Choose Your Journey on the JR Chuo Line
All four journeys begin by boarding the train with Sho, a former JR Chuo Line conductor.
The train is not simply transportation to the destination.
Enjoy the changing views and the time spent traveling as part of the journey itself.
Choose from Mt. Takao and onsen, craft beer in western Tokyo, local food and nightlife, or a Tokyoite’s day off for families.
Each journey has a different destination, pace, and atmosphere.
Choose the one that fits your Tokyo trip.
The Journey Begins in the Green Car
Every Samurai Guide Sho tour begins at Tokyo Station or Shinjuku Station, aboard the JR Chuo Line Green Car.
Settle into a comfortable reclining seat with a table, power outlet, and Wi-Fi, and enjoy the changing views from the double-decker train as central Tokyo gradually gives way to somewhere different.
But comfort is not the only reason the journey begins here.
Sho spent 22 years as a conductor on the JR Chuo Line, supporting passengers traveling along this very railway.
Today, he travels the same line with you in a different role.
Not as your conductor, but beside you as your guide.
And this time, you are the “passenger.”
Whether your journey leads to Mt. Takao, craft beer in western Tokyo, local food and nightlife, or a Tokyoite’s day off with your family, the first chapter begins the same way.
Take your seat in the Green Car, watch Tokyo change outside the window, and travel beyond the center of the city.
The journey has already begun before you reach the destination.
Mt Takao Hike & Onsen
A Private Train Journey Connecting Mt. Takao, Temple and Onsen
Walk through the forest, visit Yakuoin Temple, and enjoy the nature and culture of Mt. Takao at your own pace.
The route can be adjusted to your group’s fitness level and preferences, followed by an onsen or local experience after the hike.
A private tour designed for families, first-time hikers, active travelers, and different walking preferences.
Tour type: Private tour
Departure: Shinjuku Station or Tokyo Station
Ends at: Shinjuku Station
Admission to the selected bathing facility and a towel are included. If you prefer not to bathe, you can switch to local food or one local craft beer at no extra charge.
West Tokyo Craft Beer
A Small-Group Chuo Line Craft Beer Journey in West Tokyo
Travel west on the Chuo Line and enjoy the local atmosphere, distinctive taprooms, and craft beer.
No beer knowledge is needed. Choose the beers that interest you and drink at your own pace.
The goal is not to drink as much as possible, but to enjoy the town, the taprooms, and the craft beer together as one experience.
Tour type: Small-group tour
Departure: Shinjuku Station
Ends at: Shinjuku Station
Craft beer is purchased individually at each venue
Trackside Eats & Bars
A Private Train Journey into Local Food and Nightlife
Leave the major tourist nightlife districts behind and step into the evening life of neighborhoods along the Chuo Line.
Visit small local spots, enjoy food and drinks of your choice, and experience the different atmosphere of each place and the streets around it.
This is not a loud pub crawl, but a private evening journey enjoyed at your own pace.
Tour type: Private tour
Departure: Shinjuku Station or Tokyo Station
Ends at: Kichijoji Station
Around 10 recommended food items per person are included
Drinks are not included
A Tokyoite’s Day Off for Families
Give the Children an Adventure, and Give the Parents a Day Off Too
Instead of adding another attraction to a busy Tokyo itinerary, spend a slower day together as a family.
Children can play freely in a spacious park while parents step away from managing the day and simply enjoy the time as part of the family.
Rather than another day of sightseeing, experience something closer to a Tokyo family’s day off.
Tour type: Private family tour
Departure: Shinjuku Station or Tokyo Station
Ends at: Shinjuku Station
Park admission is included
Fees for activities inside the park are not included
Railway Support from a Former JR Chuo Line Conductor
Tokyo’s stations and railway system can feel complicated, especially on a first visit.
Sho supports you with tickets and Suica, ticket gates, boarding locations, transfers, and other parts of your train journey.
If delays or service changes occur, he will check the situation and help keep your journey moving as smoothly as possible.
Relax and enjoy not only the destination, but the train journey that takes you there.
Departure Stations
Begin at Shinjuku or Tokyo Station
All tours can begin at Shinjuku Station.
For departures from Shinjuku, meet Samurai Guide Sho at Suica Penguin Square, directly in front of JR Shinjuku Station’s New South Gate.
Search “Suica Penguin Square” on Google Maps.
For departures from Tokyo Station, meet just outside the Marunouchi South Gate at JR Tokyo Station.
Search “Marunouchi South Gate” on Google Maps.
Use the ground-floor gate, not the Marunouchi Underground South Gate.
Sho will be waiting in modern samurai attire, making him easy to find at either meeting point.
Private tours can also begin at Tokyo Station.
The craft beer tour is a small-group tour and begins and ends at Shinjuku Station.
Ending points vary by tour, so please check each individual tour page.
Independent Operation
All tours are independently operated by Samurai Guide Sho and are not affiliated with JR East.
His experience with JR East and the JR Chuo Line is part of his personal background and guiding style.