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.
Tour Itinerary
- 09:30 Meet @ Kawaguchiko Station (arriving via Fuji Excursion No. 3)
- 09:35 Drop off luggage at Tourist Base Kawaguchiko
- 09:59 Take the Fujikyu Railway to Shimoyoshida Station
- 10:12 Arrive at Shimoyoshida Station, walk to Arakurayama Sengen Park
- 10:30 @ Arakurayama Sengen Park (Chureito Pagoda)
- 11:30 Take a taxi from Shimoyoshida Station to Oshino Hakkai
- 11:50～13:00 @ Oshino Hakkai (Hannoki Museum, etc.)
- 13:00 Take a taxi to Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine
- 13:20 @ Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine
- 13:40 Take a taxi to Kosaku
- 14:00～14:40 Lunch @ Kosaku Kawaguchiko Branch
- 14:45 Take a taxi to Oishi Park
- 15:00 @ Oishi Park
- 15:40 Take the Red Line to Kawaguchiko Station
- 16:00 Disband @ Tourist Base Kawaguchiko
Tour Itinerary in Detail
This private tour of Yamanashi began at 09:30, when the guide met the guests at @ Kawaguchiko Station (arriving via Fuji Excursion No. 3), and finished at 16:00. The day ran to 6 hours and 30 minutes from start to finish. It included lunch @ Kosaku Kawaguchiko Branch at 14:00.
From there the group visited Take the Fujikyu Railway to Shimoyoshida Station at 09:59, Shimoyoshida Station, walk to Arakurayama Sengen Park at 10:12, Arakurayama Sengen Park (Chureito Pagoda) at 10:30, Take a taxi from Shimoyoshida Station to Oshino Hakkai at 11:30, Oshino Hakkai (Hannoki Museum, etc.) at 11:50, Take a taxi to Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine at 13:00, Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine at 13:20, Take a taxi to Kosaku at 13:40, Take a taxi to Oishi Park at 14:45, Oishi Park at 15:00 and Take the Red Line to Kawaguchiko Station at 15:40.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Kawaguchiko to Shimoyoshida by train (310JPY); Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center／Fujikyu Bus to Kawaguchiko Station／Fujikyu Bus by bus (520JPY). Across 2 sections the fare came to 830JPY per person.
Title: What's a Private Mount Fuji Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from North America. They were relaxed and easygoing, and it was a pleasure to spend the day with them. Since the itinerary had already been decided through email exchanges beforehand, we were able to proceed smoothly. They had mentioned that using taxis was perfectly fine for getting around efficiently, so for portions where waiting for buses was too inefficient, we used taxis to move around. The weather was clear today, and Mount Fuji was exceptionally visible. We were able to see wonderful views of Mount Fuji from the Chureito Pagoda, from Oshino Hakkai, and from Oishi Park, and the guests were very satisfied. At Oshino Hakkai, we enjoyed the local specialty kusa-mochi and had hoto for lunch, followed by yukimi daifuku for dessert. At Oishi Park, I bought them Shizuoka strawberries and also gave them a Meoto-bashi souvenir, which delighted them greatly. They were very grateful, saying that they were truly glad to have met me and that it had become an unforgettable, lifelong memory. Overall, I believe their satisfaction was very high. They had wonderful personalities and were splendid guests who made guiding truly rewarding!
Click here for more details: Mt. Fuji Five Lakes Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Kawaguchiko～Shimoyoshida | 310JPY |
| Section 2 | Bus | Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center／Fujikyu Bus～Kawaguchiko Station／Fujikyu Bus | 520JPY |
| Total | 830JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Yamanashi tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at @ Kawaguchiko Station (arriving via Fuji Excursion No. 3) at 09:30, and the tour finished at @ Tourist Base Kawaguchiko at 16:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours and 30 minutes in total, from 09:30 to 16:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Take the Fujikyu Railway to Shimoyoshida Station, Shimoyoshida Station, walk to Arakurayama Sengen Park, Arakurayama Sengen Park (Chureito Pagoda), Take a taxi from Shimoyoshida Station to Oshino Hakkai, Oshino Hakkai (Hannoki Museum, etc.), Take a taxi to Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine, Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine, Take a taxi to Kosaku, Take a taxi to Oishi Park, Oishi Park and Take the Red Line to Kawaguchiko Station.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 830JPY per person across 2 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?
May 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 Yamanashi itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
Hi, I’m May, your guide in Tokyo. Welcome to Japan!
I have been grown up in Tokyo and working here for more than 45 years, so I’m sure I can share the best attraction of Tokyo with you, such as food, cultural and historic sites, sub-culture, shopping, and nightlife.
Besides the tour guide, I have been working for a travel agent for more than 30 years, I can advise you the travel plan of not only in Tokyo but all over Japan.
I had lots of guests from all over the world here in Tokyo, and most of them gave me great and wonderful review.
I’m sure I can meet all of your demand and expectations, and am ready to welcome you to Japan with the best “Omotenashi” mind, or hospitality.
Sep 19, 2026
Plumb72
Introduction to Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Our guide ‘May’ had emailed us several times…
Sep 19, 2026
Plumb72
Introduction to Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Our guide ‘May’ had emailed us several times to work out exactly what we wanted to see in Tokyo. He was great, very funny and helpful. He even found us a vegan restaurant where we had lunch, you could tell he was a bit apprehensive himself as a self confessed carnivore but he tried it anyway. It was a great introduction to Tokyo.
Aug 31, 2026
Charlene_E
You get to experience…
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
You get to experience moving…
Aug 31, 2026
Charlene_E
You get to experience…
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
You get to experience moving around in Tokyo’s subway. We were explained to the shrines and temples.
Aug 31, 2026
labrinir2016
Excellent- best in class.
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
We booked a private tour…
Aug 31, 2026
labrinir2016
Excellent- best in class.
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
We booked a private tour with May for our second day in Tokyo, and it was easily one of the best decisions we made on our trip. Tokyo can feel overwhelming at first because there is so much to see and the city is enormous, but May made the entire day feel effortless, fun, and incredibly memorable.
We started at Tsukiji Outer Market and Honganji, then went to Asakusa, where we explored Nakamise, Senso-ji Temple, and Asakusa Shrine and stopped for lunch. May did such a wonderful job explaining the history, traditions, and proper etiquette along the way. It made visiting these places so much more meaningful than simply walking through them on our own.
From there, we visited Meiji Jingu Shrine before ending the day in Shibuya, where we experienced the famous Scramble Crossing and Center-Gai. It was such a great mix of old and new Tokyo—from peaceful, traditional temples and shrines to some of the busiest and most energetic parts of the city.
One of the most valuable parts of the tour was having May teach us how to navigate Tokyo’s trains and subway system. It felt intimidating when we first arrived, but after spending the day with him, we felt so much more comfortable getting around on our own for the rest of the trip. That alone was invaluable.
What really sets May apart is how knowledgeable, thoughtful, and personable he is. He shared so much about Japanese culture, customs, history, and everyday life, and we loved being able to ask questions throughout the day. He also tailored the experience to us, gave us great recommendations for the rest of our trip, and knew exactly where to stop for the best photos.
May is an exceptional guide and such a genuinely lovely person to spend the day with. If you are visiting Tokyo, especially for the first time, I cannot recommend booking a tour with him enough. We saw so much, learned so much, and left feeling far more confident exploring Tokyo on our own. It was absolutely one of the highlights of our Japan trip. Five stars without hesitation!
Jul 16, 2026
fernandorM8865OM
Tripadvisor review: Mt. Fuji Five Lakes Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
Memorable day
We had a great time. Our guide Meiji…
Jul 16, 2026
fernandorM8865OM
Tripadvisor review: Mt. Fuji Five Lakes Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
Memorable day
We had a great time. Our guide Meiji “May” made our day memorable. Excellent sites and great food, May is very knowledgeable of the sites, has very good English and had very nice details during the tour. Ahh and he has all the nice spots for pictures identified. The restaurant he took us for lunch was excellent, we tried an amazing hoto udon.