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

  • 8:30 Meet 8:40 Izuhako Start by car (all subsequent transportation is by car) 9:10 Sounzan (car waits at Hakonemachi Port) Ropeway Owakudani By ropeway to Togendai 10:10 By pirate ship 10:35 Disembark at Hakonemachi Port By car After Hakone Shrine, return to Maruyama Bussan Marquetry present and shopping After lunch at Hakonemachi Port Hakone Checkpoint Old road cedar avenue Stroll By car to Hakone Yumoto 14:16 Board Romancecar Dismiss Customers will go to Keio Plaza.

Title: What's a Private Day Tour of Hakone Like After Kyoto and Osaka? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were visiting from Europe and came to Hakone after Kyoto and Osaka. Perhaps because of this, they seemed to love the lush green scenery of Hakone. Mount Fuji was not visible that day, but since they had seen it from the Shinkansen the day before, I asked for their understanding. Because breakfast had been a thoroughly traditional Japanese meal, some of the guests preferred not to have a Japanese lunch and were very happy with a hot dog instead. We had a toast with beer. The highlight was the trick box (karakuri box) from Maruyama Bussan; after the presentation, they purchased one as a souvenir. They opened it right away and tried solving it themselves. At the shrine, the checkpoint, and the cedar avenue, they enjoyed experiencing Japanese culture and the atmosphere of the Edo period.

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1Free PassOdawara Station~Odawara Station5,000JPY
Total5,000JPY

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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