Kanagawa in One Day: Odakyu Odawara & Hakone-Yumoto — Guide Masa

Title: Can You Do a Private Day Trip to Hakone from Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Full-Loop Report

The guests were a group visiting Japan from North America. One member of the group had visited Japan about 15 years earlier, while the rest were visiting for the first time. This time, the group was spending two weeks in Japan. They first arrived at Kansai Airport, visited Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto, and then arrived in Tokyo three days earlier. In Tokyo, they stayed at a Hotel. The next day they planned to visit Asakusa, Tsukiji, and other spots, and the day after that they planned to fly home from Narita Airport. One member of the group had stayed at Hakone Yumoto Onsen on a previous visit and had such a great impression of it that the whole group decided to visit Hakone together this time. It was a tour under weather that felt like midsummer. The itinerary was based on their wish to do a quick loop around Hakone. We met at the Shinkansen exit of Odawara Station, purchased Hakone Free Passes at Odawara Station, and then traveled via Hakone Yumoto and Gora, first heading to Sounzan. After taking in the view from the observation deck, we rode the ropeway to Owakudani. Seeing the rising steam and sulfur, the guests asked questions such as "Is this an active volcano?" and "Has it ever erupted?" After looking down into the valley from the observation deck, we went to the Kurotamago building. Everyone tried the "black eggs" (they said they had heard about the black eggs in advance). They also enjoyed ice cream. We also visited the Hakone Geomuseum, and the guests said it helped them really understand how volcanoes work. After that, we connected ropeways to reach Togendai Station. We took a break with a light meal at the Togendai View Restaurant. Then we boarded the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise (pirate ship) to Moto-Hakone Port. From the top deck, the guests enjoyed the view of Lake Ashi. They said, "It's such a beautiful, quiet, and peaceful lake," and asked, "How was it formed?" After that, we walked to Hakone Shrine, which they had strongly wished to visit. We returned to Moto-Hakone, then connected the Hakone Tozan Bus and Hakone Tozan Railway to reach Odawara Station. Along the way they commented: "All over Japan, the towns are so orderly and clean. There's no litter." "Everyone is so polite." "The trains are quiet and no one is being loud." "We don't see homeless people. Why is that?" They also said that Kyoto had made the strongest impression of all. I saw them off at the Shinkansen entrance of Odawara Station, and we parted ways.

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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.