Hakone Full-Day Customized Private Tour — Guide Sam

Title: What Is a Private Art-Focused Day Tour of Hakone Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The art-loving guests seemed to enjoy this itinerary, but there were some challenges because they were staying at an unusual hotel. Regarding the meeting point, since the hotel was quite far from the station, I had asked the guests in advance to use the shuttle service to come to Chokoku-no-Mori Station. I later learned that the hotel's shuttle service did not start until 11:00, so the guests had to take a taxi to the station. I felt bad that this resulted in an extra expense for them.

Both museums were very well received. At the Hakone Open-Air Museum, the guests showed interest not only in the artworks but also in the plants growing outdoors, and we ended up staying here for about two hours. At the Hakone Museum of Glass, we took a lunch break at a restaurant on the grounds before strolling through the museum. The terrace seats offered a great view and were less crowded than the restaurants in Moto-Hakone, so I would like to use this place again if I have the chance.

Before the end of the tour, I was asked to recommend a nearby place where they could have dinner. They said that their hotel only served light snacks suitable for drinking. After looking into it, I confirmed that Yunessun had a buffet-style restaurant, and that the guests could also arrange a pickup car from their hotel to that location. In the end, I took the guests to Yunessun before parting ways.

For transportation, we used buses except for the pirate ship. For the final leg from Miyanoshita Onsen to Yunessun, we used an Izuhakone bus that was not covered by the free pass, so I recorded that transportation cost separately.

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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.