Mt Takao: Optional Onsen by Train from Tokyo with Ex-JR Conductor

What's included

What you'll see and do

1. Tokyo Central Railway Station

   Departure from Tokyo Station is also available. This meeting point is convenient for travelers staying near Tokyo Station, Marunouchi, Otemachi, Nihonbashi, Ginza, and other major central Tokyo areas. There is no need to travel to Shinjuku before the tour. Meet Sho at Tokyo Station and board the JR Chuo Line Green Car together for the journey toward Mt. Takao. This reduces morning travel and transfers, allowing you to begin the day comfortably in spacious premium seating.

   10 minutes here

2. Shinjuku Southern Terrace

   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 here

3. Mt. 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.

   90 minutes here

4. Mt. 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 here

5. Takaosan 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 here

6. Mt. Takao, Monkey zoo, Wild Grass Garden

   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 here

7. Takaotozan Cable Car

   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 here

8. Mt. Takao

   Finish the Day with an 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. Enjoy a relaxed finish to your day in western Tokyo with mountain scenery, Japanese culture, onsen, local food, and craft beer.

   90 minutes here

9. Suica's Penguin Park

   We return to Shinjuku 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 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. The tour ends at Shinjuku Station. If you are continuing toward Tokyo Station, you may remain in the same Green Car after Sho gets off at Shinjuku.

   5 minutes here

Where it starts and ends

Before you book

Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Languages

ja, en

Ticket

Mobile Only

Runs on

Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri

Group size

Up to 6 travelers per booking

Operated by

Samurai Guide Sho

Know before you go

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• 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.
• All photos featured for this tour were taken at the actual locations visited during the tour and are unedited, so you can see the real atmosphere of the experience.
• Please bring some cash, as Yakuo-in Temple and some shops on Mt. Takao may accept cash only. Credit cards can be used for most other payments.
• 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 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, withdraw cash at the Seven Bank ATM in the station, or store your luggage in a coin locker, although lockers may be full during busy seasons such as autumn leaves and cherry blossom season.
• 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 choose a tattoo-friendly bathing facility or local public bath suited to your age and family needs.
• If you don’t want to bathe, you can switch that day to local food or one local craft beer.
• Local craft beer is subject to venue availability. If unavailable, the alternative will be a local food experience.
• 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.

Photos

Traveler reviews

17 verified traveler reviews for Mt Takao: Optional Onsen by Train from Tokyo with Ex-JR Conductor. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.