Hakone in 1 Day by Private Car — Guide Sam
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.
Tour Itinerary
- 1. 10:20 Meet up @ Hakone Kowakien Tenyu
- 2. 10:30 Transfer: Taxi
- 3. 10:40 Transfer: Cable car, Ropeway
- 4. 11:35 Stay @ Owakudani
- 5. 12:00 Transfer: Ropeway
- 6. 12:40 Stay @ Lake Ashi (boarding the pirate ship)
- 7. 13:05 Transfer: Taxi
- 8. 13:30 Lunch @ Donburi-ya (Hakone-en)
- 9. 14:10 Stay @ Hakone Shrine / Peace Torii Gate
- 10. 14:15 Transfer: Taxi
- 11. 14:35 Stay @ Hakone Kowakien Tenyu (※Returned to the hotel once due to a forgotten item)
- 12. 14:40 Transfer: Taxi
- 13. 15:45 Disband @ Odawara Station West Exit
Can You Do a Private Hakone Day Tour with a Cable Car, Ropeway, and Pirate Ship Cruise? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests wished to travel from Odawara Station to Kyoto Station after the tour. Before the tour began, I mentioned this to the driver, who advised that if we missed the "Hikari" departing Odawara Station at 16:07 (arriving Kyoto Station at 18:12), the only option for a while afterward would be the "Kodama," which takes over three hours, so it would be better to head to Odawara Station in time for this "Hikari." I passed this along to the guests and adjusted the itinerary so that they could at the latest catch the "Kodama" departing at 16:35 (arriving Kyoto Station at 19:34). As a result, because the driver took a detour route with less traffic, we had extra time and the guests were able to take photos of Odawara Castle, but I feel apologetic that the tour ended earlier than the scheduled time.
When we disembarked from the pirate ship at Hakonemachi Port, the guests realized they had left their passport at the hotel, so we suddenly had to return to the hotel partway through. Because of this, at Hakone Shrine we only had time for a photo in front of the Peace Torii Gate.
Although this was a tour with a vehicle, the guests also wished to ride the cable car and ropeway, so we used both from Gora Station to Togendai Station. I have attached the receipts for the ropeway and the Hakone pirate ship.
Click here for more details: Hakone in 1 Day by Private Car with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Other | Gora Station～Sounzan Station | 430JPY |
| Section 2 | Other | Sounzan Station～Togendai Station | 1,500JPY |
| Section 3 | Ferry | Togendai Port～Hakonemachi Port | 1,200JPY |
| Total | 3,130JPY | ||
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.
Sep 29, 2026
Y9791IZnicks
Making the most of a rainy day
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Sam was a wonderful…
Sep 29, 2026
Y9791IZnicks
Making the most of a rainy day
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Sam was a wonderful guide. So knowledgable and friendly. He turned a rainy day into a great experience! We had so much fun at the sites we visited and would highly recommend him to anyone who would like to have some help navigating all of the things you can do in Tokyo. If you are even considering a guide, book a tour with him right now!
Sep 25, 2026
910lorig
Best experience for a perfect day in Tokyo!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Best…
Sep 25, 2026
910lorig
Best experience for a perfect day in Tokyo!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Best tour and the best tour guide ever (thank you Sam!!)! I cannot recommend this for anyone who is in Tokyo. Today was our first full day in Tokyo and we started at 9am with Sam who kindly picked us up at our hotel and reviewed our customized plan for our day. It was more than perfect.
Sam – we simply cannot thank you enough for making today a special memory for us. We hope to see you again soon!!
Sep 15, 2026
R8612KOjanicea
Highly recommend 👍
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Our guide, Sam, was amazing!!…
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R8612KOjanicea
Highly recommend 👍
Tripadvisor review: Tsukiji & Asakusa Local Food Tour in 1 Day, Licensed Guide
Our guide, Sam, was amazing!! He communicated well throughout the process and was extremely personable. He went above and beyond to meet our every wish. This was a wonderful introduction to Tokyo!!
Sep 1, 2026
greasygrandpa
First Day In Tokyo
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Our tour guide Sam was very knowledgeable…
Sep 1, 2026
greasygrandpa
First Day In Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Our tour guide Sam was very knowledgeable and energetic. It was a pleasure touring Tokyo with him.