A Private Train Journey Connecting Mt. Takao, Temple and Onsen
After guiding passengers for 22 years as a conductor on the JR Chuo Line, Samurai Guide Sho brings together the train ride, a Mt. Takao hike, a visit to Yakuoin Temple, and an onsen in a private journey tailored to your group.
Depart from Shinjuku or Tokyo Station and travel comfortably to Mt. Takao aboard the JR Chuo Line Green Car (premium seating).
This time, you are the “passenger.”
At Mt. Takao, walk through the quiet forest, enjoy local mountain specialties along the way, and experience Japanese culture at Yakuoin Temple as you slow your pace and clear your mind.
On clear days, see Mt. Fuji from near the summit, then enjoy panoramic views from the chairlift on the way down.
Sneakers are fine, and families with young children are welcome.
At the foot of the mountain, the standard plan is to relax at a bathing facility suited to your group. The usual option is a natural onsen at the foot of the mountain. For guests with tattoos, we can use a tattoo-friendly bathing facility or local public bath.
After the onsen, if time and venue availability allow, you can also stop at a craft beer taproom at the foot of Mt. Takao and enjoy local craft beer brewed there. Beer after the onsen is not included in the tour price.
If you prefer not to bathe, you can switch the bathing experience to local food or one local craft beer. This alternative experience is included in the tour price. Craft beer is for guests aged 20 and over.
Return to Shinjuku in comfort aboard the Green Car, with time to relax and reflect on the day.
Tour Details
Tour type: Private tour
Start time: 9:30 AM
End time: Around 5:00 PM
Duration: Approximately 7 to 8 hours
Departure: Shinjuku Station or Tokyo Station
Ends at: Shinjuku Station
Guide: Samurai Guide Sho, former JR Chuo Line conductor
Train experience: JR Chuo Line Green Car, premium seating
Age: 4 and over
Booking requirement: Minimum 2 adults
Group size: Maximum 6 guests
The route and time spent at each location may be adjusted according to the weather, crowds, your group’s fitness level, and facility opening conditions.
Price
Adult (ages 12+): US$134.40 per person
Child (ages 4–11): US$115.20 per person
Prices shown in currencies other than JPY are estimates. Please confirm the final amount during booking.
What’s Included
Private tour
Natural hot spring, or tattoo-friendly bath & sauna (towels included at all facilities)
If you don’t want to bathe, you can switch that day to local food or one local craft beer.
Former JR East professional (23 yrs): support with complex stations, tickets, Suica, and transfers.
Former JR Chuo Line train conductor (22 yrs): Green Car guidance and support during disruptions.
A hiking route tailored to your group.
What’s Not Included
US$24.32Round-trip fare + Green Car
(Card-type Suica recommended; pay at JR gates; former JR staff assists.)
Chairlift fare
(Pay at the gate; cash, Suica, or card accepted.)
Additional food and drinks (except the alternative local experience above).
Meeting Points
Departure from Shinjuku Station
Meet at Suica Penguin Square, directly in front of JR Shinjuku Station’s New South Gate.
Search “Suica Penguin Square” on Google Maps.
Sho will be waiting in modern samurai attire, making him easy to find.
Departure 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.
Your guide Sho will wear modern samurai attire and be easy to find.
Ending Point
The tour ends at Shinjuku Station.
If you are continuing to Tokyo Station, you may stay in the same Green Car after Sho gets off at Shinjuku, so you do not need to change trains.
Before boarding, Sho will ask where you plan to get off and help you purchase the correct Green Car ticket.
Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the tour start time.
Cancellations made within 24 hours of the tour start time are non-refundable.
Book This Tour
From Tokyo or Shinjuku to Mt. Takao by Green Car
The journey does not begin only after you reach the mountain.
Meet Sho at Tokyo Station or Shinjuku Station and travel west on the JR Chuo Line Green Car.
The Green Car offers premium seating, like a mobile lounge that moves beyond the traffic and crowds of central Tokyo.
It has spacious seats, and you may eat and drink on board. A restroom, trash bins, power outlets, and Wi-Fi are also available.
Outside the window, high-rise buildings gradually give way to residential neighborhoods, while the sky between the stations begins to open.
On many tours, the train is simply transportation to the destination.
On this tour, the changing view and the time spent in the Green Car are part of the journey.
Why travel with a former JR Chuo Line conductor?
Samurai Guide Sho worked for JR East for 23 years, including 22 years as a conductor on the JR Chuo Line.
He did not learn this railway from a map or travel guide.
He experienced how the trains move.
How each station feels.
How passengers travel.
How the city and the view change as the railway moves west from central Tokyo.
On this tour, you do not simply meet a hiking guide at the foot of the mountain.
You travel with a former conductor whose workplace for many years was the railway that takes you there.
Just as Sho once supported passengers’ daily journeys as a conductor, he now supports your journey.
Now it’s your turn to be the “passenger.”
Mt. Takao at your pace
There are many ways to enjoy Mt. Takao.
Some travelers want a full hike.
Some prefer a lighter walk.
Some want to use the cable car or chairlift.
Some want more time at Yakuoin Temple, views from near the summit, or local food.
This tour does not push every group through the same fixed route.
Walking routes and transportation options are combined according to the weather, trail conditions, crowds, fitness level, age, and your preferences.
Sneakers are suitable for many routes, and first-time hikers and children are welcome.
The goal is not to rush through a fixed list of places.
The goal is to enjoy Mt. Takao at the right pace for your day.
Slow Down at Yakuoin Temple
Mt. Takao is not only a place to experience nature.
It is also home to Yakuoin Temple, which has a long history on the mountain.
Walk through forest paths, gates, Tengu statues, places of prayer, and mountain scenery that changes with the seasons.
This tour does not force a religious experience.
Rather than rushing in for a photograph and moving on, you have time to slow down and notice the atmosphere around you.
Walk.
Look around.
Breathe.
Step away from the speed of your Tokyo trip for a while.
The value of this journey is not only reaching the summit, but also feeling your own pace begin to change.
Onsen or Local Experience
After enjoying Mt. Takao, the standard plan is to relax at a bathing facility suited to your group. The usual option is a natural onsen at the foot of the mountain. For guests with tattoos, we can use a tattoo-friendly bathing facility or local public bath.
After the onsen, if time and venue availability allow, you can also stop at a craft beer taproom at the foot of Mt. Takao and enjoy local craft beer brewed there. Beer after the onsen is not included in the tour price.
If you prefer not to bathe, you can switch the bathing experience to local food or one local craft beer. This alternative experience is included in the tour price. Craft beer is for guests aged 20 and over.
For families with young children, the final part of the day can be adjusted to suit your children’s ages and family needs.
Before Your Tour
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.
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.
Children aged 5 and under normally have no transportation costs during the tour. We recommend charging about ¥4,000 for ages 6–11 and about ¥6,000 for ages 12 and over on a Suica or PASMO card.
Please bring some cash, as Yakuoin Temple and some shops on Mt. Takao may accept cash only. Credit cards can be used for most other payments.
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.
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.
