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 at Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu
- 10:30 The Hakone Open-Air Museum
- 11:30 Lunch at Gora (Tamura Gin Katsu-tei)
- 13:00 Tea ceremony experience at Hakuun-do in Gora Park
- 14:00 Hakone Museum of Art
- 15:20 Okada Museum of Art
- 16:00 Disband at the Okada Museum of Art
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 10:00 at Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu and ended at 16:00. The day ran to 6 hours from start to finish. It included lunch at Gora (Tamura Gin Katsu-tei) at 11:30.
Over the course of the day the route took in The Hakone Open-Air Museum at 10:30, Hakone Museum of Art at 14:00 and Okada Museum of Art at 15:20.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Odawara to Hakone area by train (5,000JPY). Across 1 sections the fare came to 5,000JPY per person.
What Is a Private Hakone Tour Like When the Ropeway Is Closed? A Licensed Guide's Report
On the day of the tour, strong winds caused the Hakone Ropeway and the Lake Ashi sightseeing boats to be suspended, so visits to Owakudani and Lake Ashi had to be canceled.
1) Since the guests had expressed an interest in appreciating art, I quickly switched the plan to a tour of Hakone's art museums. At the Hakone Open-Air Museum, they enjoyed the outdoor exhibits.
2) At the Hakone Museum of Art, I explained the relationship between Imari ware and Kutani ware, organizing their similarities and differences, and the guests understood well. They also saw the display of Jomon pottery from before the common era, and said this helped them appreciate the great length of Japanese history.
3) At the Okada Museum of Art, the guests enjoyed a collection of Japanese paintings and works based on East Asian thought.
4) For lunch, they had tofu katsu-ni at Tamura Ginkatsutei, a popular restaurant in Gora. They were pleased, saying it was different from the Japanese cuisine they had eaten before. While waiting for the lunch to arrive at the table, we folded paper cranes together, which they enjoyed.
5) Due to the poor weather, we were unable to see the view of Mount Fuji from Lake Ashi that they had been looking forward to. As they were staying in Hakone the following day as well, they said they wanted to try again if the weather improved, so I explained specifically how to get there and ended the tour.
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 | Train | Odawara～Hakone area | 5,000JPY |
| Total | 5,000JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Kanagawa tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu at 10:00, and the tour finished at Okada Museum of Art at 16:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours in total, from 10:00 to 16:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited The Hakone Open-Air Museum, Hakone Museum of Art and Okada Museum of Art.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 5,000JPY per person across 1 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?
Toru 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, I am Toru, a certified National Guide. I have been guiding since 2017, primarily in the Tokyo area, which includes Hakone, Kamakura, and Yokohama. To make your stay in Japan unforgettable, I always discuss a tour plan with my guests via email before their arrival. Please share your preferences, including the places you’d like to visit and the experiences you’d like to try during your stay in Tokyo. If this is your first visit to Japan, I’m excited to help make your time in Tokyo even more enjoyable by suggesting sample itineraries and offering travel tips.
For more information about me, please visit my profile site.
https://japan-cultural-traditional-experience.com/hello-welcome-to-japan/
For your reference, please feel free to visit my blog, which features popular sightseeing spots and interesting experiences.
https://japan-cultural-traditional-experience.com/
I look forward to meeting you soon!
July 2, 2026
David S
Tripadvisor : Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Incredible experience at the Markets!
Toru…
July 2, 2026
David S
Tripadvisor : Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Incredible experience at the Markets!
Toru was an AMAZING host and tour guide. He went above and beyond with communication prior, during, and after to make sure my Son and I had an incredible experience. He was unbelievably knowledgeable and catered the tour to what we wanted as well. The sushi breakfast was unreal! Learning all about both Toyosu and Tsukiji markets was an experience we will never forget. 10 out of 10 for sure!!
Jun 6, 2026
meltemg957
Unique experience with a highly knowledgeable guide
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide…
Jun 6, 2026
meltemg957
Unique experience with a highly knowledgeable guide
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
This was our first time visiting a fish market, and from the time we booked the experience, Toru-san has been amazing. He helped us get to Toyosu market, where the tuna auction takes place, at the right time to get the best views and explained everything about how the auction works and made sure we didn’t miss anything. (You will need a knowledgeable tour guide because everything happens so fast and you might miss it!) We learned so much during such a short time about how the delicious tuna you eat at a sushi restaurant ends up in front of you. After the auction Toru-san took us to Okame, a great sushi restaurant, where we got to experience delicious sushi breakfast. Our next stop was Tsukiji market, and again we got to try all sorts of food and learn more about the market and got to meet some of the vendors. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly. If you are interested in cooking, Japanese cuisine, or know someone home, this tour will give you the opportunity to do some shopping for unique souvenirs.
We had to get to Toyosu market before 5 am, and while you might think it’s too early, but why not do something fun and delicious with your jetlag? It was so worth it and I’m glad we chose to spend our first morning in Tokyo with Toru-san. The other advantage of being so early was that the market was not as crowded and we got to enjoy our time without having to wait in line.
Thank you, Toru-san!
Jun 4, 2026
bluejerky1
Turo was knowledgeable and the tour was fun and fun and informative. Highly recommend.
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction…
Jun 4, 2026
bluejerky1
Turo was knowledgeable and the tour was fun and fun and informative. Highly recommend.
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
The tour was great. We got to learn a lot about sushi and really enjoyed our time in the
market as well.
May 29, 2026
Eva P
Fabulous experience with Toru!
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Toru was…
May 29, 2026
Eva P
Fabulous experience with Toru!
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Toru was a fantastic guide and made our experience one to remember. He picked us up
from the hotel and clearly knew how to be there early to get a good view. He also took us to
a delicious sushi place thereafter which the whole family enjoyed.