Is Mount Mitake worth it?
Worth it, with conditions. 4.5 across 815 Google reviews; visitors consistently rate it as lovely as Takao and much calmer.
Been to Mount Mitake? Was it worth it?
One tap. No account. Your vote moves the Reality score.Is it worth it for you?
Add Mt. Ōtake to the Rock Garden loop for a proper mountain day without Takao's crowds.
Why Reality is 65
What people loved
Like Mount Takao but far less crowded, even at weekendsThe mossy Rock Garden valley with streams and waterfalls is the highlightAtmospheric mountaintop shrine village with lodgings and the Musashi-Mitake ShrineClean, well-signed, easy trail with multiple rest stopsWhat wore them down
About 2 hours each way from central Tokyo with train, bus and cable car changesWeather is cooler and rainier than in the city, even in summerLimited parking if driving; steep access roadBuses and cable cars run only 2–3 times an hour, so missed connections add waitingParking & getting there
Driving is possibleThe train is easier, but you can drive: there are paid lots at Takimoto cable car station. Reviewers say parking is limited and the final road is very steep, and it can be icy in winter.
- Mitaketakimotoeki Parking Lotlot · about 30 min walk · ★ 3.6 (141)Price not publishedMap
- Times Mitakesanlot · about 29 min walk · ★ 3.8 (31)Price not publishedMap
Without a car: JR Chuo and Ome lines from Shinjuku to Mitake Station (¥1,040, about 1 hr 35 min), then bus to Takimoto (10 min, ¥340) and the cable car
Driving rules in Tokyo
Don't drive in Tokyo: rail and subway reach every central sight faster, and parking is scarce and costly with no free street parking. A rental car only makes sense for day trips such as Mt Fuji's Fuji Five Lakes, Hakone or Nikkō — and even there trains and buses usually work.
- No free street parking — use coin parking or garages. Parking on Tokyo streets is not allowed except in marked on-street bays with a single-space parking meter or a pay-and-display ticket machine. Pay up front (meters take ¥100 coins; ticket machines take ¥1,000 notes, ¥500 and ¥100 coins), display the ticket on the windscreen, park inside the lines and leave before the time limit — overstaying or a missing ticket is treated as illegal parking. Everywhere else, use private 'coin parking' lots (Times, Repark, NPC24H etc.: a flap locks under the car until you pay at the machine) or building garages, which charge by the 15–30 minutes and are expensive in central wards. keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp
- International Driving Permit (1949 Geneva only). Visitors can drive only with an International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention (IDPs under the 1968 Vienna Convention are not valid), or — for licences from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan — the home licence plus an official Japanese translation. Either is usable for at most one year from entry; carry your passport too. english.jaf.or.jp
Know before you go
See something out of date? Fix it right here.Booking: No booking for the hike or cable car; inns need reservations
In their words
“I visited at the weekend, but it was far less crowded than Takao.”
“It was raining and surprisingly chilly when I went, even for August, so do pack a warm jacket.”
“If you want a cable car and mountain hike like Takao but without a massive crowd, come here.”
“Be sure to visit the Rock Garden—it's a highlight of the hike.”
Tips from people who went
No tips yet. Be the first to share one.
Questions people ask
How do you get to Mount Mitake from Tokyo?
JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku to Ome, JR Ome Line to Mitake Station (¥1,040 one way), a 10-minute bus to Takimoto, then the cable car. Allow about 2 hours.
How much is the Mount Mitake cable car?
¥1,200 round trip; it runs 2–3 times an hour.
Is Mount Mitake better than Mount Takao?
It is farther away but far less crowded, with a more rural shrine village and the Rock Garden valley. Takao wins on convenience.
How long is the Mount Mitake Rock Garden hike?
From the shrine the Rock Garden is under an hour; most visitors spend 2–3 hours on a shrine and Rock Garden loop.
When is the best time to visit Mount Mitake?
Autumn colours peak around late November to early December; it is noticeably cooler than Tokyo year-round.
Better fits, according to people who went
Sources
- japan-guide.com – Mount Mitake
- Japan National Tourism Organization – Mt. Mitake hiking course
- Google Maps – Mount Mitake