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Tokyo Private Tour - Beware of the Tengu's wrath !
Beware of the Tengu's wrath !
Tokyo Private Tour - Buddhist stairs with 108 steps !
Buddhist stairs with 108 steps !
Tokyo Private Tour - freshly baked dango with sesame
freshly baked dango with sesame
Tokyo Private Tour - old town's shopping street
old town's shopping street
Tokyo Private Tour - Mt. Fuji at nightfall, from the submit
Mt. Fuji at nightfall, from the submit
Tokyo Private Tour - Mt. Takao, home of flying squirrels
Mt. Takao, home of flying squirrels
Tokyo Private Tour - Takao's forest suspension bridge
Takao's forest suspension bridge
Tokyo Private Tour - Entering Mt Takao's sacred forest
Entering Mt Takao's sacred forest
Tokyo Private Tour - Japanese macaques - monkey park
Japanese macaques - monkey park
Tokyo Private Tour - making our way to the submit
making our way to the submit
Tokyo Private Tour - Sacred gate to the temple
Sacred gate to the temple
Tokyo Private Tour - The Tengu's temple: Yakuo-in
The Tengu's temple: Yakuo-in

Mt. Takao: temples, monkeys & waterfall

Nature & Outdoor
Tokyo Tour Guide - Hardy M.

Joined 2025

Hardy M.
4.96 / 5
(26 reviews)
Identity Verified
Interview-Based Quality Checks
Tokyo
English, French (Native), Japanese
8 hours
Private tour (only you and Hardy M.)
Up to 8 people

Get the Tengu's protection with an easy forest trail just 1h from Tokyo!

The temple devoted to those deities, is surrounded by centuries-old trees, home of flying squirrels and monkeys.

With along the way waterfalls still in use by monks for meditation.

Mt. Takao hiking is relatively easy and only requires comfortable shoes,

and if the weather is favorable, Mt. Fuji can be seen at the submit!

And in the old town, restaurants and snacks offer a different taste than the capital.

Itinerary

This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!

09:00 AM

Meeting Point

At your hotel in Tokyo

10:30 AM

Arrival at the base of Mt. Takao (TakaoSanGuchi Station)

We walk along the historic streets in direction of the museum

11:00 AM

Mt. Takao Museum (free)

We discover the animals and plants typical of the region (such as flying squirrels)

11:30 AM

Lunch at a local restaurant

The local specialty is buckwheat noodles (soba) with shrimp and vegetable tempura.

12:30 PM

Start the ascent of Mt. Takao

We take the steepest cable car in Japan with an angle of 31°, Incredible !

01:00 PM

The Forest Gate

Octopus Stone & Octopus Tree

01:00 PM

(Optional) The Monkey Park

See Japanese famous monkeys up close !

Adult 500JPY = ~3 USD/EUR Children 250JPY = ~1.5USD/EUR

01:30 PM

(Optional) The 108-step staircase !

One step for every earthly desire in Buddhism. But don't worry,

if you don't need to get rid of them, there is a shortcut for the saints :)

01:30 PM

Let's go eat dessert: Sesame Dango !

Dango are traditional Japanese sweets made of rice and sesame,

coated with sweet or salty sauce. Perfect for restoring some strength !

02:00 PM

Visiting the Tengu's Temple

The "Yakuo-In Yuki-Ji" is a 1200 year old temple dedicated to the Tengu

(Crow & Long-Nose deities, protectors of Mt. Takao).

Tokyo can be seen from the distance.

02:30 PM

(Optional) Climbing to the Top !

That's the real difficult part of the trail, 30 minutes of stairs going to the top.

The recompense is a stunning sight of the Japanese natural mountains...

plus a chance to see Mt Fuji when the weather is clear !

03:00 PM

(Optional) Return via the Forest & Suspension Bridge

Take a different route to get back; this one involves going deeper into the forest and crossing a suspension bridge. but can get muddy occassionally.

03:30 PM

(Optional) Meditation Waterfall

We can do a detour to see the JataKi waterfall,

still used nowadays by Buddhist monks to train their meditation skills.

03:30 PM

Shopping at the old town

As we walk back to the train station, it is possible to stop and buy some souvenirs (omiage). The place is known for selling various sweet delicacies.

04:00 PM

Take the Train back to Shinjuku (Tokyo)

05:00 PM

Returning to your Hotel

We can also stop by Shinjuku to visit and have lunch before getting back to your hotel if you are interested.

Ending Point

At your hotel in Tokyo

Want to personalize this tour?

This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.

Inclusions & Exclusions

What‘s included

English/French/Japanese speaking guide

Various anecdotes about the history of the places visited

Pick up and Drop off at your hotel

What‘s not included

Train fee for you and the guide, 860JPY ≈ 6USD/EUR p.p.

Meal and drinks for you and the guide 1500JPY ≈ 10USD/EUR p.p.

Funicular for you and the guide, 950JPY ≈ 6USD/EUR p.p.

(Opt.) Monkey Park for you and the guide, 500JPY ≈ 3USD/EUR p.p.

Tour Important Information

* This tour involves a lot of walking, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.

* Please let me know in advance if you have any food allergies.

Important message from the supplier

I am unable to make bookings for customers (e.g. chartered taxi / accommodation....), but I can provide guidance and end my tour at a specific location upon request.

Cancellation Policy

  • Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
  • 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
  • No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Tokyo Tour Guide - Hardy M.

Joined 2025

Hardy M.
4.96 / 5
(26 reviews)
Identity Verified
Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Hardy M.

Kind and always mindful of your pace, I work with everyone from large families to solo travelers.

My guided tours are suitable for everyone, even the youngest.


Given my interest in various subjects (from Japanese history to Manga & RPGs culture),

reach me if you need to add a personal touches for your stay in Tokyo !


Versed in Martial Arts: Aikido, Iaido (Katana), and Kyudo (Bow),

I also worked on the restoration of Japanese armors in the past.


Alumni of the University of Tokyo, I speak English, French, and Japanese.

Reviews

“Chopsticks and eel”

We had a great day out with Hardy. The weather wasn’t very cooperative but that didn’t detract from the experience. The little soy sauce brewery was very interesting, and making our own chopsticks was a highlight. We really enjoyed the grilled eel restaurant for lunch with a few cold beers. Many thanks to Hardy for getting us back to our hotel, despite the thousands of people trying to get to the Tokyo fireworks at the same time.

Tony G.

Hardy M.

I was very happy to introduce you to a soy sauce brewery running since the edo period in Kawagoe, just the smell alone is something entirely different. It was a wonderful excursion, but for future reference, please be aware that Ariake is located somewhat outside of Tokyo, making it not the most convenient place to stay in a hotel ;)

“Tokyo en français ”

J'étais ravi d'avoir l'opportunité de découvrir des quartiers de Tokyo inconnus pour moi en compagnie d'un jeune homme aussi érudit et agréable.

Maya I.

Hardy M.

Merci ; j’ai été tout aussi ravi de pouvoir vous faire découvrir des quartiers de Tokyo moins connus du grand public. Bien à vous.

“An Unforgettable Tokyo Experience with a Fantastic Guide!”

Booking Marciel Hardy through GoWithGuide was the best decision I made for my trip to Tokyo! From the moment we met, Hardy effortlessly guided me through Tokyo's dense web of trains and subways, helping me seamlessly navigate the crowds to drop off my luggage at my hotel. What truly sets Hardy apart is his dedication and thoughtfulness. On our first day, a few tightly timed stops meant we narrowly missed the closing times for the Imperial Palace and Meiji Jingu. Without missing a beat, Hardy took full accountability and kindly offered to take me back to the Imperial Palace on Sunday as a personal apology. He even generously treated me to lunch that day! His ability to pivot and make sure I didn't miss out on anything important showed what a consummate professional he is. Thanks to his wonderful planning, I got to experience everything from the ancient beauty of Senso-ji Temple to a spectacular Ukiyo-e art exhibition at the Tokyo National Museum, ending with a fun souvenir shopping trip in Akihabara. Hardy is knowledgeable, reliable, highly adaptable, and incredibly kind. If you are looking for a guide who truly cares about making your time in Tokyo magical and stress-free, I cannot recommend Hardy enough! Thank you for an amazing trip!

Want to Personalize?

$203/ per group

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