Kanagawa in One Day: Kami-Gora Station & Souunzan Station — Guide Masa

Title: What Can You See on a Private Day Tour of Hakone? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were visitors from North America, both visiting Japan for the first time. They were on a 12-day trip to Japan, having arrived at Narita Airport a few days earlier. After staying in Tokyo, they had arrived in Hakone the previous evening and checked into their hotel. They mentioned that they had enjoyed the hot spring inside the hotel the night before. The following day, around noon, they planned to travel to Kyoto via Odawara, then tour Osaka and Nara before returning to Tokyo and heading home. Their request was: "Today, we would like to visit the main spots in Hakone."

We met at their hotel. It was a cloudy day with occasional light rain during the tour. We walked to Kami-Gora Station, then took the Hakone Tozan Cable Car and the Hakone Ropeway, passing through Sounzan on the way to Owakudani. I explained "the formation of Hakone" and "an overview and history of Owakudani." The guests tried the "black eggs" and also visited the Geo Museum. They asked questions such as "When were the volcanoes of Hakone formed?" "Is Owakudani an active volcano? Has it ever erupted?" and "Is Mount Fuji also an active volcano?"

We took the ropeway again to Togendai. After a short wait, we boarded the "pirate ship." Despite the less-than-ideal weather, it was full of tourists. Even in the cold, the guests stayed on the upper deck the whole time and took many commemorative photos. They asked questions such as "How deep is Lake Ashi? What is the water temperature?" "Can you swim in it?" and "Can you fish here?"

We disembarked at Hakone-Motohako Port and went to Hakone Shrine. I explained "the history of Hakone Shrine." Regarding the torii gate on the lake, they asked, "Why are so many people lining up to take photos?" We took a break at a café.

After this, we took the Hakone Tozan Bus and the Hakone Tozan Railway to the "Hakone Open-Air Museum." By this time, the rain had stopped and the sunshine had returned. We carefully walked around the entire grounds. I explained the origins of the "Hakone Open-Air Museum." They commented, "Hakone is more relaxing and pleasant than Tokyo," and "Tokyo, especially Shibuya, was overwhelming with crowds, and I couldn't come to like it." They also remarked, "Everywhere in Japan, the towns are orderly," "There is no litter," "Everyone is polite," and "The security seems to be well maintained."

I saw them off at Sounzan Station, where we parted ways (they mentioned that the hotel's car would come to pick them up at Sounzan Station).

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

Tour Report by Masa

Guiding career:
Guide work started in July 2022. A guide focused on FIT compliance.
FY2022 results: 17 cases, FY2023 results: 97
Destinations: Various places in Tokyo, Hakone, Kamakura and Nikko
As a recent group travel record, in October 2023, we have a track record of guiding a group of 33 people from Singapore to Narita Airport transfer plus sightseeing in Tokyo.
Self-introduction:
In the past, I was stationed in Canada, the United States, and Mexico as an expatriate of a Japanese bank for over 11 years.
Since I have been mainly involved in the financing business in the United States for a long time, I think I am able to provide interpretation and translation services related to business and finance.
I am a certified CPA in the United States.
In addition, for three years from April 2016, I will be engaged in Japanese-English translation work (part-time), and I can also handle translation work.
Although I don’t have a qualification in Spanish, but I think I can handle day to day conversation in Spanish without any problems.
My hobby is trekking and from time to time, take a walk around mountains near Tokyo like Mt. Takao, Tanzawa, etc. I think it is possible to provide tourist information here as well.
Since April 2015, I have been working as a Tokyo Metropolitan Tourism Volunteer and Tokyo Metropolitan Disaster Prevention Volunteer.
One more, I have a separate house near Asuka Village, Nara prefecture, and I stay there for a total of about 30 days every year and have been enjoying sightseeing personally in the vicinity. Therefore, I think in the Kansai region, especially in Nara, Asuka, Yoshino, Koyasan, Kumano Kodo, etc., where I think I will be able to tour guide with confidence.