Mount Mitake (Mitakesan) in Ome City, Tokyo, is a mountain you can reach from Shinjuku by train and cable car. At the top are Musashi Mitake Shrine and a village of shukubō (pilgrims’ lodgings), and beyond them lies the “Rock Garden,” a gorge where a stream flows among moss-covered rocks.
In this article, I introduce the autumn leaves of the Mount Mitake Rock Garden and the shopping street on the shrine approach with photos from my walk on Mount Mitake on November 7, 2018. I have also checked the cable car fares and the points to watch out for when walking the Rock Garden against official information (checked on November 1, 2026).
Basic Information on Mount Mitake and the Rock Garden
Mount Mitake is a mountain in Ome City, Tokyo. You ride the Mitake Tozan Railway cable car up from Takimoto Station at the foot of the mountain, and from Mitakesan Station onward you explore on foot.
The Rock Garden is a streamside trail even farther in from Musashi Mitake Shrine. Seibu Railway’s hiking guide introduces it as a place where “a clear stream tumbles down among moss-covered rocks.” Ayahiro Falls lies upstream and Nanayo Falls downstream.
| Item | Details (checked on November 1, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Location | Mount Mitake, Ome City, Tokyo |
| Cable car | Takimoto Station to Mitakesan Station, about 6 minutes |
| Cable car fares | Adults: one way 700 yen, round trip 1,400 yen / Children: one way 350 yen, round trip 700 yen (revised on October 1, 2026) |
| Validity of round-trip tickets | One round trip within 2 days |
| Tokyo Metropolitan Mitake Visitor Center | 9:00–16:30; closed on Mondays (the next day if Monday is a national holiday) and during the year-end and New Year holidays |
The cable car fares changed only recently, on October 1, 2026. The amounts may differ from those in older articles and guidebooks, so it is a good idea to check the Mitake Tozan Railway timetable and fares page before you go.
Getting to Mount Mitake
If you go by train, take the Nishi Tokyo Bus bound for “Cable-shita” from Mitake Station on the JR Ome Line, and walk from the last stop to Takimoto Station. If you are thinking of walking all the way to the cable car station, I recommend against it. The cable car station is at the top of a steep slope, so you will be tired before you even get there.
Once you ride the cable car from Takimoto Station up to Mitakesan Station, the rest is on foot. From Mitakesan Station, you walk along the approach, pass through the village lined with shukubō and shops and by Musashi Mitake Shrine, and then head down to the Rock Garden.
The Shopping Street on the Approach and the Autumn Leaves
Walking from Mitakesan Station, you come out onto a street with so many shops that it is hard to believe you are on top of a mountain. In the lower right of the photo is a sign reading “Mount Mitake’s delicious water,” and restaurants, souvenir shops, and coffee shops continued along the street.
Along the approach stood banners for the “Tenku Momiji Matsuri” (Sky Maple Festival) held by the Mount Mitake shopkeepers’ association, and red and orange maples covered the path overhead.
The Tenku Momiji Matsuri is still held today. In 2026 it runs from October 24 (Sat) to November 23 (Mon), and during the festival the approach is lit up from 17:30 to 21:30. The events are Takigi Kagura (sacred dance by firelight) on October 24, the MITAKE Magic Show on October 31, a violin evening on November 14, and an ocarina performance on November 21 (checked on the official website on November 3, 2026).
Even in early November, some of the maples along the approach had turned red.
Autumn Leaves and the Mossy Gorge of the Rock Garden
Past the approach, the path becomes a mountain trail and enters a streamside path surrounded by trees. The photos from here on were taken around the Rock Garden.
My photos give the impression that around the Rock Garden there were more trees turning yellow and orange than red ones like maples. The deep green of the cedars mixed with the brightness of the yellow leaves, giving the whole slope a mottled color.
Mossy Rocks and the Flowing Stream
True to the name “Rock Garden,” large rocks lie scattered all through the stream, and many of them are covered in green moss. The water was a thin stream, weaving its way among the rocks.
Looking down at my feet, I saw fallen maple leaves and leaves from other trees piled up on the moss, making a scene unique to autumn.
When I come here, the only sounds around me are the water and nature, so my mind feels calm.
Small Waterfalls and the Rocky Path
As you go along the stream, many small waterfalls appear where water drops over steps in the rocks.
Where the path passes through rock walls, fallen leaves had piled up on the stones of the path too. Wet stones and fallen leaves are slippery, so I recommend walking in shoes with sturdy soles.
Nanayo Falls and Ayahiro Falls
There are two waterfalls, one at each end of the Rock Garden. According to Seibu Railway’s hiking guide, they are as follows.
- Ayahiro Falls: A waterfall with a 10 m drop upstream of the Rock Garden. It is also used for the misogi purification rituals of Musashi Mitake Shrine.
- Nanayo Falls: A series of large and small waterfalls with a total drop of 50 m.
Looking up above the waterfall, I saw colorful trees spreading beyond the rocks. The contrast of the dark rock face, the white water, and the bright autumn colors is a scene unique to this season.
An Old Tree in the Forest
Along the mountain trail there was also a thick old tree with a trunk covered in knots. Surrounded by yellow leaves, it stood out from everything else.
Tips for Walking the Rock Garden
- Shoes: The streamside path goes over rocks, stones, and fallen leaves. It becomes slippery when wet, so shoes with sturdy soles are safer than sneakers.
- Bears: In May 2026, the Tokyo Metropolitan Mitake Visitor Center issued a warning about Asian black bears. Please follow the official guidance, such as carrying a bell.
- Trail information: You can check the latest information, such as trail closures, on the Tokyo Metropolitan Mitake Visitor Center website. The visitor center is on top of Mount Mitake and is open 9:00–16:30 (closed on Mondays [the next day if Monday is a national holiday] and during the year-end and New Year holidays).
- The cable car back: Allow time to return from the Rock Garden to Mitakesan Station, and check the timetable in advance.
How Far the Leaves Had Turned, and My Impressions
The photos were taken on November 7, 2018. The maples along the approach had turned red, but around the Rock Garden most of the leaves were yellow, and some green leaves still remained.
Summary
Mount Mitake is a mountain where, at the top of the cable car, you find a shrine approach lined with shops and the “Rock Garden,” a gorge of mossy rocks. In autumn the maples on the approach turn red, and at the Rock Garden you can see yellow leaves, green moss, and the stream all together.
- The cable car runs from Takimoto Station to Mitakesan Station in about 6 minutes; adults pay 700 yen one way and 1,400 yen round trip (revised on October 1, 2026, checked on November 1, 2026)
- Ayahiro Falls is upstream of the Rock Garden, and Nanayo Falls is downstream
- Paths of rocks and fallen leaves are slippery, so walk in sturdy shoes
- Check the latest information, such as bear warnings, at the Mitake Visitor Center
For other autumn leaf articles, see Highlights of Nikko Toshogu Shrine: A Route Through the Yomeimon Gate, the Sleeping Cat, and Shinkyo Bridge in Autumn Leaf Season and Autumn Leaves at Chichibu Muse Park (Japanese). For the same Tama area of Tokyo, also take a look at The Hydrangeas of Takahata Fudo (Japanese) and Hachioji Guide (Japanese).
References (checked on November 1, 2026)
- Mitake Tozan Railway: Timetable and Fares (Japanese)
- Tokyo Metropolitan Mitake Visitor Center (Japanese)
- Seibu Railway Hiking: Mount Odake (Japanese)
- Mount Mitake Tenku Momiji Matsuri Official Website (Japanese) (checked on November 3, 2026)
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