Hakone in 1 Day by Private Car — Guide Kaz
October, 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. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Tour Itinerary
- 10am Meet at Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu→10:30 Hakone Shrine→11:30 Lake Ashi cruise on the pirate ship→12:00 Togendai→Ropeway→Owakudani→Ropeway→13:30 Lunch→14:30 Hakone Open-Air Museum→Say goodbye at the hotel
Title: What Is a Private Day Tour of Hakone Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The day of the tour was blessed with perfect weather. Mount Fuji was clearly visible even from Lake Ashi, and the guests enjoyed the views from Owakudani and the ropeway. At the first stop, Hakone Shrine, the guests seemed very interested in the ema (votive wooden plaques), purchasing two and writing wishes for the happiness of their family and themselves, then tying them at the designated place, which became a memorable spot for them. They also listened attentively to my explanation of the differences between Shinto and Buddhism, deepening their understanding of Japanese culture. At the Hakone Open-Air Museum, the guests seemed deeply moved by a sculpture by Bourdelle and took photos of the explanatory bronze plaque. It was a six-hour tour full of nature, culture, and art.
Click here for more details: Hakone in 1 Day by Private Car with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Other | Motohakone Port～Togendai | 1,700JPY |
| Section 2 | Other | Togendai～Sounzan | 2,000JPY |
| Total | 3,700JPY | ||
My name is Kazunori Honma, I live in Odawara city near Hakone facing Pacific Ocean, so I am familiar with Mt. Fuji and Hakone area. In particular, nature, history, culture and food in the region are my specialty. I know a lot of Shinto shrines, temples, and hiking trails. Plus, I love art, so I am able to guide you to a wide variety of art museums in Mt. Fuji and Hakone area. If you are an art lover, you will be able to spend a fulfilling time with me.
I thoroughly make preparations for your interests and needs to satisfy you with all my effort in advance. I’m sure you will definitely be happy with spending a day with me.
Jun 4, 2026
Companion12422328239
Tripadvisor review: Port Pick-Up: Shizuoka Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
Great views of Mt Fuji and local tea
We had…
Jun 4, 2026
Companion12422328239
Tripadvisor review: Port Pick-Up: Shizuoka Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
Great views of Mt Fuji and local tea
We had an afternoon in Shizuoka on our cruise, and our guide picked us up at port on time and made sure to get us back on time too.
We went to a beautiful waterfall, the Mt. Fuji World Heritage Centre, the Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha shrine, and a local tea shop. We were able to get incredible pictures of Mt. Fuji, and really enjoyed every location we went. Our guide and driver did a great job of getting us to all these places and not feeling rushed even though we only had 5 hours ashore.
We traveled with my parents and our 3 kids (age range of 73 to 8) and we all had a terrific time.
May 28, 2026
kam_g
Viator review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
The guide was very nice…
The guide was very…
May 28, 2026
kam_g
Viator review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
The guide was very nice…
The guide was very nice and knowledgeable. Introduced us to very interesting people. Very
cloudy that day so Mt. Fuji was not visible but that was OK the countryside was beautiful.
Very enjoyable experience. Would book again. thank you so much
Apr 11, 2026
Brandon2116
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Personalized Tokyo Experience
Booking a private tour with Kaz was the perfect…
Apr 11, 2026
Brandon2116
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Personalized Tokyo Experience
Booking a private tour with Kaz was the perfect way to see Tokyo’s top sights through a completely customized lens. We covered an incredible amount of ground, including Meiji Shrine, the Imperial Palace, Tsukiji Outer Market for lunch, and Senso-ji Temple. Kaz was an outstanding guide who came incredibly prepared. He used historical photos to provide context and help us visualize the history behind every location we visited. What we appreciated most was how he personalized the day in real-time, shifting the focus toward the specific facts and sights that interested us most. While the itinerary involved a lot of walking, Kaz was very thoughtful about incorporating breaks and keeping the energy high and fun throughout the day. If you want to maximize your time in Tokyo and walk away with a deep understanding of the city, I highly recommend a tour with Kaz!
Mar 29, 2026
Stacy_A
Viator review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Thanks, Kaz! We recommend this tour.
Great experience – it was…
Mar 29, 2026
Stacy_A
Viator review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Thanks, Kaz! We recommend this tour.
Great experience – it was so much more efficient and rewarding than it would have been, should we have done it in our own. Kaz took us to a wonderful private restaurant for an extraordinary meal at a more than reasonable price. We also visited the tea house in Gora Park, where we were serve a cup of matcha and a sweet in the traditional setting.