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
- 9:30 Meet at Ryugujoden
- 9:41 By Izuhakone Bus
- 10:02 Owakudani, by Ropeway to Togendai
- 12:00 Pirate Ship
- 12:25 Hakonemachi Port
- After shopping at Tabimonogatari, tour and shopping at Maruyama Bussan
- Lunch at Donburi Chaya
- 14:09 By bus from Hakone Checkpoint to Moto-Hakone
- Stroll around Lake Ashi, Hakone Shrine red torii gate
- 15:15 Disband at Moto-Hakone taxi stand
- Guests head to the hotel
Tour Itinerary in Detail
This private tour of Kanagawa began at 9:30, when the guide met the guests at Ryugujoden, and finished at 15:15. The day ran to 5 hours and 45 minutes from start to finish.
From there the group visited By Izuhakone Bus at 9:41, Owakudani, by Ropeway to Togendai at 10:02, Pirate Ship at 12:00, Hakonemachi Port at 12:25 and By bus from Hakone Checkpoint to Moto-Hakone at 14:09.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: In front of Ryugujoden by bus (660JPY). Across 1 sections the fare came to 6,660JPY per person.
What Is a Private Hakone and Mount Fuji Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from North America who had just been married at a venue in the area the night before. A perfectly clear view of Mount Fuji welcomed us, and I promptly created a celebratory board and took photos. The guests were impressed by the secret puzzle boxes in Hakone and enjoyed shopping for various items. At a rice bowl restaurant, they savored Japanese cuisine. The guests were keen on photography and used several cameras to take many pictures centered on Mount Fuji and the red torii gate. They had a strong interest in Japanese culture, and we had enjoyable conversations about religion, the lifestyle of Japanese people, and kanji characters. This evening the guests will head from Odawara to Kyoto.
Click here for more details: Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Free Pass | Odawara Station～Odawara Station | 6,000JPY |
| Section 2 | Bus | In front of Ryugujoden / Izuhakone Bus～Owakudani / Izuhakone Bus | 660JPY |
| Total | 6,660JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Kanagawa tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Ryugujoden at 9:30, and the tour finished at Moto-Hakone taxi stand at 15:15.
How long does the tour last?
About 5 hours and 45 minutes in total, from 9:30 to 15:15.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited By Izuhakone Bus, Owakudani, by Ropeway to Togendai, Pirate Ship, Hakonemachi Port and By bus from Hakone Checkpoint to Moto-Hakone.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 6,660JPY per person across 2 sections. Transport fares are paid by the guests and are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the guide licensed, and what language is the tour in?
Hiro is a government-licensed national guide-interpreter of Japan and guided this tour in English. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) works with more than 1,000 licensed guides across all 47 prefectures. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Can the itinerary be changed for my own trip?
Yes. This report describes one private tour as it actually ran. Every Kanagawa itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
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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Jun 30, 2026
G2432BLtimothyc
Tripadvisor review: Hakone Full Day Tour with Guide and Vehicle
6 hour tour of Hakone
we had a great experience with…
Jun 30, 2026
G2432BLtimothyc
Tripadvisor review: Hakone Full Day Tour with Guide and Vehicle
6 hour tour of Hakone
we had a great experience with our guide, Hiro. Despite the weather not cooperating (rain),
Hiro was great about making adjustments so that we could see as much as Hakone as
possible.
Jun 25, 2026
T7734IPbrandons
Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
First time in hakone
Niro was perfect for us. He was…
Jun 25, 2026
T7734IPbrandons
Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
First time in hakone
Niro was perfect for us. He was flexible for our first time in Hakone and the kids enjoyed it
Jun 8, 2026
JasonB6980
Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Hiro-san knows Hakone!
Our guide, Hiro-san, did a wonderful job introducing…
Jun 8, 2026
JasonB6980
Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Hiro-san knows Hakone!
Our guide, Hiro-san, did a wonderful job introducing us to the area of Hakone – leading us on a great tour of several requested destinations. We were lucky to see Mt. Fuji at the top of the ropeway, had a fun ride on a pirate ship on Lake Ashi, enjoyed a fantastic lunch at a local restaurant, and picked up some great souvenirs at a puzzle-box store which have wowed our family and friends. One of the great things that Hiro did throughout the day was to educate and amuse us with numerous pictures, stories, and lessons from his backpack. It felt like Hiro-san was part of our family that day and we can’t imagine having tried to experience Hakone’s great sites without him.
Jun 7, 2026
Tourist31988989961
Tripadvisor review: Kamakura 8 hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide from Tokyo
Great Day and Tour
Kamakura was amazing. Enjoyed…
Jun 7, 2026
Tourist31988989961
Tripadvisor review: Kamakura 8 hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide from Tokyo
Great Day and Tour
Kamakura was amazing. Enjoyed visiting the beautiful gardens and shrines. Hiro was a great guide. Having him guide us made the day stress free and much more enjoyable. It was interesting learning about Japan and the culture. I would definitely recommend this tour and visiting Kamakura.