Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day — Guide Hiro

March, 2025

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

  • 8:45 Meet at hotel. After the meeting, at 9:16 take the mountain train at Miyanoshita to the Hakone Open-Air Museum. After sightseeing, depart at 11:31 for Gora Station. Then take the cable car and ropeway for sightseeing at Owakudani. Mt. Fuji was barely visible. Take the cable car to Togendai. At 12:45 take the pirate ship to Hakonemachi Port. Lunch at Hotoriya. Passing through the Hakone Checkpoint and the old Tokaido cedar avenue, viewed the direction of Hakone Shrine from the lakeside at Motohakone. Returned to Hakonemachi and departed at 15:15 by bus for Hakone-Yumoto, but due to road congestion, transferred to the train at Ohiradai and arrived at Hakone-Yumoto at 16:15. Furthermore, today due to an Odakyu accident, the Romancecar was suspended. Unavoidably took the mountain train to Odawara. From Odawara boarded the 16:42 rapid express bound for Shinjuku and finished. Instead of the Romancecar, the customer headed to Shinjuku by express and then on to Shibuya.

What Is a Private Day Tour of Hakone Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Owakudani, the Open-Air Museum, and Lake Ashi

The guests were a group visiting from North America. They had a wonderful sense of humor and were very friendly, so we spent the whole day in a lively and enjoyable atmosphere. At the Hakone Open-Air Museum, surrounded by rich nature and trees, they remarked that although similar places exist in North America, this one was far cleaner and more beautiful. They especially loved the avenue of old cedar trees, finding the large trees rare and the quiet atmosphere to their taste. On the pirate ship, they were so absorbed in conversation over beers that they enjoyed the scenery only through the windows. From Owakudani, they were just barely able to catch a view of Mount Fuji, though not the whole mountain, and were satisfied. Although the Romancecar service was suspended, I confirmed with a station attendant that the fare would be automatically refunded and let everyone know.

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

Transportation cost per person

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

Tour Report by Hiro

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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