Hakone Full-Day Customized Private Tour — 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
- 9:00 Meet @ Hyatt Regency Hakone
- 9:14 – 9:17 Kami-Gora Station → Sounzan Station (Transport: Hakone Cable Car) Take photos at Sounzan Station and drop postcards in the mailbox
- 9:35 – 9:50 Sounzan Station → Owakudani Station (Transport: Hakone Ropeway)
- 9:50 – 10:30 Explore Owakudani (photos, buying black eggs, etc.)
- 10:30 – 11:00 Owakudani Station → Togendai Station (Transport: Hakone Ropeway)
- 11:25 – 11:50 Togendai → Hakonemachi Port (Transport: Hakone Pirate Ship)
- 12:00 – 12:40 Lunch @ Cafe Komon
- 12:55 – 12:58 Hakonemachi Port → Moto-Hakone Port (Transport: Hakone Tozan Bus)
- 13:00 – 13:20 Moto-Hakone Port → Hakone Shrine (Transport: Walking)
- 13:20 – 14:20 Explore Hakone Shrine, take photos, etc.
- 14:20 – 14:40 Hakone Shrine → Moto-Hakone Port (Transport: Walking)
- 14:58 – 15:13 Moto-Hakone Port → Ninotaira Entrance (Transport: Hakone Tozan Bus)
- 15:13 – 15:25 Ninotaira Entrance → The Hakone Open-Air Museum (Transport: Walking)
- 15:30 – 16:40 Explore The Hakone Open-Air Museum
- 17:00 Disband @ The Hakone Open-Air Museum (Pickup at the museum entrance by the hotel shuttle bus)
Title: What Is a Private Tour in Japan Like for Guests from Central America? A Licensed Guide's Report
Today I guided a group visiting from North America. One of the guests had begun studying English about nine months ago, mostly through online lessons, and had already become able to speak a little. Seeing how quickly the effort seemed to bear fruit made me think I might take up studying Spanish myself. Another guest spoke English very well, having previously worked for an international organization. This guest mentioned having been shot in the head while in a conflict zone, and that words sometimes do not come out smoothly, but said that being alive today is the most wonderful thing of all. I was truly glad that the group had chosen Japan and traveled all this way. When I asked whether they happened to know a well-known figure from that international organization, they said their times had overlapped and described that person as remarkable. It made me feel how people around the world are connected. Later, through a messaging app, I received a message saying, "It was a very good tour today. I feel as though I have made a friend on the far side of the world." It was a very warm and wonderful tour.
Click here for more details: Hakone Full-Day Customized Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Kami-Gora Station～Sounzan Station | 90JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Sounzan～Togendai | 1,500JPY |
| Section 3 | Ferry | Togendai～Hakonemachi Port | 1,200JPY |
| Section 4 | Bus | Hakonemachi Port～Moto-Hakone Port | 200JPY |
| Section 5 | Bus | Moto-Hakone Port～Ninotaira Entrance | 650JPY |
| Total | 3,640JPY | ||
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.
May 31, 2026
Carol_S
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Great way to start a trip
Hidecki reached out a couple of…
May 31, 2026
Carol_S
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Great way to start a trip
Hidecki reached out a couple of days to ask what landmarks we wanted to see, and then
came up with a great itinerary. Hidecki was an amazing guide, he was brilliant in imparting
the history of the areas. Cannot thank him enough. This was a great way to start our trip.
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Alain_V
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Belle visite
Merci beaucoup à notre guide Ideaki qui nous a permis…
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Alain_V
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Belle visite
Merci beaucoup à notre guide Ideaki qui nous a permis de découvrir Yokohama. Toujours
bien présent pour parfaire nos demandes.
素晴らしい訪問でした。
横浜を案内してくれたガイドのIdeakiさんには大変感謝しています。私たちの要望にしっかり応えてくれ、常にきめ細やかに対応してくれました。
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Excellent Guide made for an Excellent Tour
We enjoyed our…
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Julia_S
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Excellent Guide made for an Excellent Tour
We enjoyed our tour because of the outstanding guide we had. Hide, our guide, contacted us in advance to determine what we wanted to see and do. Because we wanted a special lunch, he sent links for three restaurants that fit our criteria so we could select which would be best for us. He easily adjusted our itinerary if we wanted to spend a little more time somewhere or make a quick stop to buy a snack or souvenir. He gave great explanations of what sights we were visiting.
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Jeff_M
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Short tour of a huge city
Hideiki obviously wanted to give us…
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Jeff_M
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Short tour of a huge city
Hideiki obviously wanted to give us the best experience possible, asking many questions
about our interests and priorities.