Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day — Guide Sam

May, 2024

This is a private guided tour report by Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), a network of 1,000+ government-licensed, English-speaking local guides across all 47 prefectures of Japan. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.

Tour Itinerary

  • 1. 10:00 Meet up @ Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora
  • 2. 10:10 Transfer: Cable car, ropeway
  • 3. 10:50 Stay @ Owakudani
  • 4. 11:15 Transfer: Ropeway
  • 5. 12:00 Stay @ Lake Ashi: Board the pirate ship
  • 6. 12:50 Lunch @ Kinuhiki no Sato
  • 7. 13:45 Stay @ Hakone Shrine
  • 8. 14:55 Transfer: Bus
  • 9. 15:20 Stay @ Hakone-Yumoto
  • 10. 15:35 Disband @ Hakone-Yumoto

What Is a Private Hakone Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Owakudani, Lake Ashi, and Hakone Shrine

At the request of the guests, who were hoping for the weather to improve, the start time was pushed back by one hour, and the tour began at 10:00. Although a light rain was still falling around 10:00, by the time we arrived at Owakudani around 11:00 it had almost stopped, and miraculously we were able to see Mount Fuji. I was able to take some lovely photos for the guests, and I felt that I had accomplished one of the most important missions of this tour. The guests had arrived in Hakone the previous day and had already visited Amazake Chaya and the Old Tokaido Road, but had not yet experienced the pirate ship cruise or a visit to Hakone Shrine, so I focused on guiding them along the standard golden course as usual. Perhaps because of the morning rain, the area in front of the Peace Torii seemed less crowded than usual. At Hakone-Yumoto, the guests said they wanted to continue shopping, so I explained where to catch the Hakone Tozan Railway and ended the tour slightly earlier than planned. The guests had purchased a Hakone Free Pass the previous day, and along the way we each used our own free pass to get around.

Click here for more details: Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1Free PassGora Station～Sounzan Station5,000JPY
Section 2Free PassSounzan Station～Owakudani Station0JPY
Section 3Free PassOwakudani Station～Togendai Station0JPY
Section 4Free PassTogendai Port～Motohakone Port0JPY
Section 5Free PassMotohakone～Hakone-Yumoto0JPY
Total5,000JPY

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.

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