Kanagawa in One Day: Odawara & Hakone-Yumoto — Guide Masa

Title: Can You Do a Private Day Trip to Hakone from Odawara? A Licensed Guide's Report on Owakudani, Lake Ashi, and Hakone Shrine

The guests were visitors from North America. This was their first time in Japan. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) guide led a private one-day tour of Hakone for the group, who were traveling for a trip that included Japan followed by another destination in Asia. The group arrived in Japan several days earlier, spent time in Tokyo, and moved to Hakone this morning. From Hakone they planned to continue to Kyoto via Odawara, stay in Kyoto, and then fly onward from Kansai Airport.

For Hakone, the guests expressed a wish to see not only urban Japan but also the countryside, and to enjoy the hot springs. Their top request was a view of Mount Fuji.

Although the weather was clear, clouds gathered, and unfortunately we were not able to see Mount Fuji.

The guests traveled from Tokyo this morning, and we met at Odawara Station. First, we took the Hakone Tozan Railway from Odawara Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station. The guests were very keen to ride a ropeway, but since the Sounzan–Owakudani ropeway was closed for scheduled maintenance, we first took the Hakone Tozan Bus to Togendai, and from there took the ropeway to Owakudani.

I explained the origins of Hakone and gave an overview of the history of Owakudani. The guests asked questions such as "When were the volcanoes of Hakone formed?", "Is Owakudani an active volcano? Has it ever erupted?", and "Is Mount Fuji also an active volcano?"

They purchased and tasted the famous "black eggs," and also bought cookies as a souvenir.

From here we returned to Togendai and, after a short wait, boarded the "pirate ship" sightseeing boat. It was full of tourists inside. The guests asked questions such as "How deep is Lake Ashi? What is the water temperature?", "Can you swim in it?", and "Can you fish there?"

We disembarked at Hakone-Motohako Port and walked to Hakone Shrine, where I explained the history of the shrine. We went to the main hall and to the torii gate standing over the lake. As always, there was a long line of tourists waiting to take photos, so we had no choice but to take our commemorative photo from the side. In front of the torii, the guests asked why so many people were lining up to take photos.

We returned to Hakone-Motohako Port, transferred between the Hakone Tozan Bus and Railway, and went to the Hakone Open-Air Museum. I explained the origins of the "Open-Air Museum," and we made a quick loop through the grounds.

After this, the guests wished to stroll through the shopping street of Hakone-Yumoto, so we went together to Hakone-Yumoto Station.

The guests commented that "Japan is clean everywhere in its towns," "It feels safe and secure," "There are too many people in Tokyo," and "Meiji Shrine felt like an oasis in the middle of the city, and it was very impressive."

We parted ways at Hakone-Yumoto Station.

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.