Beautiful Tokyo Hiking Day Trips You Need To Try In Summer

As summer draws near, the hiking trails around Tokyo start to come alive.

Tokyo is surrounded by parks and mountains that are not only beautiful, they also have a rich cultural history. Nature is a big part of Japan’s identity, and you can see shrines built on mountains and along lakes.

Did you know that many of Tokyo’s hiking day trips can be reached in about 2 hours? These destinations have great connectivity to Tokyo, with a variety of trails to cater families, adventurers, and the elderly.

In this article, I will share with you some of the beautiful Tokyo hiking day trips to take in summer and their must-see spots.

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Hiking in Mount Takao (1 hour from Tokyo)
- Popular hiking trails in Mount Takao
- How to get to Mount Takao from Tokyo
Hiking in Hakone (2 hours from Tokyo)
- Popular hiking trails in Hakone
- How to get to Hakone from Tokyo
Hiking in Nikko National Park (2 hours from Tokyo)
- Popular hiking trails in Nikko National Park
- How to get to Nikko National Park from Tokyo
Hiking Mount Fuji (2.5 hours from Tokyo)
- The most popular way to climb Mount Fuji
- How to get to Mount Fuji (Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station) from Tokyo
Things to prepare for your Tokyo hiking day trip
Where to get hiking gear in Tokyo?

Hiking in Mount Takao (1 hour from Tokyo)

Since Mount Takao is only a short distance away from Tokyo, it is a popular weekend hangout for both locals and tourists. In summer, you can expect lush green forests and vibrant wildflowers lining the trails. There are trails with varying difficulty levels in Mount Takao, with some that cover small easy loops and others that take you to the summit.

The key attractions along the way include the Yakuoin Temple, which brings Mount Takao its cultural significance. You can also check out the wildlife there, including birds and monkeys in the Mount Takao Monkey Park.

Once you reach the summit, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the mountain range, and maybe even Mount Fuji on a clear day. For those who prefer to take it easy, you can cut the journey in half by taking the chairlift or cable car up to the halfway point of the mountain.

Finally, you can end the day by using the public onsen at Takaosan Onsen Gokurakuyu, located near the Takaosanguchi station. It is open from 8am to 10:45pm (last admission at 10pm), with entry fee of 1,100 to 1,300 depending on the day of the week. However, if you have tattoos you will not be allowed to use the onsen.

Popular hiking trails in Mount Takao

Easy: Hike to summit – Mount Takao Trail #1 (Omotesando Trail)

Distance: 3.8km one way
Estimated duration: 100 minutes up, 90 minutes down

Moderate: Hike to summit – Mount Takao Trail #6 (Biwa Waterfall Trail)

Distance: 3.3km one way
Estimated duration: 90 minutes up, 70 minutes down

Difficult: Peak to peak hike – Mount Takao to Mount Jinba Trail

Distance: 15.3km one way
Estimated duration: 5 hours 20 minutes

How to get to Mount Takao from Tokyo

The easiest way to get to Mount Takao is via Shinjuku Station, taking the direct Keio Line Special Express train for Takaosanguchi station. When we were going to Mount Takao, Google Maps was telling us to take the Limited Express, but I believe they meant the Special Express instead. The whole journey from Shinjuku to Takaosanguchi stations costs 390 Yen each way.

Hiking in Hakone (2 hours from Tokyo)

Hakone has stunning natural landscapes that can be easily explored. In summer, the weather in Hakone tends to be milder and cooler than Tokyo. In addition, there are many hiking trails are shaded by Hakone’s forests.

As a popular hot spring resort destination, there are several places in Hakone that offer day use onsen. If time permits, this is the perfect treat after a day of hiking. If you want to add this into your day trip hiking itinerary, be sure to start your day as early as possible.

Aside from hiking, you can also take the Pirate Cruise across the crater lake Ashinoko (Ashi Lake). You will be surrounded by the mountains on all sides, truly a sight to behold. On a clear day, you may also have a chance to see Mount Fuji in the distance from various locations in Hakone.

Popular hiking trails in Hakone

Easy: Hike along cultural path – Cedar Avenue, Old Tokaido Road (Hakone-Machi to Moto-Hakone)

Distance: 1km
Estimated duration: 30 minutes

Moderate: Lake Ashi West Bank Trail

Distance: 11.5km
Estimated duration: 3 hours 50 minutes

Difficult: Hike to summit – Mt. Kintoki Trail

Distance: 4.6km
Estimated duration: 2 hour 30 minutes

How to get to Hakone from Tokyo

The best and most common way of getting to Hakone from Tokyo is via the Odakyu Romance train. Departing from Shinjuku station, it will take about 1 hour to get to Hakone-Yumoto station. From there, switch to the local buses that will bring you 30 minutes to 1 hour further into Hakone area. The 2-day Hakone Free Pass, which costs 6,100 Yen when purchased from Shinjuku, will come in handy to help you save some transport costs as they offer discounted tickets on the return train tickets.

Hiking in Nikko National Park (2 hours from Tokyo)

Tokyo Hiking Day Trip - Nikko Chuzenji Lake

Nikko is well known for its UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the stunning natural landscape in the Okunikko region. Kegon Falls is one of the spectacular highlights you can find in Nikko National Park, along with Chuzenji Lake.

There is also an onsen town at the far end called Yumoto Onsen. There, you can enjoy a free public onsen foot bath experience to soothe your aching feet.

Nikko National Park also features the Senjagohara Marshland, and you can walk through it on a boardwalk to hike from Ryuzu Falls to Yutaki Falls. You will find yourself surrounded my mountains in the distance, including Mount Nantai and Mount Shirane.

Overall, Nikko has plenty to do for a day trip from Tokyo, whether its cultural or hiking experiences.

Popular hiking trails in Nikko National Park

Easy: Hike along a river gorge – Kamangafuchi Abyss

This hike is really just a walk, but it involves walking some distance from the bus stop through a residential area before arriving in Kamangafuchi Abyss. After that, you can spend as much time as you want exploring the river gorge, taking photos and going as far as you like.

Distance: 500m
Estimated duration: 10 minutes

Moderate: Hike from waterfall to waterfall – Ryuzu Falls to Yutaki Falls

You can end the journey by continuing to Yumoto Onsen or taking the bus shuttle back to downtown Nikko.

Distance: 5.6km one way
Estimated duration: 2 hours 30 minutes one way

Hard: Hike to peak – Futurasa-jinja shrine to Mount Nantai

Distance: 7.4km round trip
Estimated duration: 5 hour 30 min round trip

How to get to Nikko National Park from Tokyo

The most cost effective way of getting to Nikko is via the Limited Express Tobu Railway train from Asakusa to Tobu Nikko station. If you purchase the Nikko World Heritage Pass or the Nikko All Area Pass, you can get discounts on the train tickets as well as unlimited use of the Nikko bus shuttle. They go for 2,120 and 4,780 Yen respectively, and you need to add an additional 1,650 Yen each way for the limited express trains.

Hiking Mount Fuji (2.5 hours from Tokyo)

As summer arrives, the hiking season for Mount Fuji begins. From July to September, you get the chance to go on a big hiking adventure to the top of Mount Fuji. Due to the higher elevation, you can also expect chilly conditions nearer to the summit. There are guided hiking tour options available as well, and it may be a great option if you are travelling alone or feeling anxious about safety.

One of the popular ways to experience the Mount Fuji climb is to reach the summit at sunrise. At an elevation of 3,776m, many people have this on their bucket lists. In order to do that, you will need to start the evening before and stay overnight in a mountain hut before continuing to the top. This will give you some time to acclimatise and avoid developing altitude sickness.

Although it may be a challenging hike, there will be many other hikers from all over the world embarking on this journey together. The Mount Fuji hike is very accessible from Tokyo, making it a popular activity during summer. Moreover, the starting point of most hikes are usually at the 5th station (out of 10 stations) so it is not really a hike from the base.

The most popular way to climb Mount Fuji

Difficult: Hike to peak – Yoshida Trail via Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station

Elevation gain: 2,300m
Estimated duration: 5-7 hours up, 3-5 hours down

How to get to Mount Fuji (Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station) from Tokyo

There are scheduled buses that can take you from Shinjuku station to the Fuji Subaru Line 5th station of Mount Fuji. The bus rides cost 3,800 Yen each way and will take about 2 hours 30 minutes at hourly intervals during the summer hiking season.

Things to prepare for your Tokyo hiking day trip

Although the mountains might be a little bit cooler than in Tokyo, summer is still a hot time of the year. In addition, you might get some rainy days but don’t let that deter you from taking that hiking day trip.

Here is a packing list to help you get ready for your Tokyo hiking day trips.

Water (500ml for every 1 hour of hiking)
Insect repellent
Snacks or picnic items (e.g. energy bars, onigiri, 7-eleven pancakes)
Umbrella or raincoat
Sun protection (including sunblock, sunglasses, cap)
Hiking poles (if required)
Knee guard (if required)
Sports shoes or trail shoes (as long as they have some grip)
Camera
Downloaded offline map or physical map
Cash and passport
Bear bell (not necessary, but commonly used by locals when hiking in bear territory)
Portable phone charger
Spare trash bag to store your trash (there might not be bins along the trails)

I personally love the idea of bringing a camping stove to boil water and make instant noodles. We saw many locals do that and we were so envious of them. The smell was irresistible!

However, it was not really practical for us to purchase the outdoor cooking gear for a 1 week trip to Tokyo. If you are planning on staying in Japan for some time, I highly recommend this option for an enhanced picnic session during your hikes.

Where to get hiking gear in Tokyo?

If you need to purchase any hiking equipment like shoes, hiking poles, or jackets, there are a multitude of outdoor stores in Tokyo. Alpen Tokyo has some of the best selection of outdoor and sporting goods across the 7 floors of store space. You can find anything you need there, such as hiking, camping, and mountaineering gear.

Another place worth checking out is mont-bell, a Japanese brand that offers high quality outdoor products. You can also find international brand stores in Japan such as Columbia, North Face and Patagonia. Don’t forget to ask about tax-free purchases if you are buying more than 5,000 Yen worth of goods. You will need to bring your passport along as well.

Beautiful Tokyo Hiking Day Trips You Need To Try In Summer