Hakone Full-Day Customized Private Tour — Guide Atsushi

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

The guests were visitors from Europe. Their family member had visited Hakone the previous year and highly recommended it, so they were very much looking forward to touring the area. Some of the guests found it difficult to walk for long periods or to go up and down long staircases, so I kept this in mind and toured Hakone at a slower pace than usual.

Unfortunately, the morning began with light rain, and the day remained cloudy with occasional rain, but compared to the very hot weather in Tokyo, the guests enjoyed a much more comfortable day.

They mentioned that there are no volcanoes where they come from, so during the Lake Ashi cruise I spoke about the caldera landscape of Hakone and its history, which they listened to with great interest. At Hakone Shrine, rather than focusing on Shinto itself, I talked mainly about the history and the faith of the local people.

We did not go to the checkpoint, but they were amazed to hear that this had once been a difficult point along the old Tokaido road, where many travelers had passed through.

They also seemed to have a deep appreciation for art, and at the Open-Air Museum they enjoyed conversing together while looking carefully at each work.

For lunch, they wanted something Japanese, so we headed to a soba restaurant. There, they enjoyed conversation about Japanese food culture, including how to place chopsticks and showing respect for the meal.

Unfortunately, Owakudani was enveloped in deep fog, so the scenery could not be enjoyed. Since it was not long after lunch and they were too full to eat the black eggs, I gave them a bag of four so they could enjoy them later at the Hotel. They were delighted to hear that each egg is said to extend one's life by seven years.

We wrapped up Owakudani earlier than planned, and since the tour was progressing ahead of schedule, I suggested heading to Chokoji Temple after returning to Togendai, which they agreed to. Chokoji Temple had also been one of the recommended spots from their family member.

However, upon arriving at Togendai, they said they wanted to return to the Hotel. Since they held a free pass valid until the next day, I recommended revisiting Owakudani, explained how to reach Chokoji Temple by bus and how to return to Odawara, and we ended the tour one hour earlier than planned. I suspect this was partly because they were a little tired and partly out of consideration for me. Both of them loved to talk, and throughout the day we enjoyed a great deal of conversation, including topics unrelated to the tour.

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Tour Report by Atsushi

Hi everyone! I’m Atsushi.
Born in the historic fishing port of Shiogama in Miyagi Prefecture and raised in Tokyo and Kanagawa, I’ve spent my life immersed in Japanese culture.
During my six years in the countryside as a university student, I fell in love with hiking and visiting temples.
After graduating with a master’s degree in agricultural science, I spent 40 years in R&D at a food manufacturing company before transitioning from part-time guiding to becoming a full-time professional tour guide at the end of 2025.
My true passion lies in Japan’s rich culinary and sake traditions.
I specialize in FIT tours around Tokyo and Hakone, and I even lead sumo culture tours!
I’m dedicated to making your journey truly unforgettable, and I look forward to helping you get the absolute most out of your stay in Japan.
I can’t wait to meet you!