Hakone is a popular destination for a day trip from Tokyo and Yokohama, located 60 miles or 100 kilometers southwest of the cities. The beauties of nature – forested steep mountains, gorges, volcanic activities and a crater lake - feature in Hakone.
We'll go around Hakone, using various means of transportation to explore the mountainous area, dropping in at must-see spots.
Check out what we are going to do.
Feel free to personalize this offer.
At Odakyu Hakone-Yumoto Station, JR Odawara Station, or your hotel in Hakone
At Odakyu Hakone-Yumoto Station, JR Odawara Station, or your hotel in Hakone
We'll follow Hakone's golden route and visit two major sightseeing spots – Lake Ashi and Owakudani (Great Boiling Valley), for a day trip.
Weather permitting, we'll enjoy magnificent views of Mt. Fuji from those areas. Even if we can not see Mt. Fuji, we will enjoy grand views of nature.
We can enjoy cruising on Lake Ashi by a Pirate Ship and through the sky by a ropeway (cable car), feeling the power of volcanic activities at Owakudani valley.
Hakone is also famous for its excellent hot springs. We can soak away our worries and fatigue by immersing ourselves in a hot-spring bath.
This tour presents an example itinerary for you. However, I can re-arrange it according to your requests. If you have any requests, please let me know in advance.
Please feel free to ask if you have any questions.
An example itinerary
09:30 am
Meet at JR Odawara Station, Hakone-Yumoto station, or at your hotel in Hakone
10:30 am
Take a bus bound for Lake Ashi
11:00 am
Arrive at Lake Ashi
Visit Onshi-Hakone Park; weather permitting, we can see Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi
12:00 pm
Have lunch at a restaurant beside the lake
01:15 pm
Board a Pirate Ship and enjoy cruising on Lake Ashi
01:45 pm
Arrive at Togendai Port and change to a ropeway to Owakudani valley
We'll enjoy wonderful views during a 15-minute ride on the ropeway.
02:15 pm
Arrive at Owakudani Valley and see outstanding scenes of the volcanic activity
Weather permitting, we can see Mt. Fuji from here.
03:00 pm
Get on a ropeway to Sounzan Station where we change to a cable car to Gora Station.
03:30 pm
Arrive at Gora.
Visiting Gora Park is an option.
04:30 pm
Board the Mountain Railway, one of the steepest railways in the world. While descending to Hakone-Yumoto, we'll view grand scenes of gorges and mountains.
05:30 pm
Arrive at Hakone-Yumoto station and the tour ends.
If you go to continue to Odawara station, I’ll escort you to that station.
guide fee, hotel pick-up in Hakone(in this case, please pay the guide's transportation fare from your hotel too)
transportation fare (you and guide), admission fee (you and guide), meals
This tour is a walking tour, so please wear comfortable shoes.
We may have to change the itinerary depending on the weather and traffic conditions.
Although the cost varies according to our itinerary, a typical cost is approximately 6,000 JPY per adult person.
- transportation fare: 4,000 JPY (Odakyu Hakone Freepass: including 8 types of transportation in Hakone)
- lunch: Approx. 2,000 JPY
It's about one and a half hours by a train, although varying, depending on a meeting place.
From Tokyo, I recommend using Odakyu Romancecar or JR Shinkansen.
For example:
- Shinjuku Sta. to Hakone-Yumoto Sta.: Approx. 85min. by Odakyu Romancecar
- Tokyo Sta. to Hakone-Yumoto Sta. (via Odawara Sta.): Approx. 60min. by JR Shinkansen and Hakone Tozan Train
Yes, I can. If your hotel is located in Tokyo or Yokohama, please pay the Hotel pick-up fee.
Guide’s transportation fare to the place is also required to be paid.
Yes, I can meet you at the hotel and shorten the tour duration according to your request.
In this case, please contact me before booking. I'll offer you a customized tour with the duration reduced.
Yes, I can arrange a private car, and van according to your request.
The cost varies, depending on the type of car, time and mileage.
For example, it costs approximately $525 USD for 8 hours and 2 passengers.
The typical price ranges per person are, for example,
- A Japanese style restaurant: 1,500 yen to 3,000 JPY
- A Western style restaurant: 1,500 yen to 3,000 JPY
- A Chinese style restaurant: 1,500 to 3,000 JPY
Don't worry, I'll show you the etiquette at an onsen facility.
Onsen facilities are basically communal bathing places. There are three points to remember when bathing in an onsen facility.
1. Take all your clothes off before entering bathing area. Wearing a swim suit isn't allowed.
2. Before you get into a bath tub, wash your body at washing space.
3. Don't put your towel into a bath tub in terms of public hygiene.
Although, most of the onsen facilities don't accept people bearing a tattoo, there are several facilities tolerant of a tattoo.
Using a private bath might be a good option.
If you have any anxieties about enjoying onsen, please let me know in advance.
Aki was very easy to work with and accomodating to our group of 6. As requested, he put together a 3 day itinerary for us based upon our interests and desired activity level. He is quite knowledgeable about "all things Tokyo" as well as the Japanese culture and history. He is a master of the Tokyo transit system and without him we would have had a difficult time navigating around. We asked Aki to join us during our lunches to show our appreciation and to be able to converse with him on a more personal level. He was always early to arrive at our hotel for pick up. I would highly recommend him.
Dear Jerry, Thank you so much for giving me such an excellent rating and review! That's very nice of you to say. It was my pleasure to have guided you and your friends. I enjoyed touring and had a wonderful time with you too. Thanks for coming to Tokyo and choosing me as your guide! Sincerely, Aki
We spent three days with Aki, exploring the Setouchi Trienniale , using Takamatsu as a home base. We never could have done this without him. We had a great time. Thanks again Aki.
Dear Jerry, Thank you so much for giving me such an excellent rating and review! I enjoyed touring around the Setouchi islands and had a wonderful time with you too. Thanks for coming to Takamatsu and having me as your guide! Sincerely, Akio
We had only 5 hours to visit Kamakura....and gave Aki an almost impossible mission. He succeeded! We saw all of the major sites and enjoyed the wonderful explanations that Aki provided with clear and nuanced English.
Dear Jerome, Thank you so much for giving me such an excellent rating and review! That's very nice of you to say. I hope you are all fine after the tour on a hot day. It was my pleasure to have guided you around Kamakura. Thanks for choosing me as your tour guide! Sincerely, Aki
Aki was a great guide. He took us to all the places we were interested in and was flexible in his plans given our interests and needs. He clearly knew his way around the island and all the museums. Couldn't have asked for more.
Dear Robin, Thank you so much for taking the time to give me such an excellent review! It was my pleasure to have guided you around Naoshima. I enjoyed touring with you too. It was fun to bike around the island! I hope you enjoyed your stay on the beautiful island. Thanks for coming to Naoshima and choosing me as your tour guide! Sincerely, Aki