafe conditions. So, I switched to Trail No. 6, the second hardest, which is quite popular. Most people come in groups or as photographers capturing the lush nature on both sides of the trail. The path passes some water channels and leads up to the highest point at 600 meters elevation. At the top, there’s a viewpoint where you can see Mount Fuji, but the weather today didn’t allow for a clear view.

On the way back, I chose Trail No. 4, which crosses the famous Miyama Valley bridge, then connected to Trail No. 1, a paved route frequented by many tourists. I found it not very challenging, running and walking along. At one point, there was a path not shown on the map but with signs indicating it leads to another train station. It was a rough trail, so I took a chance since I was already there and wanted to cover about 10 kilometers.

It turned out no one else was on this path. The forest was a bit overgrown, and it seemed rarely used, but there were red ribbons marking the route at intervals like in trail running events. So, I kept going and eventually reached a main road, completing a total distance of 10 kilometers with nearly 500 meters of elevation gain. I was very happy!

In summary, for trail runners visiting Tokyo who want to try running in Japanese forests, this is a great option. You can run for half a morning and spend the afternoon shopping comfortably. The cool weather makes running pleasant, the nature is incredibly pristine, and it’s more fun to come with friends. Running alone in a remote forest might feel a bit eerie, like it did for me. #mounttakao #Takaoline #trailrun

Post by Bang Meen | Apr 15, 2025