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

  • 9:00 Meet at the hotel 9:15 Take the hotel shuttle car to Sounzan, then by ropeway to Owakudani, then by ropeway to Togendai 10:45 Pirate ship 11:25 Motohakone Port, from the shore of Lake Ashi, walk through the old Tokaido cedar avenue, via the Hakone Checkpoint, and after lunch at Maruyama Bussan Donburi Chaya 13:15 Take the bus from Hakone Port to Ninotaira, then walk
  • 14:00 The Hakone Open-Air Museum 15:20 From the Open-Air Museum, take the train to Gora Station. The guests will go shopping nearby and then return by the hotel shuttle as they did yesterday, so we disband at 15:30

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

The guests were visitors from North America who seemed quite accustomed to traveling, on their way to sightseeing in Tokyo via Hakone after finishing the Kyoto area, before returning to North America. Compared to where they live in North America, Hakone felt cold today. Nevertheless, they thoroughly enjoyed the natural beauty starting from Owakudani in Hakone. They also tasted the black eggs. At the cedar avenue and the old checkpoint, they got a sense of history, and at a woodcraft demonstration by a local craft shop, they admired traditional Japanese craftsmanship and purchased many souvenirs. At a local restaurant, they enjoyed soba and sushi while I introduced kanji to them, which they found enjoyable. At the Hakone Open-Air Museum, although it began to rain, the guests enjoyed the foot bath and the maze together.

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1Free PassOdawara~Odawara6,000JPY
Total6,000JPY

I am Hiroki Morikawa :Hiro:, English guide living with my wife ,just a hop skip and jump from Hakone, Kamakura, Tokyo and the Mt. Fuji.
I am a friendly grandfather of 4 grandchildren.
I would love to help you enjoy Japan, using my 3 strong points.
First: I am used to dealing with any kind of matters. I have experienced various situations in the 40 years of my working life.
Second: I am good at making a friendly atmosphere between you and local people to help you enjoy Japan. I was raised in western Japan, studied in northern Japan and now live in central Japan. So I know various local cultures and dialects to communicate with a wide variety of people.
Third: I can explain things from a technical point of view.
For example, how the Great Buddha was constructed, because I am a master of engineering graduated from Hokkaido University.
Please enjoy Japan with me. See you soon!!
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