Our guest was a young happy lady. Why is that?

Today’s guest was a young happy lady from Singapore (She had a reason to be happy).

Her plan according to her tour application was to start around noon and walk all the way, up and down. We were worried that starting time would be too late for such a walking tour, considering the time required and sunset at around 4:30 pm. and so we explained to her. But she had planned it even before she arrived in Japan and wanted to carry out the long cherished plan. As “GUEST FIRST” is our important policy, we gladly decided to follow her plan.

We started the tour around noon with the explanation of the statues of “Sweeper Boy” and “Giant Flying Squirrel”, then took Trail No.1. Though it’s a week day, the beautiful weather brought many visitors to Mt.Takao and Trail No.1 had more hikers than usual. We stopped at Kompiradai lookout, which commands a good view of distant skyscrapers in Shinjuku and the famous row of yellow colored gingko trees along the route 20 that is running through Hachioji City, to which Mt.Takao belongs. Just for your information, a gingko tree is the symbol tree of Hachioji city and the city is hosting “Gingko Tree Festa” in November every year (Nov.18 and 19 this year).

We kept walking up, enjoying the scenery of forest and colored leaves. We saw many families with kids who were singing and smiling, that made us smile. 

Oh, I forgot to tell about the guest and why she was a happy guest. She had visited Japan many times before with her family or friends, and this time, she accompanied her fiancé, who is visiting Japan for business. So now you understand why she was a happy guest. I tell you that she did really look one. 

Arriving at the cable car station (upper station), we showed her the gaping hole of the ceiling there that is a nest of the flying squirrel, as well as the highway tunnels that can be seen from the station, with a small story about the similar tunnels running under Mt.Takao. Then we covered Beer Mount(one of the best lookouts at Mt.Takao), Monkey park, Takosugi(Octopus Cedar Tree), Two climate zones with their distinctively different trees, Johsinmon Gate , Otokozaka(Men’s Slope), Yukien(literally means Joyful Garden, where there is a stupa with Buddha’s ashes enshrined) to reach to Yakuoin Temple Main Hall, then to the top of the mountain. Unfortunately, we couldn’t see Mt.Fuji, we enjoyed the autumn leaves, red and yellow all around over lunch there. Then we started going down around 3:00pm via Trail No.4, crossing the popular Hanging Bridge en route and then back on Trail No.1. We all had agreed beforehand that whether to fully walk down or to take the chair lift down should be decided when we arrive at the chairlift station, taking into consideration the guest’s condition and the length of the waiting queue for the chairlift . When we arrived at the station at around 3:30, we were told we would have to wait for 45minutes or so. We, however, decided for the chairlift (not because she was tired but we wanted to show her and she wanted to see, the beautiful scenery from the chairlift). Luckily we didn’t actually have to wait so long and could soon get on the chairlift, fully enjoying the splendor of aerial autumn view. 

Thanks to the happy guest and good weather, we had a really good time and hope she enjoyed the beauty of Mt.Takao and the tour with us.

We saw her off at Takao station, who was joining her fiancé for dinner. We are sure she had another good time.                (Written by Nori)

Our guest was a jovial young lady

 In spite of the rain on the previous day, the weather turned out to be perfect for the tour. The guest this time was a jovial young lady from Malaysia. She was energetic as well. Arriving at Japan early in the morning on the day and after checking in at the Hotel in Asakusa, coming straight to Takaosanguchi Station to meet us. 

 She arrived at the station much earlier than the time we had mutually arranged and thanks to her timely contact with us, we could start the tour around 10:00am, 30minutes earlier than the original plan. 

 The tour started at the statues of “Osoji Kozo” (Sweeper Boy) and Giant Flying Squirrel in front of cable car’s Kiyotaki Station, then we took the cable car up to Mt.Takao Station (the upper station). As it was a weekday, visitors were not so many as we had been worried, making it unnecessary for us to que for the cable car for long time. 

 Our first visit was to Beer Mount (a beer garden near Mt.Takao station). It is not that we wanted beer but that it is one of the best look out point at Mt.Takao. (to prove our innocence, I have to tell you that Beer Mount is operational only in summer season). From the terrace at Beer Mount, we enjoyed a panoramic view of Shinjuku and other Tokyo metropolitan area (though the Sky Tree was in a haze), as well as nearby mountains and trees.

 Then we took the Trail No.1, covering Monkey Park (we didn’t get in, though), Takosugi (Octopus Cedar Tree), Vegetation Cover of Mt.Takao, Johinmon Gate.

We were lucky that the guest could read and understand the writings on the tablet and board hung on the Gate, which made our job as a guide much easier. We kept going on the Trail No.1 to Yakuoin Temple via Otokozaka (Men’s slope with 108 step stairs), visiting Yukien on the way, where we enjoyed reddening leaves of maple trees.

 Before visiting the main hall of Yakuoin Temple, we visited Eight Dragon Kings Hall (Eight Dragon Kings are believed to multiply your money if you put your money in the basket and wash it in the water there) and Kulikara-do Hall (Dragon King Kulikara is enshrined there, who is considered to be the god of match making).

Guess which the young lady guest were more interested in. See the photo for the answer!

 We made it to the top of the mountain where Mt.Fuji welcomed us. After lunch there, we started climbing down, taking Trail No.4 to cross the famous suspension bridge, which, with the background of red and yellow leaves, is a photographer’s favorite spot.

 We went down the mountain by chair lift, enjoying the splendor of the mountain and city view in autumn color. As mentioned at the beginning, today’s guest is young and energetic, so the tour didn’t end there. We then walked 15minutes or so to “Komagino Garden”, where a pre-war modern Japanese traditional private house with traditional Japanese style garden are exhibited together with the exhibition of well taken care of Bonsai trees. 

 Inside the house, they serves drinks (coffee, tea, juice etc.,) and sweets to visitors and our guest was so kind as to offer us, guides, a cup of coffee, which we accepted with thanks. We walked to the nearby railway station (Takao Station) and we bid each other a good-bye there.

 All of us, the guest and we, the guides, had a really good time and we hope her visit to Mt.Takao will be a part of her happy memory of her stay in Japan this time.

(Written by Nori)

Report on the tour held on 4th November

 Not easy, not at all for us to have a hiking tour of a big party in this busy season when so many people visit here for enjoying nice autumn foliage.

Actually, November is the busiest month of the year here at Mt. Takao.

It’s a fine day today, and autumn foliage already started earlier than norm.

I think the number of visitors stepping on the summit of Mt. Takao today would well surpass 30,000, if based on the past statistics. 

                                                                   At the temple

 The crowd naturally causes a long line for many facilities including cable car and chairlift.

Yes, we had to wait for more than an hour in total to get them.

Even a group photo at the summit have to be abandoned due to a long line.

Moreover, it enforced us to concentrate our attention on watching our guests all the way in order not to lose them.

 For taking a lunch, we were ready to sit on plastic sheet spread over the ground.

But, we miraculously managed to get tables for all members by an effort of the youngest colleague, Lin who also made a big contribution later to shorten the waiting time for chairlift by rushing to the station beforehand to get numbered tickets for all members. 

                               Nao’s lesson of folding paper, Origami

                   The usual final shot at lower cable station. Sorry Lin, your nice face half hidden.

Anyway, I’ve realized necessity of improvement of my ability of management of the tour.

I just hope the level of satisfaction of our customers nearly got to “acceptable”.

                                                                                          (by Sumo)

Miracle day! Oct.7th, 2017

Previous day many weather forecasts bothered me, because I had to decide if we would carry out the Mt. Hiking tour on Oct.7^th, but according to the forecasts it would be rainy till 9:00am on Oct.7^th. I finally decided we would carry out like a gambler.

The rain stopped in the morning around Takaosanguchi station 

13 guests from ten countries (Ethiopia, Turk, Cambodia, Tanzania, Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Egypt and Japan) participated. 

The hiking course was below.

Start Cable car à Trail 1^st à Yakuoin à the summit and Launch (around noon)
For return we used Fuji-michi path, and Trail 1^st , and then got on chair lift.

We had a wrap up meeting near Kiyotaki station and finally took our group picture.

One guide explained to them about Asagimadara-Chestnut tiger butterfly on the board. Later when they actually found Asagimadara around Trail #5, they were surprised, and delighted at the butterfly while saying we were lucky

Egyptians often took photos of green trees. Japanese thinks why they do that.

Green forest was out of common to Egyptian, because they do not have green forests in their country.

In the morning long-distance view was unclear, but around noon we could catch Tokyo Sky tree, Shinjuku and Yokohama skyscrapers, Sagami-bay and Enoshima island.

Today it was first day of three successive holidays, so usually Mt.Takao was huge crowded. However today we could be comfortable 

We really enjoyed !!

Tim

Report on the tour with Cognizant Japan held on 30th September, 2017

 Today, we welcomed the employees and their families of Cognizant Japan, IT and Business Consulting Company. The 18 guests are from India, China and Japan, including a 2-year-old energetic boy. 

 We started the tour at 10:30. For starters, Tengu staff briefly explained the statues of the Sweeper Boy and the Flying Squirrels, and the trails in Mt. Takao, and then we took the cable car. The gusts enjoyed seeing the beautiful scenery through the windows and the steepest slope in Japan.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　△In the Cable Car                                 

 When getting off the cable car, we moved to the observation deck called KASUMI-DAI, and took a group photo with the panoramic view in their background.

 

　　　　　　　　　△KASUMI-DAI

  We started to hike along the trail No.1, heading to the top of Mt. Takao. On the way, we dropped by several tourist spots where Tengu staff shared useful information and interesting stories with the guests.

△Octopus Tree 

 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　△Jinpen-Do Temple

　　　　　　　　　　　　△Men’s slope and Women’s slope

     　　　　　　　　　　　△Izuna-Gongen-Do Shrine

  Though there are some tough staircases on the way to the top, all of the members, including the little boy climbed them up vigorously.

△2-year-old boy

  We arrived at the top of the mountain around noon and took a lunch break. After having lunch, we took a group photo all together.

　　　　　　　　　　　　△On the top of Mt. Takao

 We left the top of the mountain at 13:30. Fortunately, we happened to see beautiful butterflies called “Asagimadara”, the chestnut tiger in English, flying gracefully. They are known as butterflies which travel more than 1000km, crossing the sea.

△A butterfly called Asagimadara, or the chestnut tiger.

  At the very end of the tour, we took the chair-lift, going down to the Kiyotake Station at the foot of the mountain.

  We got together again there at 15:00. We said “Good bye” one another, smiling ear to ear. All the guests looked satisfied with the tour. I hope it will become a good memory for them.

△Kiyotake Station

 Finally, “Thank you Cognizant Japan for joining our tour!” from all the 7 guides involved in Today’s tour. Cheers🍻!!

△Review Meeting after the tour

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（Written by HIDE）

2017-09-17

Report on the TENGU Tour held on 8 September 2017

It rained heavily in a way I’d never experienced before, at least at Mt. Takao region.

Actually, it stopped operation of cable car, and we had to wait for more than half an hour at the upper cable car station.

On the plus side, when the rain fall started, we were already within tens of steps from the station, and eating one of the most popular sweets of this region called Tengu-Yaki.

Furthermore, when we finally got to the lower cable station to finalize the tour in a very fine weather, our guests Chelsea and Stephanie had still enough time to visit nearby “599 Natural Museum” and hot springs (Onsen) called “Takao san Gokurakuyu” by themselves.

Noteworthy is that they were unknown to each other, and just applied to our Private Tour program for the same day.

But, they are from the same country, the same city, and similar age (It’s just to my eye of old man).
And they really looked like long-standing intimate friends in the eyes of three aged guides.        (By Sumo)

                                          A short break on the way up.


                                        

                         Purifying their body with sacred water in turn before making a prayer

                             

                                           At the summit. With my colleagues, Sally and Nabe

                                             Enjoying Tengu-Yaki

Report on the tour with JICA held on 5th August, 2017

Today’s guests were 9 of them, from Argentina, East Timor, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico and Myanmar. We decided to make the tour in two groups with 3 guides for each group. 

We started the tour as usual with the explanation of the statues of Sweeper Boy and Giant Flying Squirrel in front of Kiyotaki station. Then we took the cable car up to Takaosan station. The tour seemed to have started smoothly until when we found in the cable car that one of the guests was missing. Arriving at the Takaosan station, one of our guides was almost taking the return cable car down back to Kiyotaki Station to look for the missing guest, when the guest appeared to our great relief from no-where. As the fact that he was right there with us was important, no one asked him where he had been but we all wondered.

From the Takaosan station, we took the trail no.1 heading to Yakuoin temple and to the top of the Mt. Takao. On the way, we visited and made explanation on various spots including Kasumidai scenic point, Monkey Park, Takosugi, 2 different climate zones with different types of trees, Josinmon, etc.

At the fork of the trail, we had an option to go via challenging Otokozaka(men’s slope) or gentle Onnazaka(women’s slope). Otokozaka has 108 steps and this number of 108 has special meaning in Buddhism, namely it is the number of worldly desires that every human has.

We explained that it is said that by climbing up these 108 steps, one could be purified and freed from those 108 worldly desires. Probably because they were already pure enough, all ladies in one of the two groups chose Onnazaka, or it could be that they were just tired. 

We visited Bussharito (stupa) and explained about the stupa as well as the stone engraving showing Buddha’s life in 4 phases. We thank for interesting supplementary information and explanation given there by an Indian guest who knew well about Buddhism. 

When we arrived at Yakuoin temple, Goma fire ritual was going on and we could see the ritual and the procession of the Priests going back to their quarter after the ritual. The guests seemed to be impressed with the ritual as well as costume of the priests and the sound of trumpet shells they blew. 

We arrived at the top of the mountain around noon and went to the usual place for lunch. But the place was a bit too wet because of the recent rain, so we went back to the open space under the shade at the top. After the lunch, Chiko san, one of our guides, gave all the guests Orizuru (folded paper crane) that she had prepared for them. The guests are all very pleased and thanked her. 

After taking photo of us all together on the top, we started going down. We took the chair-lift that proved to be very popular among the guests. As they enjoyed the ride with the beautiful scenery all around, many of them bought the photos of themselves sitting on the chair. We arrived back at the Kiyotaki station around 2:pm. 

Though we could not see Mt.Fuji today, we, guides and guests, thoroughly enjoyed the tour - natural beauty, history and conversations/communications.

We thank all the guests for this good day and we hope today’s tour would be a part of their good memories in Japan.

 Written by Nori