Hakone Full-Day Customized Private Tour — Guide Sam

What Is an 8-Hour Private Hakone Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

Since I had already met the guests on a Tokyo tour in May and we had exchanged more than ten emails in the past, it was very easy to guide them and turned out to be a very enjoyable tour. Their accommodation had changed, and as noted above, we met at a hotel in Gora. Because the uphill road from the hotel to Gora Station is quite steep, we used a taxi for the first leg of the trip. Although we had to wait for the taxi to arrive, it actually saved time since we skipped the cable car route and went directly to Sounzan Station for the ropeway. Owakudani was rather cloudy that day, but we were just barely able to see the summit of Mount Fuji. We got off the pirate ship at Hakonemachi and I took the guests to Hakone Checkpoint and Onshi Hakone Park, which I do not usually include. This time it was an 8-hour tour so there was time to spare, which allowed for this decision, but I felt that one needs to be careful because walking around Hakone Park takes quite a bit of time. At Hakone Shrine the guests wished to take a commemorative photo at the Torii of Peace, so we spent more time there than planned. This is also something to be mindful of on a standard 6-hour tour. Since the hotel was located between Chokoku-no-Mori Station and Gora Station, for the final leg on the Hakone Tozan Railway we got off at Chokoku-no-Mori Station, saw the guests to the hotel, and then parted ways. As the guests had requested a ride on the pirate ship in advance, we purchased Hakone Free Passes for our travel. In some cases this can be slightly more expensive, but since the ticket counters for the pirate ship can get crowded, I believe it is safer to travel around this area using the Free Pass. I have uploaded an image of the Free Pass.

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Tour Report by Sam

Hi. My name is Masafumi Miyazaki. Please call me “Sam”. I am a government-licensed guide.
I was born in Tokyo and was raised in the suburbs of Tokyo called Tama area. When I was in university, I majored in western dramas, so I am good at playing like an actor.
I like reading, listening to the music, and walking. I belong to several walking clubs, and sometimes I guide the members around Tokyo.
One of my strengths as a guide is that I know well about kombu, Japanese kelps. In December every year, I work at a traditional kombu shop in Tsukiji Fish Market. At that shop, I learned a lot of things related to kombu or other ingredients for washoku. I can explain the different characteristics of them to you.
Also, I am familiar with Japanese flowers and plants. If you stroll around a Japanese garden with me, I am sure you will be able to enjoy beautiful flowers and unique plants in every season.
I look forward to meeting you. Thank you.