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Offered languages
- Japanese
- English
- English
Escape Tokyo crowds by train with a former conductor and slow your mind and pace on a railway journey.
The “passenger” on this journey is you.
Begin your journey in comfort from Shinjuku on the JR Chuo Line Green Car (premium seating) with Samurai Guide Sho, who served on the JR Chuo Line for 22 years.
When the train doors open, a slower, local side of Tokyo begins.
This is not a rushed tour that tries to pack in Mt. Takao’s famous sights.
It is a local experience where you travel by train like people living in Tokyo on their day off, and enjoy a slow break at your own pace.
At Mt. Takao, calm your mind as you walk through the quiet forest, experience Japanese culture at Yakuoin Temple, and look for Mt. Fuji near the summit on clear days.
Sneakers and kids are OK.
At the base, relax at an onsen or tattoo-friendly bathing facility.
You can also stop by a local craft beer taproom.
On the way back to Shinjuku, enjoy the lingering feeling of the journey in comfort on the Green Car.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Meet at Suica Penguin Square, directly in front of JR Shinjuku Station’s New South Gate. Search “Suica Penguin Square” on Google Maps. The address is shown as Shibuya City, but it will take you to the correct meeting point. Your guide Sho will wear modern samurai attire and be easy to find.
Itinerary
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1
Departure from Shinjuku: A Train Journey to Mt. Takao A former JR Chuo Line conductor who spent 22 years watching over this railway will personally guide his “passengers” on a train journey to Mt. Takao. Begin the journey from Shinjuku Station with Samurai Guide Sho, who worked for JR East for 23 years, including 22 years as a conductor on the JR Chuo Line. On this journey, you are the “passenger.” Walk through the complex Shinjuku Station with a former conductor, then usually travel toward Mt. Takao in comfort on the JR Chuo Line Green Car (premium seating). Outside the window, Tokyo changes from Shinjuku’s skyscrapers to residential neighborhoods and everyday life along the railway, and gradually into mountain scenery. Watch as Tokyo slowly takes off its tourist face and reveals another side of itself. On this journey, the destination is only part of the story. The train ride itself is part of the experience. When the train doors open, a slower side of Tokyo begins.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Mt. Takaosan Hiking Course
Walk Mt. Takao at Your Own Pace At Mt. Takao, we do not rush along one fixed route. The route is adjusted to your group’s fitness level, ages, the weather, and crowd conditions. For first-time hikers or families with children, we can combine the cable car or chairlift with an easier and more comfortable walking route. For guests who want a more active experience, we may choose a hiking trail through quiet forests and past a traditional training waterfall. Listen to the trees, breathe in the mountain air, and walk slowly at your own pace. This is not a hike that rushes to collect every famous sight on Mt. Takao. It is time to enjoy a slow break in nature, much like people living in Tokyo taking the train to the mountains on their day off.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3Mt. Takao
Reach the Summit and Look for Mt. Fuji We make our way toward the summit of Mt. Takao using a route suited to your group. One of the highlights of the journey is the moment when you leave the quiet forest and the mountain view suddenly opens in front of you. Reaching the summit on foot brings a satisfying sense of achievement that cannot be measured simply by distance or height. On clear days, you may be able to see Mt. Fuji from near the summit. Even when Mt. Fuji is hidden by the weather, this is a place where the noise of central Tokyo feels remarkably far away. Rather than rushing to the next stop, take time to enjoy the scenery and experience the summit at your own pace.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4Takaosan Yakuo-in Yuki-ji Temple
Visit Yakuoin, a Historic Mountain Temple Visit Yakuoin, a historic temple located on Mt. Takao. This is more than a place to look at buildings and take photographs. Take time to experience the atmosphere of a temple surrounded by the mountain. Tengu statues, mountain worship, and the blending of Buddhist and Shinto traditions create a world that is uniquely Japanese and still alive today. As you walk through the temple grounds, see the statues and buildings in front of you, and feel the quiet of the mountain, you can experience the atmosphere and history of the place for yourself. The focus is not on memorizing facts, but on being present and experiencing the place through your own senses. Pause for a moment and allow your mind to settle.
40 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5
A Quiet Pause in the Forest Along the way to the summit and Yakuoin Temple, there are quiet places surrounded by trees. Rather than rushing toward the next famous spot, we can pause when needed, breathe in the mountain air, and take a relaxed break. The changing colors of the trees, birdsong, and glimpses of Tokyo through the leaves are also part of Mt. Takao’s appeal. Instead of collecting famous sights one by one, enjoy the scenery and sounds that naturally appear during the day. On this journey, even a moment of doing nothing can be part of the experience.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6
Descend in a Way That Suits Your Group After enjoying the summit and Yakuoin Temple, we descend according to the weather, crowd conditions, trail conditions, and your group’s energy level. Depending on the day, we may use the cable car, chairlift, or walk down the mountain. The chairlift lets you feel the mountain breeze and enjoy open views, while the cable car offers a memorable ride along the steep mountainside. Walking down allows you to experience the forest from a slightly different perspective than on the way up. Rather than making your group follow one fixed plan, we choose a comfortable and suitable way to descend. The journey down is not simply transportation. Even the time spent leaving the mountain is part of the story of Mt. Takao.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
7Mt. Takao
Finish the Day with an Onsen and a Local Craft Beer Taproom After walking on Mt. Takao, relax at a bathing facility suited to your group. The standard option is a natural hot spring at the foot of the mountain. For guests with tattoos, we can arrange a tattoo-friendly bath and sauna or a local public bath with an open-air bath. Whether you have tattoos or are traveling with children, your guide will help you choose the right option, so Japan’s bathing rules never become stressful. Soaking in warm water after a mountain walk is a distinctly Japanese way to finish the day. Rest your legs, warm your body, and let the journey settle. You can also stop at a local craft beer taproom in the Mt. Takao area and enjoy fresh beer brewed locally. Mountain, temple, onsen, and local craft beer come together in a relaxed day beyond the Tokyo shown on tourist maps. If you prefer not to bathe, the final part of the tour can be adjusted to suit your group.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
8
Return to Shinjuku in the Green Car We usually return to Shinjuku in comfort on the JR Chuo Line Green Car (premium seating). After enjoying the onsen or local craft beer, relax in your seat and watch the scenery outside the window change from mountains to residential neighborhoods, and finally back to the city. Walk through the forest, experience Japanese culture at Yakuoin Temple, rest in warm water, and enjoy local flavors. Take time to look back on the day as we return to Shinjuku. The destination is only part of the story. The journey itself matters too. This is not simply transportation back to Tokyo. It is the final train ride shared by a former conductor and his passengers, with time to enjoy the lingering feeling of the journey. We usually arrive back in Shinjuku at around 5:00 p.m., making it easy to plan dinner or enjoy the rest of your evening in Tokyo.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- This tour is independently operated and is not affiliated with JR East.
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- This tour is independently operated and is not affiliated with JR East.
- The photos for this tour are unedited so you can see the real atmosphere of the experience.
- For your overall expenses on the day, we recommend charging about ¥5,000 per adult and about ¥4,000 per child age 9–11 on your Suica or PASMO card. Please also bring some cash, as some places such as Yakuo-in Temple and small shops on Mt. Takao may accept cash only. Most other payments can be made by credit card.
- Please bring a physical Suica or PASMO card for a smoother Green Car experience. If you are not sure how to charge it, please bring cash on the day and I will help you.
- After arriving at the nearest station to Mt. Takao, you can buy drinks or light food before the hike. You can also withdraw cash at the Seven Bank ATM in the station or store your luggage in coin lockers.
- The Green Car has seat tables, drink holders, power outlets, a restroom, and trash bins, so you can enjoy your own meals or drinks on board, and it is also convenient for charging your phone or other devices.
- Please wear comfortable walking shoes. Depending on your group’s fitness level, the weather, and crowd conditions, the tour may include hiking on mountain trails.
- Rain gear is needed in wet weather, warm clothing is needed in colder seasons, and heatstroke prevention is needed in hot weather.
- The tour operates in light rain. In severe weather, on very hot summer days, or when trail conditions are poor, the itinerary may be adjusted for safety and heatstroke prevention by combining hiking routes, the cable car, the chairlift, or other easier options.
- Food stops and optional visits on the mountain may be changed or skipped depending on weather, shop opening conditions, and crowd levels.
- When the cable car or chairlift is crowded, we may walk instead. The uphill hike takes about 1.5 hours, and the downhill walk takes about 30 to 40 minutes.
- The standard option is a natural hot spring at the foot of Mt. Takao. Guests with tattoos cannot use this facility.
- For guests with tattoos, we will use a tattoo-friendly bathing and sauna facility (ages 18 and over, per facility policy).
- For guests with tattoos traveling with children, we will use a tattoo-friendly local public bath with an open-air bath. A short taxi or bus ride may be used if needed.
- You can also skip the spa entirely.
- If you have dietary restrictions, please contact me before or at the time of booking. Availability of suitable options depends on the details.
- Guests with strict dietary restrictions are recommended to bring their own safe food.
- Alcohol is available only to guests aged 20 and over.
- As this tour includes hiking, every reasonable effort will be made to ensure safety. Participants are also asked to take responsibility for their own health and safety.
- The organizer is not responsible for illness, injury, or loss or damage of personal belongings during the tour.
- The tour may be terminated without refund in case of disruptive behavior.
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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