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5 Low Mountains Near Tokyo With Big Views, All Reachable by Train

2025.09.14

"I'd like to get out into nature at the weekend, but I don't know where to start with hiking." If that's you, here are five low mountains in the Kanto region — the area around Tokyo — that you can reach from the city by train and bus, ranked from fifth to first. For each one: access that works for a beginner, a suggested route, and the reward afterwards, whether that's food or an onsen. You should be able to use this as a plan for next weekend as it stands.

Transport details and walking times are approximate. Check the official sources for current services and trail conditions before you go.

5th: Kintokiyama, Hakone | A full view of Mt. Fuji from the summit

Kintokiyama, 1,212 m, is a well-known peak in Hakone, also famous as the setting of the folk tale of Kintaro. The view of Mt. Fuji from the summit is genuinely superb. The easiest approach from central Tokyo is the express bus from Shinjuku, which runs to near the trailhead without a change. By train, take the Odakyu line from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto Station, then a bus, getting off at the Sengoku stop.

From the trailhead it's about an hour and a half to the summit. There's some slightly steep rock along the way, but the route is short, and at your own pace it's fine for a beginner — a little like a climbing frame, in a good way. The hot mushroom soup at the summit teahouse is excellent. Afterwards, an onsen in the Sengokuhara area is the ideal way to finish.

4th: Oyama, Kanagawa | Sagami Bay and the city lights

Oyama has been a mountain of worship for centuries, and also goes by the name Afuriyama. Access is about 60 minutes from Shinjuku Station on the Odakyu line to Isehara Station. A bus from the north exit takes you right to the cable car, so there's nothing to get wrong.

The suggested route is the cable car up to Afuri Shrine's lower shrine, then about an hour and a half on foot to the summit. It's open and enjoyable walking. From the top you can see Sagami Bay and Enoshima island, and Mt. Fuji on a clear day. The transition from dusk into the lit-up view at night is genuinely breathtaking. On the way down, try the tofu dishes Oyama is known for along the approach road.

3rd: Tsukubasan, Ibaraki | Strange rocks and a sense of adventure

Tsukubasan is spoken of alongside Mt. Fuji in the old phrase "Fuji in the west, Tsukuba in the east." It has two summits, Nantaisan and Nyotaisan. Access is 45 minutes at fastest from Akihabara on the Tsukuba Express; a shuttle bus from Tsukuba Station reaches the trailhead with just one change.

The popular route is the cable car up, then along the ridge to the summit. There are all sorts of oddly shaped rock formations on the way, which gives the walk a sense of adventure. From the summit the Kanto plain stretches out with nothing in the way, and with luck you might catch a sea of cloud. Tsukubasan Onsen is the place to soak afterwards.

2nd: Takaosan, Tokyo | Unbeatable access, and the food

Takaosan is said to be the most-climbed mountain in the world. Its great strength is how easy it is to reach: the Keio line from Shinjuku Station runs directly to the terminus at Takaosanguchi in about 50 minutes. Step off the train and you're at the trailhead.

For a first visit, Trail 1 — paved most of the way — is the clear choice. The cable car or the chairlift will get you halfway up in no time. There's plenty to eat along the way, including tengu-yaki, the local sweet bean pastry. From the summit you can see the towers of central Tokyo and, in good weather, Mt. Fuji. What makes Takaosan remarkable is the number of routes: you can enjoy it differently every time. Afterwards there's an onsen facility and cafés right at the station, so you can easily fill a whole day.

1st: Mitakesan, Tokyo | A place with genuine atmosphere

First place goes to Mitakesan, also in Tokyo. It's about 90 minutes from Shinjuku on the JR Chuo and Ome lines to Mitake Station, then a ten-minute bus from outside the station to the cable car. It's hard to believe nature this deep is that close to the city.

I'd recommend taking the cable car up to Mitakedaira, visiting Musashi-Mitake Shrine, and then continuing to the Rock Garden. Clear water running between moss-covered boulders makes the Rock Garden feel like somewhere else entirely. In a space where all you can hear is birdsong and water, something in you settles. Natural beauty and centuries of worship in the same place — it earns the term "power spot."

In summary: start with whichever is easiest to get to

Looking back across the five, here's how I'd choose.

• If access is the priority and it's your first mountain: Takaosan, in second place. No changes to the trailhead, and everything is there when you arrive.
• If you want the view of Mt. Fuji: Kintokiyama, in fifth. A big view for a short walk.
• If you want quiet nature and atmosphere: Mitakesan, in first. The Rock Garden is worth the trip on its own.

All five are easy to reach by train and bus, and all five have food and hot springs waiting at the end. Pick whichever appeals and go and collect a view and a sense of achievement next weekend.

🛒 See the gear from the video as a list → A packing list for your first low-mountain hike

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