I’m gonna be honest with you. As much as I love hiking and being in nature, it terrifies me to my very core to go hiking by myself. I’m scared of snakes, wild animals.. and spirits. Yes, I’m talking about ghosts and stuff like that. It stopped me from going hiking by myself for the longest time. It also doesn’t help that my survival skills in the wild is next to zero.

But I was going through some heavy stuff for the last month that I needed to feel something else other than the sadness that was eating me. I know the cure, I just needed to pull the plug.

Two weeks ago I decided to finally go on my first solo hike, and I chose Mt. Takao because I’ve been there twice and I already know the trail. I also know that a lot of people go here since it’s very popular so I know it’s not gonna be as scary compared to going to a new trail on my own. I planned my route and I packed my bag.

Come Sunday, I couldn’t bring myself to get up from bed..and I stayed like that 3 days. Binge watch anime and hoped it would make me feel better. It did not.

I was getting frustrated with myself but I thought, if I cannot be kind to myself, who else will? So I processed my emotions in my own pace, let myself feel what I had to feel and after a week, I finally did it. I’m finally ready to face my fear of hiking solo.

A little background about Mt. Takao, Kukai, Gyoki and Daisojo Shiga Shorin

Mt. Takao is a very popular hiking spot. In 2007, it was awarded the highest rating of three stars in the Michelin Guide, and in 2020, it was registered as Tokyo’s first Japan Heritage Site.

It is widely known for being one of the Kanto region’s three main temples of the Chisan sect of Shingon Buddhism. The other two are Naritasan’s Shinshoji Temple and Kawasaki Daishi Heikenji Temple in Kawasaki.

Are you familiar with..

Kukai / Kobo Daishi

One of the best-known and most-beloved Buddhist saints in Japan, founder of the Shingon (“True Word”) school of Buddhism that emphasizes spells, magic formulas, ceremonials, and masses for the dead, he also established the Henro Shikoku 88-temple Pilgrimage.

While not the sole inventor, he is also credited with promoting the use of katakana and bringing the Siddhaṃ script from India to Japan, which influenced the arrangement of kana. 

Gyoki

is a Buddhist monk renowned for erecting the Great Buddha at Todai-ji Temple in Nara (which was initiated as a prayer for an end to the smallpox epidemic in Japan), and who also founded the Takaosan Yakuo-in Yūkiji Temple (a temple of the Chizan school of Shingon Buddhism) on Mount Takao in 744, under the command of Emperor Shomu. 

Shikoku 88 Daishi Sand Stepping Sacred Site

A lot of Buddhist believers want to visit the 88 sacred sites of Shikoku but it is not an easy journey to make. For those people who cannot make the trip, they can visit the miniature version of all 88 statues of Kobo Daishi surrounding Daishi-do Hall adjacent to the temple’s Main Hall, all containing the same soil and rocks from Shikoku. So, in a sense, you can “do” the pilgrimage in Tokyo simply by visiting Yakuo-in!

The 36th head priest of Yakuo-in Temple personally visited the 88 sacred sites of Shikoku, bringing back soil from each site and depositing it in various places in the mountains, and erecting 88 statues of Kobo Daishi.

It is said that if you walk around the sand, placing a 1 yen offering and worshiping all the Daishi statues, you will receive the same blessings as visiting the 88 sacred sites in Shikoku. Usually, people visit the temples in order, going from number 1 to number 88, but for a leap year, it is said that if you visit the temples in reverse, going from number 88 to number 1, you will receive three times the blessings.

**I missed this spot because I didn’t know about it until I was writing this but it looked like this.

Hike Diary

MAR 09, 2025 – I took the train from my place and got off at Takaosanguchi Station around 10:00 but I didn’t start my hike until 10:50 because I was too nervous. The only comfort that I had was seeing a lot of people because of the Fire Walking Ceremony event at noon, I hoped that most of them will go hiking the same route as well.

10:50 – Started heading to the trailhead near Kiyotaki Station (Cable Car). There are 8 ways to hike this Mt. Takao for every level from beginner to advance.

I originally planned on taking the Inariyama trail because that’s the most recent one I did, but it was closed when I got there. I took the Trail 6 instead and only because there was a group of people in front and behind me.

It rained a few days ago, so the trail was still wet and muddy. I’m glad I wore my hiking boots because I saw some people wearing normal sneakers and theirs’ got dirty. I also think it’s dangerous because you might slip so I highly recommend wearing proper hiking shoes if you’re taking this route.

11:10 – This route follows the Mae no sawa stream, one of the headwaters of the Tama River and then you’ll see the Seven Lucky Gods.

The Seven Lucky Gods are gods that originated in three countries.

• Daikokuten, Benzaiten, and Bishamonten are Indian (Hindu) gods,
• Jurojin, Fukurokuju, and Hotei are Chinese (Taoism) gods,
• Ebisu is a Japanese (Shinto) god.

Then two caves called Iwaya Daishi. It was said that when Kobo Daishi was climbing Mount Takao, he encountered a sick mother and daughter walking through a storm. Legend has it that when he offered prayers there, this cave appeared, and the mother and daughter were able to survive the storm here.

You will also pass by Biwa-Taki (Waterfalls), where only practitioners of winter waterfall meditation is allowed. I was hoping to see them but I didn’t this time. I didn’t go all the way inside because there was nobody there and I didn’t know which part is off-limits so I just looked from here.

There was some snow on some parts of the trail but because I was moving, it didn’t feel cold. It was about 6°C and at first I was wearing a fleece jacket on top of my base layer but I took it off and wore my rain jacket instead.

12:15 – I finally reached the wooden trail, which means I was getting closer to the summit.

I saw a warning sign for Red Poisonous Mushrooms (Kaentake) but I didn’t see one.

12:35 – I finally reached the summit and took the obligatory summit marker shot. So proud of myself for finally gathering up the courage to get over my fear of hiking alone.

I also went to the observatory but I couldn’t see Mt. Fuji. The weather was great though and it was 11°C around 13:00 then I started heading down.

I passed by the Okunoin (Inner Sanctuary: Fudou-do) which is a tangible Cultural Property.

Then the main Iizuna Gongen-do Hall and on it’s side is the Fukutoku Inarisha and the fox (which is a symbol) said to be the messenger of the god of food, Ukanomi Tamanokami- believed by people who wish for good harvest.

After going down the stairs you’ll see the main hall, the largest building in Yakuo-in Temple where you can burn an incense and offer a prayer. You can get Omikuji / 御神籤/おみくじ or a fortune slip just right in front of it.

13:30 – I passed by the store where they sell the grilled odango for ¥500 and of course I had to try it.. I also passed by the Monkey Park but I didn’t go in because I already went years ago. I think kids would enjoy it though.

13:55 – I chose to take the lift going down because I have never tried it. I paid ¥490 and used my debit card to tap. They don’t accept suica. The ride was about 10min and there was no seat belt or anything like that so it might be scary for some people. I was holding on to the side rail for my dear life. Fun times!

14:10 – I finally got to the venue for the Fire Walking Ceremony/ 火渡り祭 / ヒワタリサイ where yamabushi monks bravely walk barefoot over the hot coals while chanting, praying for safety and cleansing themselves from impurities. Worshippers pray for safety for their families and themselves, as well as for protection from traffic accidents.

This festival is held on the second Sunday of March every year and everyone can participate too when the fire is out and it’s safe to walk on it. It was very interesting and I kind of want to try it but there were a lot of people and I felt like it would take a long time to wait for my turn.

The location is HERE.

This was a really fun and relaxing day for me and it would’ve been more awesome if I was able to go to Keio Takaosan Onsen Gokurakuyu for onsen but I didn’t know about it till I was writing this. So make sure you don’t miss it like I did.

Hike Log:

Mt. Takao (599 masl)
March 09, 2025
(Tokyo)

Ascend : 3.3km (Trail #6)
10:50 – 12:35 (From Takaosanguchi Station to Summit Marker)

Descend :
13:00 – 13:55 (From Summit to Lift Sanjo Station)
13:55 – 14:05 (Lift ride to Sanroku Station)

Backpack Weight : 4.5kg
Water : 1L (Collapsible water bottle + 500ml hot tea)

YAMAP LINK : https://yamap.com/activities/38334879

Beginner’s Guide

I would suggest taking the trail 1 for your first time or take the cable car or lift from Kiyotaki Station to Takaosan Station and continue with trail 1 or go to 2, 3 or 4. But if you want to explore more options, there are 8 trails to choose from. Complete guide for trails is on this website.

Personally, I recommend Trail 6 because it’s the one I enjoyed the most so far. Or trail 4 with the Miyama Bridge. I think those two are my favorites.

You can also visit these websites for more details:

• Good Luck Trip – Complete guide to hiking Mt. Takao and nearby spots.
• Japan Hiking Guide Magazine – This is in Japanese but if you translate to English you’ll find a very detailed info and history about the shrines and statues at Mt. Takao. VERY interesting read.
• Different Side Of Japan – Written by one of my most favorite travel writers, Donny Kimball.

Thank you always for reading till the end!
I appreciate all the comments and love hearing feedbacks.
I organize beginner/intermediate hikes in Kanto area and joiners are always welcome so feel free to send me a message if you want to join us.

EAT, SLEEP, HIKE, REPEAT =)
#MarieJournals