Mt Mitake: One of My Favourite Mountain Escapes From Tokyo
- Alex
- Aug 17, 2025
- 4 min read
Some people move to Tokyo and spend their weekends in Shibuya.
I moved to Tokyo and keep catching the Chuo Line close to the very end of the track so I can run up a mountain and jump into a freezing cold river.
That mountain is Mt Mitake.
Now it’s not huge like Mount Fuji. Or some epic alpine expedition.
But because it’s physical, peaceful, and finishes with one of THE BEST cold water dips near Tokyo, I think it's a pretty perfect way to spend the weekend!
Getting From Tokyo to Mt Mitake
One of the best things about Mt Mitake is how easy it is to reach from my place in Koenji.
From central Tokyo, and Koenji, you head west on the JR Chuo Line, usually transferring onto the JR Ome Line, which winds through the hills toward Mitake Station.
From Shinjuku the whole trip usually takes somewhere around 90 minutes, depending on connections.
You’ll notice the change almost immediately. The city slowly fades away, the buildings shrink, and suddenly the train is running beside rivers and forest instead of the big concrete jungle of the city.
When you arrive at Mitake Station, the mountains are right there.
Most people then catch a short bus ride up to Takimoto Station, which is the base of the Mitake Cable Car.
Hiking Up Mt Mitake
From the Takimoto Cable Car Station you have two options.
Most people jump on the cable car and ride steeply up to Mitakesan Station, which drops you off near a small mountain village near the top.
I’ve ridden the cable car once just to try it out, and it’s honestly pretty fun. The climb is incredibly steep and the views over the valley are great.
But most of the time I prefer hiking or running up!
From the bottom, the trail climbs through thick forest on a surprisingly steep path. It’s a proper workout, especially in summer when the humidity makes the air feel heavy.
The forest is beautiful though. Tall trees, quiet trails, and that cool mountain air slowly replacing the heat from the valley below.
After about an hour or so of steady hiking, the trail finally reaches the village near the top of the mountain.
The Village and Musashi Mitake Shrine
Unlike many hikes near Tokyo, Mt Mitake actually has a small village near the summit.
Stone paths wind between traditional buildings, small cafés, food stalls, and historic lodges known as shukubo.
You’ll see hikers grabbing bowls of soba, people eating grilled dango, and groups resting before continuing deeper into the mountains.
Above the village sits Musashi Mitake Shrine, one of the most important shrines in the region. A long stone staircase leads up through towering cedar trees, and when you reach the shrine grounds the whole mountain suddenly feels quiet and sacred.
The Trails Beyond Mt Mitake
For many visitors, the shrine is the end of the walk.
For seasoned hikers though, it’s really just the beginning.
Once you pass the shrine area, the mountain connects to a network of trails stretching deep into the Okutama mountains!
One of the most popular routes leads toward Mount Odake, a bigger peak about two hours away along the ridgeline. The trail winds through dense forest before climbing toward rocky viewpoints where the surrounding mountains stretch out in every direction.
On a clear day you can even see Mount Fuji rising in the distance. It’s easily ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VIEWS anywhere near Tokyo.
There are other trails branching off toward places like Nagao-daira viewpoint and deeper ridges throughout Okutama, which means Mt Mitake can turn into a much bigger hiking day if you want it to.
The Rock Garden and Waterfalls
One of the highlights of the area is the Mitake Rock Garden.
Instead of climbing a ridge, the trail follows a cool forest stream through moss-covered rocks and shaded valleys.
Small wooden bridges cross the water, and the air feels noticeably cooler than the trails above.
The path eventually leads to Ayahiro Falls, a peaceful waterfall hidden deep in the forest.
In summer especially, this part of the mountain feels incredible. Cool air, running water, and quiet forest trails.
The River at the Bottom
And then there’s the river.
The best part of this whole hike - potentially better than the view of Mt Fuji from Mt Odake.
Right near Mitake Station runs the Tama River, and in summer it becomes one of the best places to cool off after a hike. After hours climbing through the mountains, coming back down and stepping into that cold water feels amazing.
Why I Keep Coming Back
Mt Mitake isn’t the biggest mountain near Tokyo. But it might be one of the best.
You get forest hiking, shrine culture, mountain food, beautiful ridgelines, and a river waiting at the bottom when the day is done.
Sometimes after a hike I grab food near the station before heading back into Tokyo.
Other times I just sit by the river for a while before catching the train home.
Either way, by the time I’m back home, I’m already thinking about the next trip out here.
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