01
Flagship tour5 hours
Mount Takao: Beyond Tokyo
The quiet trails up Tokyo's sacred mountain, away from the crowds.
- Quiet trails
- Yakuō-in temple
- Tengu legends
Private, up to 4Takaosanguchi
Moderate
From¥12,000 / person
Luke, your guide
British · Local since 2013 · Speaks Japanese
Private Hachioji tours & Mount Takao hikes
Tokyo, beyond the obvious.
Discover the real Hachioji. Local stories, unforgettable experiences, and private small-group adventures with your own British guide.
Come for the cedar trails
- Years in Hachioji
- 00
- Guests, always private
- Max 4
- From, per person
- ¥9,000
Places on the tours: Mount Takao, Yakuō-in temple, Hachioji ramen, Naka-chō after dark, Fuji from the summit, The Jinba ridge, Hachioji Castle ruins, Plum blossom at Ura-Takao, The ginkgo festival.
The tours
Choose your day in Hachioji.
6 private tours, each just for your group of up to 4. Every one is planned around what you love.
02
5 hours
The Real Hachioji: A Local's Life
Ramen, shopping streets and the places Luke actually goes.
- Hachioji ramen
- Shopping streets
- Luke's regular spots
Private, up to 4Hachiōji
Easy
From¥12,000 / person
03
3 hours
Hachioji After Dark
Lantern-lit alleys of the geisha district, then the izakaya.
- Naka-chō geisha district
- Izakaya
- Hidden bars
Private, up to 4Hachiōji
Easy
From¥9,000 / person
04
5 hours
Samurai & Silk: Hidden History
A fallen castle, an imperial mausoleum and Japan's silk city.
- Hachioji Castle ruins
- Musashi Imperial Mausoleum
- The silk-city story
Private, up to 4Takao
Moderate
From¥12,000 / person
05
7–8 hours
Ridge to Fuji: Jinba–Takao Traverse
A full-day ridge walk for proper hikers, with Fuji alongside.
- Ridge hike
- Fuji views
- Mountain-hut food
Private, up to 4Takao
Challenging
From¥18,000 / person
06
Now: Autumn colour5 hours
Hachioji in Season
Takao in full autumn colour, then 770 golden ginkgo trees along the old Kōshū highway.
- Maple trails on Takao
- Ichō (ginkgo) Festival
- Kōshū Kaidō avenue
Private, up to 4Takaosanguchi
Easy
From¥12,000 / person
Prices are per person for a group of 4. Smaller groups pay a little more each, and every tour is yours alone.
Why Hachioji
Same Tokyo. A different world.
Most visitors never leave the centre. Fifty minutes west, Tokyo's edge has a sacred mountain, a fallen castle, a geisha district and ramen with its own name. And far fewer crowds.
Takao, 50 minutes west
Central Tokyo, Saturday 2pmDrag to leave the crowds behind
0min
From Shinjuku
One direct train, and the skyscrapers turn to cedar forest.
0yrs
Of pilgrims on Takao
Yakuō-in has stood on the mountain since 744, watched over by tengu.
0stars
In the Michelin Green Guide
Mount Takao holds the guide's top rating: worth a special journey.
0
A castle falls
Hachioji Castle was taken in a single day. Its stone walls are still in the forest.
Hachioji through the year
Every season, a different place.
From plum blossom to golden ginkgo, there's always something on.
冬晴れDec – Jan
The crispest air of the year.
Cold, bright days when Fuji stands sharp on the horizon. Around the winter solstice the sun sets right on its peak: Diamond Fuji, seen from Takao's summit.
- Diamond Fuji from the summit
- Steaming soba after the climb
- Empty weekday trails
From guests
The best part of their trip.
5.0· 3 reviews
“My word. What can I say? Luke was very accommodating and made the trip for me and my partner very smooth and memorable. He even offered to meet us at Shinjuku which was really nice of him, but we actually met at the Takaosanguchi station. If you need a good guide in Hachioji, Luke is the man for the job!”
“I was recommended Takao by a friend of mine who had previously visited Japan before. I wasn't very comfortable so I looked up tours online and found Hachioji Guide. Luke was very kind and cracked some hilarious jokes along the way. He let us choose the route up the mountain and asked many times about our preferences and even gave us many options. Great guide with lots of experience! Thanks Luke!”
“I was actually staying in Shibuya at the time but needed to try somewhere less crowded. Found Hachioji was a good place after some research, and then found this website. I was hesitant to fork out 9,000JPY just for a night out (I opted for the After Dark tour), but honestly speaking, I could find out the spots to avoid and best spots to go all based on my preferences. Made an awesome friend along the way! I will hit up Luke every time I go back to Japan for sure. That guy is a funny dude on top of an awesome guide! Recommend!”
Your guide
Hi, I'm Luke. A Brit who calls Hachioji home.
I moved here in August 2013. Since then I've learned which trails stay quiet, which ramen counters are worth the queue, and where the city goes after dark. When you book a tour, you're booking me, not a company.
- A local since 2013
- Years of finding the quiet trails and the counters worth the queue.
- Conversational Japanese
- I'll handle the ordering, the signs and the small talk.
- Always private
- Just your group, up to 4 guests. Never strangers.
- Photos included
- I take them, so you're actually in them. Sent within 48 hours.
How it works
Booking takes a minute. The day is planned around you.
Step 1
Choose a tour and a date
Pick your tour, your day and how many of you are coming. The price updates as you go.
Step 2
Book in a minute
Pay securely by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay and get your confirmation straight away.
Step 3
Hear from Luke
I'll message you within a few hours to plan the day around you, then meet you at the station.
- Free cancellation up to 72 hours before
- Bad weather? A new date or a full refund
- Your group only, never shared
Questions
Good to know before you book.
Anything else? Ask me directly.
Ask Luke
- luke@ulprus.com
- Replies within a day
How many people can come?
Up to four guests, and the tour is always private: just your group. The price per person drops as your group grows.
Can I bring children?
Yes. Children aged 6 to 12 get ¥4,000 off the group price and under-6s are free. Children count towards the maximum of four.
How fit do I need to be?
Each tour shows its effort level. Mount Takao is moderate, with paths and stairs. Ridge to Fuji is a challenging full-day hike. The city tours are easy.
What happens if the weather is bad?
For the outdoor tours I'll make the call by 6pm the day before. You can move to a new date, switch to a rain-friendly route, or have a full refund.
Where do we meet?
Usually at Takaosanguchi or Hachioji Station, with directions and a photo in your confirmation. If you'd rather not navigate, I can meet you in Shinjuku and we'll ride out together (+¥6,000 per group).
What's included?
Your private guide, a route planned around you, photos of your day, a local treat and my personal recommendations for the rest of your trip. Trains, meals and entry fees aren't included. Budget about ¥3,000 per person.
How do payment and cancellation work?
You pay in full when you book. Cancel 72 hours or more before for a full refund, 24 to 72 hours before for 50%. Within 24 hours it isn't refundable.
Plan your trip
Local guides, free to read.
Mount TakaoMount Takao hiking guide
Read the guideHachiojiThings to do in Hachioji
Read the guideGetting thereHow to get from Shinjuku to Mount Takao
Read the guideYour day in Hachioji starts here.
Pick a tour, choose your date, and I'll take care of the rest.