Rising at the eastern edge of the Tanzawa range, Mount Oyama (1,252 m) has been a place of worship and pilgrimage for centuries — and today it’s one of the most accessible and rewarding half-day mountains near Tokyo. A nostalgic shopping street of tofu restaurants and inns leads to a cable car that climbs to Afuri Shrine, with sweeping views over the Kanto Plain and, on clear days, the sea and Mt. Fuji. Hikers can continue to the summit; everyone can enjoy the historic Oyama-dera temple, famous tofu cuisine and spectacular autumn foliage.
This guide covers the cable car, shrine, food, the best season and how to get there.
🗓️ Quick Reference
| Location | Isehara, Kanagawa (eastern Tanzawa) |
| Elevation | 1,252 m (cable car partway) |
| Highlights | Afuri Shrine, cable car, tofu, views |
| Best time | Autumn colours (mid–late Nov) |
| Good for | Light hiking, shrines, food, foliage |
Cable car, shrine & temple
- A nostalgic stone-stepped street (koma-sando) lined with tofu shops leads to the cable car station.
- The cable car climbs to Afuri Shrine (lower shrine), with grand views over the plain and sea.
- Oyama-dera, a historic Buddhist temple, sits on the slope below, especially beautiful in autumn.
Hiking & views
- From Afuri Shrine, a trail continues to the summit (~1.5 hours) for panoramic views.
- On clear days you can see Mt. Fuji, Sagami Bay and the Boso Peninsula.
- A popular route descends via the Minoge trail.
Food & seasons
- Oyama is famous for tofu cuisine (Oyama-dofu) — soft, fresh tofu in many dishes.
- Autumn colours are spectacular, with evening illuminations on the temple and cable car.
- Don’t miss the local Oyama koma spinning tops, a traditional souvenir.
Combine your visit
Oyama pairs with western Kanagawa:
- Serious hikers can add the Tanzawa Mountains — see our Tanzawa guide .
- Relax afterwards in Hakone’s hot springs — see our Hakone onsen guide .
How to get there
- Odakyu line to Isehara Station, then a bus to the cable car (Oyama Cable bus stop).
- ~1.5 hours from Shinjuku.
