Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day — Guide Kanako

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

Although the tour was originally scheduled to begin at 10:00, at the guests' request we started the tour at 9:00. Since they only had one day available for sightseeing, I guided them in the following order: Owakudani, the Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise, Hakone Shrine, and the Hakone Open-Air Museum.

At Owakudani, seeing the smell of sulfur and the rising steam, the guests seemed to truly realize that Hakone is an active volcano. Only one of the guests wanted a black egg, but I had one together with them. They seemed to enjoy it. Unfortunately it was cloudy so we could not see Mount Fuji, but they appeared to enjoy themselves.

On the Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise, they ordered tea and snacks at the cafe on board, and we headed toward Moto-Hakone Port while viewing the Peace Torii Gate through the window. There was no time to stop at the Hakone Checkpoint, so I explained it verbally only, but they seemed interested.

After that, they had katsudon and tendon at a restaurant near Moto-Hakone Port before heading to Hakone Shrine. The guests kindly offered to cover the lunch, so I gratefully accepted.

They seemed interested in the history of Hakone Shrine and listened attentively to my explanation. I wanted to take a photo at the Peace Torii Gate, but there were many people, so I took the photo from the side rather than from the front. They appeared satisfied.

At the Open-Air Museum, some of the guests especially enjoyed it. They seemed to like that it was hands-on rather than simply viewing artwork carefully. One of the guests was also deeply knowledgeable about art and said it was a very good museum.

Finally, we parted at Chokoku-no-Mori Station.

They said they had a wonderful time and even gave me a tip.

When I asked them for a review at the end, they kindly agreed and gave five stars. It seems it was their last day in Japan, and I was glad that it became a good memory for them.

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

Tour Report by Kanako

Hi everyone! My name is Kanako. It might be difficult for you to remember my name, so just think my name is “Can of Coke”.
I enjoy traveling, exploring cafés, and visiting museums. Since I live close to Tokyo, I often visit there in my free time.
Do you like Japanese culture? Lately, people from many countries have shown interest in it, and I truly feel happy about that. Especially after the pandemic, even more visitors have been coming to Japan.
Japan is a country with traditions that span thousands of years, while also embracing some of the most advanced technologies in the world. For example, you might come across a café with a sleek, modern interior hidden inside a building that looks like a traditional Japanese house from the outside. That’s quite common here. It reflects Japan’s spirit of “learning new things by studying the old.”
Personally, I often discover something new just by walking through the streets. From famous tourist spots to hidden gems off the beaten path, let’s explore the essence of Japan together!