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
- 09:30 Meet at Hakone Yumoto Station
- 10:08 Dep.Hakone Yumoto by Bus
- 10:40 Choanji Temple
- 11:10 Hakone Shisseikaen
- 12:00 Leave for Owakudani by Bus/Cable Car/Ropeway
- 13:00 Owakudani
- Lunch at Gokuraku Chaya Restaurant at Owakudani
- 14:30 Togendai Sightseeing Cruise
- 14:55 Hakonemachi
- 15:10 Hotel Takuminnoyado Yoshimatsu
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Over the course of the day the route took in Dep.Hakone Yumoto by Bus at 10:08, Choanji Temple at 10:40, Hakone Shisseikaen at 11:10, Leave for Owakudani by Bus/Cable Car/Ropeway at 12:00, Owakudani at 13:00, Togendai Sightseeing Cruise at 14:30, Hakonemachi at 14:55 and Hotel Takuminnoyado Yoshimatsu at 15:10.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Hakone Tozan Bus Hakone Yumoto Station to Hakone Tozan Bus Sengoku Station by Free Pass (5,000JPY); Hakone Tozan Bus Hakone Shisseikaen to Hakone Tozan Bus Gora by Free Pass (0JPY); Hakone Cable Car Gora Station to Hakone Cable Car Sounzan Station by Free Pass (0JPY); Hakone Ropeway Sounzan Station to Hakone Ropeway Togendai Station via Owakudani Station by Free Pass (0JPY); Hakone Pirate Ship Togendai to Hakone Pirate Ship Hakonemachi Port by Free Pass (0JPY). Across 5 sections the fare came to 5,000JPY per person.
What Is a Private Day Tour of Hakone Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from North America. Initially, we had planned a pickup at the hotel at 11:00, but since it turned out they would arrive in Hakone on the day of the tour by limited express train, we used a luggage delivery service and started the tour from Hakone-Yumoto.
Choanji Temple had few visitors, and the guests seemed to enjoy its calm atmosphere. The wetland botanical garden had just reopened after its winter closure, but the guests were a little disappointed because few flowers were in bloom. We took the cable car and ropeway smoothly to Owakudani. It was a bit cold, but the weather was good, and although the summit of Mount Fuji was hidden by clouds, it was still fairly visible.
The ropeway station heading toward Togendai and the pirate ship were quite crowded. Since we were able to board a pirate ship one departure earlier than planned, I suggested going to Motohakone Port to visit Hakone Shrine, but the guests wanted to head to the hotel early, so we disembarked at Hakonemachi Port and the tour ended after they checked in at the hotel.
Click here for more details: Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Free Pass | Hakone Tozan Bus Hakone Yumoto Station～Hakone Tozan Bus Sengoku Station | 5,000JPY |
| Section 2 | Free Pass | Hakone Tozan Bus Hakone Shisseikaen～Hakone Tozan Bus Gora | 0JPY |
| Section 3 | Free Pass | Hakone Cable Car Gora Station～Hakone Cable Car Sounzan Station | 0JPY |
| Section 4 | Free Pass | Hakone Ropeway Sounzan Station～Hakone Ropeway Togendai Station via Owakudani Station | 0JPY |
| Section 5 | Free Pass | Hakone Pirate Ship Togendai～Hakone Pirate Ship Hakonemachi Port | 0JPY |
| Total | 5,000JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Dep.Hakone Yumoto by Bus, Choanji Temple, Hakone Shisseikaen, Leave for Owakudani by Bus/Cable Car/Ropeway, Owakudani, Togendai Sightseeing Cruise, Hakonemachi and Hotel Takuminnoyado Yoshimatsu.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 5,000JPY per person across 5 sections. Transport fares are paid by the guests and are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the guide licensed, and what language is the tour in?
Harry is a government-licensed national guide-interpreter of Japan and guided this tour in English. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) works with more than 1,000 licensed guides across all 47 prefectures. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Can the itinerary be changed for my own trip?
Yes. This report describes one private tour as it actually ran. Every Kanagawa itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
Hello there,
I’m Harry. This nickname comes from Harry Bosch, a character in American detective novels. I like watching films, listening to music and reading books, especially detective stories. I love meeting people from different countries and would like to help them understand Japanese culture and history. I believe that tourism can connect people all over the world and change the world into something truly peaceful. I was born in Osaka and have lived in Tokyo for more than 35 years. I am very happy to welcome tourists from all over the world. I will do my best to make your days fantastic. I look forward to seeing you soon.
Oct 8, 2025
Denise_M
Great tour of Kyoto
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Our guide Harry was very knowledgeable. We learned…
Oct 8, 2025
Denise_M
Great tour of Kyoto
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Our guide Harry was very knowledgeable. We learned a great deal and we saw a lot. We
traveled all over the city
Jun 30, 2025
Iguana74
Customized Tour of Kyoto
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Our four-hour private tour of Kyoto was excellent.…
Jun 30, 2025
Iguana74
Customized Tour of Kyoto
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Our four-hour private tour of Kyoto was excellent. Harry, our tour guide, customized our
experience based on what we told him we wanted to do and see in such a short period of
time. He was insightful, communicative, and made the afternoon unforgettable.
May 12, 2025
Tonya_G
Would do it again.
Viator review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide from Yokohama
Our guide, Harry, did an excellent…
May 12, 2025
Tonya_G
Would do it again.
Viator review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide from Yokohama
Our guide, Harry, did an excellent job of showing us around Tokyo. He helped us navigate the train and subway systems. Had an excellent Japanese lunch and stopped at good local shopping venues. Harry also arranged which order we should do things in since I didn’t know how far apart the attractions we wanted to see were from each other. No way we could have navigated on our own, very pleased, highly recommend.
Mar 22, 2025
Lauren_P
We had a great time on…
Viator review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a great time…
Mar 22, 2025
Lauren_P
We had a great time on…
Viator review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a great time on this tour. Our guide was excellent. The itinerary he picked out was
perfect. He also help us navigate the area expertly. We had a great time!