Kanagawa in One Day: Hakone Shrine — Guide Hide

October, 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

  • 10:00 Meet up @ Hakone-Yumoto Station
  • 10:11 – 10:49 Hakone-Yumoto → Gora (Transport: Hakone Tozan Line)
  • 11:08 – 11:19 Gora → Sounzan (Transport: Hakone Cable Car)
  • 11:30 – 11:45 Sounzan → Owakudani (Transport: Hakone Ropeway)
  • 11:45 – 12:15 Stay at Owakudani (photos, buying black eggs, etc.)
  • 12:15 – 12:45 Owakudani → Togendai (Transport: Hakone Ropeway)
  • 13:15 – 13:40 Togendai → Hakonemachi Port (Transport: Hakone Pirate Ship)
  • 13:45 – 14:10 Lunch @ Cafe Komon & Yosegi Uchihara
  • 14:10 – 14:30 Cafe Komon → Motohakone Port (Transport: on foot, via Old Tokaido cedar avenue)
  • 14:30 – 14:40 Motohakone Port → Hakone Shrine (Transport: on foot)
  • 14:40 – 15:15 Visit Hakone Shrine
  • 15:15 – 15:30 Hakone Shrine → Motohakone Port (Transport: on foot)
  • 15:35 – 15:40 Motohakone Port → Amazake-jaya (Transport: Hakone Tozan Bus)
  • 15:40 – 16:10 Stay at Amazake-jaya (amazake & mochi)
  • 16:10 – 16:40 Amazake-jaya → Hakone-Yumoto
  • 17:00 Disband @ Hakone-Yumoto Station

Title: What Is a Private Day Trip from Tokyo to Hakone Like on a Cloudy Day? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were a group visiting from North America, all around the same age as me, and the day was a private one-day tour of Hakone from Tokyo. The weather was unfortunately poor from the morning, cloudy with occasional drizzle, and the view from the terrace at Sounzan was almost completely white with nothing visible, while at Owakudani there was no sign of Mount Fuji either. Even in such weather, the group enjoyed pleasant conversation throughout and seemed to enjoy the black eggs. However, by the time we disembarked from the pirate ship at Hakonemachi Port, a little sunlight began to break through, and by the time we reached the port, the summit had recovered enough to peek out through the gaps in the clouds. Perhaps this was a group with good daily conduct.

After lunch at a lakeside cafe, we stopped by the neighboring marquetry (yosegi zaiku) shop, which I always visit when there is time. I always hope guests can experience Hakone's traditional crafts and feel the appeal of Japan at the same time, and on this day too they purchased some small items. After that, we walked along the old Tokaido cedar avenue toward Motohakone and Hakone Shrine. We then also stopped at the Amazake Chaya teahouse. This route allows one to truly feel the character of Hakone, and in the end the guests thanked me, saying they were "so glad they came to Hakone."

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

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1TrainHakone-Yumoto～Gora460JPY
Section 2TrainGora～Sounzan430JPY
Section 3TrainSounzan～Owakudani1,500JPY
Section 4FerryTogendai～Hakonemachi Port1,200JPY
Section 5BusMotohakone Port～Amazake-jaya320JPY
Section 6BusAmazake-jaya～Hakone-Yumoto710JPY
Total4,620JPY

Tour Report by Hide

I registered as a national guide in February 2015 and began working as an interpreter guide in 2019. I have been guiding throughout Tokyo (I was born and raised in Setagaya and went to elementary and junior high school in Aoyama, Minato-ku. I am familiar with sightseeing spots and gourmet food in this area, including Shibuya), and I now live in Kanagawa (Yokohama where I have lived more than 30 years, and Kamakura, Odawara, Hakone)
I worked for the Japanese branch of an American advertising company for over 30 years and, thus, have deep knowledge of marketing and branding.
My hobbies are travel (domestic and international) and bicycling (I have participated in the Tour de Okinawa citizens’ race every year since 2017. I ride approx. 7,000 kilometers a year). When traveling in Japan, I enjoy traditional crafts, local products, food, and sake from each region. I am also active in a band as a third hobby, performing live once a year for ten years.
As a guide, I mainly guide small groups (about 4-5 people), where I can communicate more closely and politely with them, rather than large groups.
My activity aims to deepen the understanding of Japanese traditional culture and the Japanese people among foreign visitors and to make a small contribution to making Japan the number one country to revisit in their hearts.

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