Takao by night: Trail One and Inariyama ✨🐿

There's an ironic twist to Mount Takao: when most people talk about trail-running there, they are actually referring to the surrounding areas, not the peak itself.

Spots like Kobotoke-Shiroyama, Jinba, and Minami-Takao offer plenty of scenic, runnable paths waiting to be explored—yet the summit sees remarkably few runners. Some popular resources, such as takao-trail-manners.jp, even omit it entirely from their maps.

The culprit is overcrowding. With Takaosanguchi Station positioned right at its base and a cable car/chairlift combo carrying visitors halfway up the slope, Mount Takao ranks among the world's most visited summits. Arrive at the wrong time, and you'll find yourself navigating more like Harajuku during rush hour than conquering a mountain path.

Fortunately, there's a beautiful workaround: night trail-running. Most day-hikers descend around 16:00 once the huts and shops shut down, leaving only scattered individuals chasing the sunset. Head up around 19:00 instead, and you'll likely have the entire mountain to yourself—with perhaps a handful of nocturnal insect enthusiasts as your only companions. No worries for your return: trains will be waiting for you until 23:00 and beyond.

Running counter to the usual flow rewards you with more than just space. As the city's twinkling lights spread beneath you and the temple settles into silence nearby, you'll discover a rare tranquility. And since Trail 1 remains electrically lit all the way to the summit, solitude becomes optional—you'll feel as isolated or connected as you choose.

From the Takaosanguchi Station exit, turn right and follow the road toward the ropeway station. Just past it, you'll spot a small bridge with a staircase on your left—that's the Inariyama Trail, which you'll be descending from later. For now, keep heading forward along the wide, paved path that winds its way up.

After a series of switchbacks and steep sections, you'll arrive at the upper stations for both the chairlift and the ropeway. Beyond this point, the trail levels out and opens up to sweeping views over the city below.

Passing through the wooden gate of Takaosan Yakuo-in Josshinmon, you'll face two options: the stairs to the left (otokozaka) or the ascending path to the right (onnazaka), both leading to the shrine complex. While most visitors cut straight through the shrine itself to reach the summit, that stretch isn't really runnable.

To make the most of the climb, I usually take time to admire the tengu statues near the gate and enjoy the view from the terrace, then ascend the stairs to Izuna Gongen Shrine. From there, I immediately take the stairs to the left going down to the wooden Kuromon Gate—which, ironically, you're not permitted to pass through—. To continue, take the path behind you to the left, starting between the two large trees.

After running alongside an old pavilion, the trail resumes its climb along the mountainside toward the summit. This marks your first section without lighting—a good moment to test your headlamp. A few minutes in, you'll reach a fork with a tree at its center. Follow the paved road as it turns sharply right and continues upward toward the summit. Once you rejoin the main trail near the washrooms, turn left for the final push to the top.

At the summit, you'll find drinking water, vending machines, and a bit further along, restrooms and a couple of tables where you can sit and eat if needed.

After snapping the obligatory photo at the summit marker, make your way across the square to the Omiharashidai Viewpoint. While you won't catch any Fuji views after dark, this is where the Inariyama Trail begins, guiding you back down to the ropeway's lower station.

The trail is wide and easy to follow, just be careful about your footing while you descend back to the start.