Kanagawa in One Day: Owakudani & for the hotel — Guide Shuji
February, 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
- 9:00 Meet at the hotel
- 9:10 From Sounzan Station, take the ropeway to Owakudani
- 9:25 Owakudani
- 9:50 From Owakudani, take the ropeway to Togendai
- 10:45 Take the pirate ship to Hakonemachi Port
- 11:20 Shopping at the souvenir shop
- 12:00 Guide (not needed) from the entrance of the Hakone Checkpoint
- 12:30 Lunch
- 13:15 Stroll along the Old Tokaido Road
- 13:40 Hakone Shrine
- 14:20 Depart for the hotel
- 14:50 Arrive at the hotel, guide ends

Private Hakone Day Tour Report from a Japan Guide Agency Licensed Guide: Lake Ashi, Owakudani, and Hakone Shrine
The guests were a group visiting from North America. Interestingly, I had studied English for two months before going abroad at a university in North America, and it turned out that one of the guests had been a professor at that very university. In addition, an ancestor of the group had emigrated to North America from Hiroshima, and since I am from Hiroshima myself, what an amazing coincidence! Today we were lucky to see Mount Fuji beautifully from both the ropeway and Owakudani. The guests were also impressed by the volcanic activity at Owakudani. On the pirate ship, they relaxed in a first-class cabin. Since I had heard from the travel agency that some of the guests enjoyed shopping, I introduced two souvenir shops, and indeed we spent a long time shopping 😅. I guided them through the Hakone Checkpoint and the old Tokaido road, then Hakone Shrine, the Peace Torii Gate, Kuzuryu Shrine, and the Anzan Sugi cedar. At the last spot, famous for blessings related to children, the guests prayed earnestly.
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 | Sounzan~Togendai | 1,500JPY |
| Section 2 | Other | Togendai~Hakonemachi Port | 1,200JPY |
| Total | 2,700JPY | ||
My name is Shuji, meaning “Excellent Manager” in English. I was born in Hiroshima 1952. I have 2 children and 3 grandchildren.
After graduating Kyoto Univ. I joined Mitsubishi-UFJ Bank, Osaka Branch where I met my wife who was a master of Englsih, so I started studying English.
The bank allowed me to go to Columbia Graduate business school in New York and got MBA Degree there. I worked in London and Manchester Branch.
During staying in U.K., I was introduced by BBC and Financial Times News Paper about my achievement there. I was selected as a personal assistant and interpreter for the President of the Bank.
I made many business trips with him to overseas countries. I experienced as an interpreter for meeting late Henry Kissinger and the President of Citi. Corp.
I changed the job to ORIX corporation, there I was promoted to a Board Member. When the company had acquired Dutch company, I was a member as an accountant to check the Dutch company’s statements of accounts.
My hobbies are cooking, singing a song, playing tennis & golf, enjoy seeing arts especially opera & musical, travel. I am also busy with taking care of grandchildren. I passed Government Licensed Guide Exam. in 2016. After I retired in 2017, I started guide job as a part timer. So far, I accomplished guide job more than 500 times.
My area coverage is from Tokyo, Hakone, Kamakura, Mt. Fuji to Kyoto, Nara, Oaka, Hiroshima. I am also able to guide Tea Ceremony, Maiko/Geisha, Sushi Making, Calligraphy, Sumo, Samurai, etc. I can speak excellent English. My knowledge is very wide and deep about not only sightseeing places but Japanese History, Culture, Religion, Daily Life. I know many foreign countries and people. I love talking with all kinds of people including babies with interesting humor.
By the way, I look young for my age of 74.
Jul 16, 2026
salomons666
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Amazing with our guide Shuji very kind and acknowledge
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A great day in the Company of mr. Shuji.
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Shuji is the best! Once we booked this tour, he reached…
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AmyfromPlano
Shuji is the best! Once we booked this tour, he reached out immediately to make sure that we had a customized tour of what we wanted to see and do in Nara. The level of details in his emails was incredible! Not only did Shuji plan a great tour but he also went above and beyond by explaining the Japan rail system, the public transportation cards (Suica, Pasmo, etc.) and even told us exactly what trains, times and gates to exit so that our meetup was seamless. Been on a lot of tours around the world and have never had this level of communication. Once we started our tour, Shuji was articulate, knowledgeable and so much fun! Nara is amazing and Shuji made it so much better – please request him!
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yeseniag981
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Our tour guide Shuji was amazing. He was…
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Our tour guide Shuji was amazing. He was very knowledgeable and made sure we were able to see everything that we wanted while in Osaka. He even took my 5 year old into consideration and took us to the Pokémon store since he is a Pokémon fan. I would definitely recommend him as a tour guide.
