Joined 2017
Takao M.
Available Areas
Kanagawa (Living), Kamakura, Hakone
Languages
English, Japanese (Native)
Response Time
11 hours on average
Availability Updated
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About Tour Guide Takao M.
Hi, I'm Takao. I like walking with my friends in the mountains, along rivers and beaches, and visiting historical places and museums. Usually, after enjoying these places, we take a dip in hot springs and drink beer.
As a guide, however, I'll take up places easy to walk around. I assume not many people from abroad are prepared for sweating activities.
If you like, though, I can modify my plan, connecting with a short hiking, hot bath and a drinking place.
Important
1. The fee doesn't include the tourists' transportation fees.
2. The fee doesn't include the tourists' meals or beverages.
3. The fee doesn't include admission charges for visiting places or charges for hands-on activities.
4. Tourists pay the guide's transportation fees.
Tours
All tours can be customized for you. Send me a message with your requests!
Categories
Hakone One-Day Trip
Customers visit Amasake Chaya, Hakone Shrine, Pirate Ship, Hakone Ropeway, Owakudani Valley, Cable Car, Hakone Open-Air Museum, Yumoto Street. They experience a variety of transportations.
Tramping the Old Hakone Path of Cobblestones
Bus ride up the soaring Hakone mountains at the foot of Mt. Fuji, a hot sweet drink at a traditional tea house, walk on a historic stone-paved Hakone path, lunch at Motohakone, sail on a pirate boat, panoramic views from a ropeway, stop at fuming Owakudani Valley tasting black eggs boiled by volcanic heat, cable car descent to Gora, train ride to Tonosawa, Benzaiten Shrine and a dip in a spa.
Soul-Exploring Trip of Kamakura and Sutra Copying
Through copying sutra in Hasedera Temple, you get the serenity of mind and feel ready to explore the secret world of Buddhism: Benzaiten in the cave and Hase Kannon on the hill. After watching the imposing Great Buddha, take train to Kamakura, where you can relax and have lunch at various kinds of restaurants to choose from. Then, visit Hachimangu Shrine. and enjoy shopping at Komachidori Street.
Soul-Exploring Trip of Hase Temple, the Great Buddha in Kamakura
Through copying sutra in Hasedera Temple, you get the serenity of mind and feel ready to explore the secret world of Buddhism. In the adjacent cave stand the statues of gods, each with the mission of having human desires achieved. At the top of a hill, Hase Kannon looks down mercifully upon you. Then, seven minutes' walk takes you to the imposing Great Buddha of Kamakura.
Tramping the Old Hakone Path (Earlier Start＋Hakone Shrine)
Bus ride up the soaring Hakone mountains, visit a traditional tea house serving a hot sweet drink, walk on a historic stone-paved Hakone path, visit Hakone Shrine, lunch at Motohakone, sail on a pirate boat, panoramic views from a ropeway, stop at fuming Owakudani Valley tasting black eggs boiled by volcanic heat, cable car descent to Gora, train ride to Tonosawa, visit Benzaiten Shrine and a dip in a hot spa.
Reviews
Owen I.
“Great Tour of Hakone”
Excellent tour of Hakone! Would 100% recommend if you’re thinking about going on a tour of Hakone.
Takao M.
Dear Owen and Sarah. Your constant smiles moved me although it rained everywhere we went and nothing was visible from the ship, ropeway nor cable car. The Hakone Shrine deity surely thanked you for visiting in the rain. Have a nice trip! Best regards, Takao Mizushima
Paola M.
“Poor English, not resourceful ”
The company itself or some AI must be the one that replied to my massages since Takao, even though a sweet gentleman, can barely speak English and is not resourceful or informed about the area.
Takao M.
Sorry, Paola. We lost about 90 minutes yesterday because the strong wind forced the ropeway to stop, and we had to return to our starting point. I chose that route because: 1. I wanted you to experience a cable car ride. 2. I wanted to minimize the use of buses that don’t accept the Hakone Freepass. The bus ride from the cable car terminal to the highest point of Owakudani Valley is the shortest option. 3. The only buses that reach the volcanic valley when the ropeway is stopped are the ones that don’t accept the pass. 4. There were so many people in line ahead of us that I couldn’t predict how many buses we’d have to wait for. 5. We called all the taxi companies, but none were available due to high demand. Despite this setback, we still managed to experience three out of the four attractions you considered a “must”—the ropeway, pirate ship, cable car, and open-air museum. Mt. Fuji wasn’t visible, and the ropeway was stopped, so we missed out on the great view from it. Unfortunately, that meant we lost two of the main highlights of the tour, and I didn’t have many opportunities to explain the scenery. Still, I did my best to make the tour worthwhile by sharing whatever thoughts came to mind. I truly enjoyed our conversations! I use AI to refine my written English, but I don’t rely on it for speaking. Improving my English is something I truly care about. I sincerely appreciate your understanding. Thank you. Best regards, Takao
Terrence t S.
“AMAZING DAY”
with my guide. First of all: what a true charming gentleman Mr Takao was waiting for me at the busstop and we just started exploring the amazing sights and scenery of Hakone. Get ready to walk A LOT as Hakone is quite spread out. My hightlight was definitely to see Mt. Fuji clear from all clouds and mist. Also the Hakone trail: walking over a historic path on centuries old stones in the middle of nature was magical. Mr. Takao cn tell you a lot of the history and legends of this beautiful mountian resort. It was dfinitely one of my highlights and I am truly grateful to have spent the day with mr. Takao
Takao M.
Hi, Terry. Thank you so much for your kind review. I’ll take care not to get carried away by the compliments. May I ask you two questions? I’m interested in a Duch word “Niksen.” The word seems to mean not doing things, but being as we are. It’s like sitting idly on a chair, looking leisurely out of the window or listening to music without focusing on it too much. Is it a traditional way of living in the Netherlands? Do you practice it? What was the Dutch word you told me? The word Dutch people say quite often without meaning anything. You taught me the word when we were transferring from the ropeway to the cable car if I remember correctly. We have seen all the places and we just started our way back. I thought we have had a good time and had a sense of accomplishment at that time. I’m sorry my questions are too long. Best regards, Takao Mizushima
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Hiro Y.
Hello, my dear would-be guests! My name is Hiroko. People call me Hiro for short. I am a government licensed guide. Here I am to make your time in a tour full of fun and provide you an unforgettable travel experience of your life. I grew up and live in Yokohama that is adjacent to Tokyo. After many years of several English-related job experiences, such as translating, teaching, desk work, etc., I finally found this job, tour guide, which is a perfect fit for my true nature. I love meeting people, having fun with people, and am always looking for something interesting wanting to share it with people. How about spending a part of your precious time here in Japan with this cheerful, friendly and well-informed tour guide, Hiro?
Hiroshi S.
Hello, I'm Hiroshi. I am a National Government Licensed Tour Guide Interpreter in English. I have got a master's degree in Computer Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the U.S. I have been living in a city of Fujisawa, which is the city next to Kamakura, for more than 20 years, and also lived in Kamakura for more than 10 years. So far, I have visited almost all the temples and shrines in Kamakura. So I am sure I can offer you a pleasant trip to the historical city, Kamakura. In addition to Kamakura, I can also guide Tokyo, Yokohama, Hakone, Nikko, etc. because I have visited many places in Kanto area. For example, in Tokyo I can show you around the sightseeing spots such as Asakusa, Tsukiji, Imperial Palace, Meiji Shrine, Tokyo Skytree, etc. I like baseball and used to play baseball, but now enjoy watching professional baseball games. And I like watching Rakugo, Japanese traditional story-telling performance. Of course, I also like travelling very much, and am interested in Japanese culture and history. So I would like to show you Japanese tradition and culture. Let’s enjoy a trip in Japan together. I am looking forward to seeing you soon.
Seigo U.
Hi, I’m Seigo. Thank you for visiting my page. I'm a friendly guy who loves traveling, music, and sports, especially baseball. I enjoy trying my best to take you wherever you want in Japan as much as possible. Key Skills Certified National Licensed Guide Interpreter in English (2018) and Chinese (2020) Domestic Travel Service Supervisor license (2019) Strengths • Extensive travel experience both domestically and internationally. Fluent in English and Chinese, and currently learning Spanish to broaden my global communication skills. • Proven expertise in managing schedules for bus tours, including multi-day and day trips, ensuring smooth and enjoyable experiences. • A commitment to tailoring tours to individual preferences, creating relaxing, memorable, and joyful journeys. Guiding Experience Since 2019, I have guided a variety of tours, including: • Private tours • Day-trip, long tour • Cruise ship excursions I have extensive knowledge of and experience guiding popular destinations across Japan, such as Tokyo, Kamakura, Hakone, Mt. Fuji, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Sendai, Kagoshima, and Okinawa. Background and Education After earning a degree in English, I devoted over 35 years to teaching English at high schools and special education schools, while also working with the Prefectural Board of Education. My passion for education extends to online language teaching, where I help students master Japanese, Chinese, and English. Since I have lived in Kanagawa my whole life, I can offer satisfying private customized tours to each guest group. My recommended destinations in Kanagawa are Kamakura, the seat of Japan's first Shogunate, and Hakone, a popular resort area with mountains and Lake Ashinoko. I can also drive you around some nice places in Japan that foreign tourists don't usually visit. Please feel free to contact me anytime. I'm looking forward to seeing you soon!
