There are many public transportation choices in Tokyo which offer routes to the mountains in the west. Depending on your starting point and your destination, you have options. There are two main train companies which can team up to get you to and from the hills with little stress and a relaxing ride.
The JREast Chuo Line
The easiest way to get to and from the mountains in the western parts of Tokyo Prefecture is the JR East Chuo Line. It is the one with the solid orange stripe. You can get on at Tokyo Station and Shinjuku. There are generally three endpoints for the Chuo Line:
- Takao Station: There are some trail heads starting near the Takao Station, Others are short transfer or a bus ride away. The most famous trailhead cluster leading to Mt Takao is another stop away. Change trains from JR to the Keio train to Takaosanguchi Station. Though Takao is the terminal for many of the JR trains heading west from central Tokyo, some trains do continue to places in Kanagawa Prefecture and further afield.
- Musashi Itsukaiichi Station. This is the home of the legendary Hasetsune 70K trail run. First held in 1992, there are permanent trail markings along the loop course. Some folks will take in the full route, with its 4,500m elevation gain as a day out. Many more will do sections of it as their long run for the week. The last 30K of the route traverses the same mountains that lie to the south of the Ome-Okutama JR Chuo LIne spur.
- Okutama Station. There are 14 stations between Ome and Okutama, 13 of which have trailheads near the station. Some to the south, going to the mountains after crossing one of the bridges suspended over the Tama River. Others trails head north towards Saitama Prefecture. More trails head northwest towards the tallest point in Tokyo Prefecture, Mt Kumotori.
Tachikawa is the junction where these trains go off to the various mountain trail heads. Often you can take a train form Tokyo/Shinjuku/etc to Tachikawa
The Keio Takao Line
The pink train. This train does what it says on the tin – it takes you to Takao. In fact, it takes you all the way to Takaosanguchi Station- the launching point for most of the trails which take you to the top of the famous Michelin-starred Mt Takao (see :Mt Takao Trailhead Options: Attractions, Hikes, & Trailruns for more). It starts at Shinjuku Keio Station, and you can take a single train to the last stop in about an hour. It intersects with the Keio Inokashira line at Meidaimae Station, and with the JR Chuo Line at Takao Station.
The Keio Inokashira Line
For the purposes of your travel to the mountains, the Inokashira Line is little more than a utility to get you from Shibuya to another line. If you are traveling to Mt Takao, then change at Medaimae Station to the Keio Takao Line. If you are going to any other western mountain, change at the terminal in Kichijoji to the JR Chuo Line.
Check out our free guide to the trains which can get you out to mountains in western Tokyo.
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