Kanagawa in One Day: Miyaginobashi bus stop — Guide Masa

Title: What Is a Private Day Tour of Hakone Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were a group visiting Japan from North America. Some of the group had visited Japan about twenty years earlier, while others were visiting for the first time. The trip was to celebrate a special occasion.

This was a visit of roughly two weeks. After arriving at Narita Airport on a direct flight from North America, the group first headed to the Kansai region. After visiting Hiroshima, Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka, they came to Hakone the previous evening.

They planned to stay one more night in Hakone, then travel to Tokyo the next morning. After one night in Tokyo, they were scheduled to return home from Narita Airport.

The guests expressed the wishes: "We would like to visit as many spots as possible," and "We would like to buy yosegi marquetry as a souvenir."

The tour took place in very hot and humid weather, and with thick clouds spreading overhead (there were repeated announcements warning of the possibility of thunderclouds), we were unfortunately unable to see Mount Fuji.

We met at the Hotel where the guests were staying.

Transferring between the bus, the Hakone Tozan train, and the cable car, we made our way via Sounzan to Owakudani.

I explained the geological formation of Hakone and the overview and history of Owakudani. Everyone tried the famous "black eggs," and we also visited the Geo Museum. There were questions such as "Is Owakudani an active volcano? Has it ever erupted?" and "Is Mount Fuji also an active volcano?"

Transferring by ropeway, we went to Togendai. After a short wait, we boarded the "pirate ship." The guests stayed on the upper deck the whole time and took many commemorative photos. There were questions such as "How deep is Lake Ashi?", "Can you swim in it?", and "Can you fish here?"

We disembarked at Motohakone Port and strolled around Hakone Shrine and the cedar avenue. We bought sandwiches and other items at a convenience store for a light lunch.

Next, we went to a yosegi marquetry shop. Everyone purchased their own favorite items.

Transferring between the Hakone Tozan bus and the Hakone Tozan train, we went to the Hakone Open-Air Museum. Despite the heat and humidity, we walked around the entire grounds. Some of the guests enjoy photography as a hobby and took pictures in many places. They particularly liked the Picasso Pavilion and enjoyed it very much.

There were comments such as "Everywhere in Japan, the towns are orderly and clean. There's no litter on the ground," "Everyone is polite," and "There are no trash cans in the streets."

The guests said, "We'd like to head to Odawara and stroll around the town," so I saw them off at Odawara Station, where we parted ways.

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

Tour Report by Masa

Guiding career:
Guide work started in July 2022. A guide focused on FIT compliance.
FY2022 results: 17 cases, FY2023 results: 97
Destinations: Various places in Tokyo, Hakone, Kamakura and Nikko
As a recent group travel record, in October 2023, we have a track record of guiding a group of 33 people from Singapore to Narita Airport transfer plus sightseeing in Tokyo.
Self-introduction:
In the past, I was stationed in Canada, the United States, and Mexico as an expatriate of a Japanese bank for over 11 years.
Since I have been mainly involved in the financing business in the United States for a long time, I think I am able to provide interpretation and translation services related to business and finance.
I am a certified CPA in the United States.
In addition, for three years from April 2016, I will be engaged in Japanese-English translation work (part-time), and I can also handle translation work.
Although I don’t have a qualification in Spanish, but I think I can handle day to day conversation in Spanish without any problems.
My hobby is trekking and from time to time, take a walk around mountains near Tokyo like Mt. Takao, Tanzawa, etc. I think it is possible to provide tourist information here as well.
Since April 2015, I have been working as a Tokyo Metropolitan Tourism Volunteer and Tokyo Metropolitan Disaster Prevention Volunteer.
One more, I have a separate house near Asuka Village, Nara prefecture, and I stay there for a total of about 30 days every year and have been enjoying sightseeing personally in the vicinity. Therefore, I think in the Kansai region, especially in Nara, Asuka, Yoshino, Koyasan, Kumano Kodo, etc., where I think I will be able to tour guide with confidence.