Museums

Opened on Mountain Day, August 11, 2015, this museum sits at the foot of Mount Takao. Its name, "599," represents Mount Takao’s elevation of 599 meters. Through unique exhibits, the museum showcases the mountain’s exceptionally rich ecosystem, history, and culture.

The exhibition area primarily features acrylic plant specimens, insect displays, and animal taxidermy. A highlight is the projection mapping installation, which combines stunning visuals and music that captivate visitors of all ages. A large three-panel monitor installed on the wall presents easy-to-understand videos on hiking etiquette, trail routes, and the history of Mount Takao.

In addition to the exhibits, the museum includes a shop, café, and a kids’ study space, making it enjoyable for everyone. Maps of Mount Takao and information on trail closures are also available, so stopping by before or after a hike enhances the overall experience.

Museum brochures are available in five languages: Japanese, English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Korean. The Mount Takao map is provided in both Japanese and English, and English-language assistance is available at the information counter.

The museum shop offers exclusive items unavailable elsewhere. In addition to outdoor-friendly T-shirts, it features distinctly Japanese goods such as tenugui (hand towels) and furoshiki (wrapping cloths), as well as finely designed items made from local Tama-region wood, such as rulers and bookmarks. Acrylic cherry blossom specimens— created using the same technique as those in the museum's exhibits—are also available, making for perfect souvenirs or gifts.

The café features tables and chairs crafted from Tama-region wood, where visitors can enjoy specialty coffee while overlooking the lawn plaza. Guests are also welcome to bring their own food and drinks, making it a relaxing spot for families and friends.

On weekends and holidays, the museum hosts a variety of events, including nature observation programs, craft workshops, and special exhibit-related activities. Information about current events is available on the Takao 599 Museum website. While some events require advance reservations, others allow same-day or free participation.

Main works

NATURE WALL

This wall exhibit features taxidermy specimens of mammals and birds that inhabit Mount Takao, displayed around a central beech tree—an iconic symbol of the mountain's rich natural environment.

Many of Mount Takao’s beech trees are estimated to be 200 to 300 years old, and no young trees have been found. Beech trees typically grow in colder climates, at higher elevations or latitudes. In Mount Takao’s current climate, new beech trees are unable to sprout. It is believed that the trees seen today first germinated during the colder Edo period and have survived ever since. For this reason, the beech is considered a long-standing symbol of Mount Takao’s preserved natural heritage.

The wide variety of wildlife on Mount Takao is thanks to the abundance of plants, nuts, and insects that serve as food year-round. Among these species, the Japanese giant flying squirrel (musasabi)—a representative mammal of the area and endemic to Japan—does not hibernate. It feeds on different types of leaves and nuts depending on the season. The many hollow trees found on the mountain also offer ideal nesting spots, making it a perfect habitat for the species. Visitors can closely observe both taxidermy and skeletal specimens of the giant flying squirrel in resting and gliding poses. Additionally, projection mapping brings the exhibit to life with seasonal imagery, allowing guests to experience the animals' behaviors throughout the year in a dynamic and occasionally playful way.

NATURE COLLECTION

The main exhibit consists of 16 display stations. Visitors can explore seasonal plants preserved in acrylic resin, along with strikingly lifelike insect specimens captured mid-flight—offering a chance to experience Mount Takao’s abundant nature at any time of year. Other highlights include a topographic diorama of Mount Takao and the surrounding mountains, as well as a tactile display of various seeds and nuts.

Mount Takao lies at the boundary between warm-temperate and cool-temperate zones, allowing plants from both climates to flourish. As a result, the mountain boasts extraordinary botanical diversity, with approximately 1,600 plant species—roughly equivalent to the total number found across the entire United Kingdom. It is also known as a “mountain of violets,” home to many violet species. One notable variety is Takao Sumire, named after the mountain where it was first discovered, distinguished by its dark reddish-brown leaves.

Roughly 5,000 insect species inhabit Mount Takao, making it one of Japan’s three major insect habitats alongside Mount Minoo in Osaka and Mount Kibune in Kyoto. Its rich biodiversity, combined with easy access from central Tokyo, has long made it a beloved field site for entomological research. Many species were first discovered here and even bear the mountain's name.