5 Must-Do Hikes Near Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo is a stunning cultural hub filled with history and arts that should definitely be on everyone’s travel bucket list. If you’re not a fan of the big-city lifestyle and would rather spend some time in the great outdoors, check out these hikes for your next trip to Japan.

Mount Fuji, 1 hour and 11 minutes from Tokyo

Mount Fuji isn’t the closest hiking trail to Tokyo, but it’s definitely worth the Shinkansen ride out of the city to see the stunningly gorgeous national park and volcano in person. Mount Fuji is Japan’s tallest mountain, and though it is a volcano, it hasn’t erupted since 1707. If you aren’t interested in hiking Mount Fuji but still want to see it, simply wave to it from the windows of the bullet train as you travel from Tokyo to Osaka. 

Mount Takao, 52 minutes from Tokyo

Mount Takao is located outside of the city center but still within the city limits of Tokyo, making it a great place to hike if you don’t want to get too far from the major metropolitan area. The majority of hikers take Trail 1, which is a wide trail that is primarily paved. Trail 1 takes hikers to the top of the mountain and requires about 90 minutes to complete. There are other trails too that tend to have less traffic, but they aren’t paved.

Mount Kobo, 1 hour and 4 minutes from Tokyo

Mount Kobo offers easy hikes for those interested in seeing the natural beauty in the area surrounding the bustling city of Tokyo. The gentle slope is perfect for hikers who want to climb to the top of a mountain without risking having super sore legs for the rest of their trip. Mount Kobo also boasts a panoramic view of the Sagami Bay and Izu Peninsula, plus it has natural hot springs.

Mount Mitake, 1 hour and 17 minutes from Tokyo

Located in Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park, Mount Mitake is considered a hiking highlight in Japan. The hiking opportunities are vast and the views of nature are “unspoiled.” Mount Mitake has a popular shrine and also offers a cable car ride to the summit, which is where you can view the shrine. 

Mount Kawanori, 1 hour and 51 minutes from Tokyo

Though it takes about six hours to complete, the hike to the top of Mount Kawanori offers waterfall views and beautiful forests on your way to the top. You may want to practice your climbing skills before you go because you’ll need to climb roughly 100 meters at the end of the hike to reach the summit. 

Source: https://outdoors.com/must-do-hikes-near-tokyo/