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My favorite Hakone!
Hakone locats in Fuji-Hakone Izu National Park, which is about 2 hours away from Tokyo by Odakyu Romance Car or JR Line. It has been a very popular resort place with Lake Ashi, museums, Ryokan or Japanese style inns with hot spring etc. Moreover the beautiful view of Mt. Fuji is really breathtaking. To take many unique rides that connect the spot to spot are also fun experience!!
Meeting Point
1. Odakyu Hakone Yumoto station 2. JR Odawara station 3. At your hotel lobby in Hakone area
Tour begins at 1.Hakone Yumoto or 2.JR Odawara station
You will meet your guide at either of these stations. (Taking 9:04 train from Yumoto)
*If you would like your guide to meet you at your hotel in Hakone, please contact your guide before making a direct booking. (Please read more on the not included section below)
Hakone Open Air Museum
The Hakone Open-air Museum was opened in 1969 to take advantage of the beautiful nature of Hakone, and it is the first open-air museum of Japan. In the vast nature, about 120 famous works by leading modern and contemporary sculptors are on display. The collection of Henry Moore's work is world-class. The museum also has indoor exhibition spaces including Pablo Picasso Pavilion.
*Option: Hakone Museum (Japanese moss garden)
This museum has a beautiful Japanese garden with moss covered yards and a lot of maple trees which attract the visitors throughout a year. They have a nice tea house in the middle of the garden, and you can have a very nice bowl of Matcha green tea there if you'd like.
Gondora ride (Best view of Mt. Fuji on clear days)
You can expect to see a wonderful view of Mt. Fuji through the glass window of the Gondola, if the weather is nice. About 8-minute exciting ride of Gondola will take you to Owakudani (great boiling) valley.
Owakudani Valley
Owakudani literally means that the great boiling valley, and it was formed by the eruption and subsequent collapse of Mt. Kamiyama 3,000 years ago. In the beautiful nature of Hakone, Owakudani shows a very different side of Hakone. The fumes of hydrogen sulfide have been emitted, by which the color of the surface of the earth changed into yellow and the trees and plants died. You can observe the dynamic volcanic activities here. There is Hakone Geomuseum and *nature trail. Please try their famous black eggs so that you can live longer! *You need to join the guided tour by the staff to enter.
Lake Ashi, Pirate ship cruise
You will enjoy the comfortable 30-minute Pirate ship ride. On the ship, people can enjoy the beautiful view of Mt. Fuji in the clear day, and Hakone Shrine's red shrine gate standing in the lake. The combination of colors of the blue-green lake, the green mountainside and the blue sky creates a breathtaking picture.
If you are a little tired, the ship has a small shop that sells snacks and drinks, offering you a time to rest.
Hakone Checkpoint Exhibition Hall and then walk the Old Tokaido Route lined up with some-hundred-year-old cedar trees
Old Tokaido Route which connect Kyoto and Edo (now Tokyo) was made by then Tokugawa Shogunate government about 400 years ago. And Hakone checkpoint was on the route to strictly check the travellers going in/out of Edo as a part of their policies to control feudal domain loads nationwide. Nowadays, only a short distance of the route is remained existed, but here are some you can walk through in Hakone.
Hakone shrine
Hakone Shrine is surrounded by the beautiful nature of Hakone, and you will sure become peaceful in the atmosphere.
The shrine has been one of the major mountain worship places in the eastern Japan for long time, and many monks came to practice in the mountains of Hakone. Japan's first shogun, a samurai warrior, Minamotono Yoritomo also deeply believed in it about 800 years ago. According to the legend, a priest, Mangan founded Hakone shrine in 757 by ceased the violence of 9-headed dragon which lived in Lake Ashi and turned into a god.
*Option: provide support to take Shinkansen bullet from Odawara station
If you have JR Pass and planning to visit the western Japan such as Kyoto and Osaka, I will help you take the right Shinkansen from Odawara.
Moto-Hakone-ko bus stop
Your guide will help you take the right bus to go back to either Odakyu Hakone Yumoto and/or JR Odawara station, and ride with you to the most convenient train station. If you stay at a hotel in Hakone, your guide will show you the best way to get to there or the closest train station. Please tell your guide your plan after the tour when booking, so that the guide can arrange the best itinerary suitable to your plan.
Other information about this tour;
1. Odakyu Hakone Free Pass from/to Shinjuku is convenient and economic.
The pass covers the transportation fee of Hakone Tozan train, Hakone Tozan Cable Car, Gondola, Pirate ship, buses. *Not express fare for Odakyu Romancecar nor Shinkansen fare.
2. In you would like your guide to meet you at your hotel, please inform before booking.
3. Hakone Open Air museum is 1600yen/adult. (For other museums, please ask me.)
4. High peak season in Hakone is really crowded and you may need to wait in a line to take the ride such as trains, a gondola etc. As a result, your guide may need to change the itinerary or omit spot(s) on the itinerary.
5. To use the time more efficiently, I may ask the guest to use a taxi.
Ending Point
the most convenient bus stop/train station (*Option: JR Odawara station, Shinkansen platform)
Want to personalize this tour?
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Inclusions & Exclusions
guide fee,
Transportation fee from Tokyo(you)
Transportation fee during the tour from meeting point.(you and guide)
lunch(you and guide)
entrance fee(you)
Q:Can you help Tokyo departure tourists to get to (1)Hakone Yumoto station / (2)Odawara station by themselves?
A:Your guide will provide certain train information based on your needs.
Basic idea how to get to
(1) Hakone Yumoto station
Take the Odakyu Romance Car from Shinjuku by the Odakyu Line.
(2) Odawara station
Take the Shinkansen, super express bullet train by the JR East from Tokyo or Shin-Yokohama station.
Q:Can I see Mt. Fuji?
A:It depends on the weather of the tour.
In Hakone there are some Mt. Fuji viewpoints. However there is no guarantee of it. Mt. Fuji can be seen more often when the air is clear; in the morning and during winter.
Tour Important Information
Gondora, Sightseeing Cruise ship may stop operation in bad weather or volcanic activity related conditions
Important message from the guide
Please send a message before making a direct booking.
Foreign guests should be vaccinated or tested negative on COVID-19 before leaving for Japan.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Hakone Tour Reviews
Dustin S.
Tokyo Highlights Walking Tour: Asakusa, Ueno, Tsukiji & More
“Do yourself a favor and book now!”
Eiko-san is polite and knowledgeable like an aunt but fun and funny like a cousin. Either way, you will feel like you are traveling with family. <3
Eiko S.
(64 reviews)Thank you for the great review. It was very exciting for me to tour with you two, both of whom are fans of Japanese anime and studying Japanese. You listened intently to my explanation of various aspects of Japanese history and culture too. It was a pleasure to be your guide. I am relieved that the typhoon passed through safely. Please enjoy your trip to the end! And please come back to Japan again soon! Eiko
“Now it’s also my favourite Hakone!”
Even before we booked this tour, Eiko was helpful via messages about what to see etc. she also gave us a breakfast spot to meet in Odawara! Hakone is beautiful and this tour really let us enjoy the beauty. Eiko even managed to get us to the sights before all the crowds so our photos are amazing! She was also very interactive with our son, making sure he was occupied the whole time. At one stage we actually thought she might’ve worn him out!! Eiko also went that one step further and helped us back to the station and booked our Shinkansen tickets for our onward trip! A must do your if you’re in Hakone (with Eiko of course!)
Eiko S.
(64 reviews)Thank you for the wonderful review! I am so glad to know you enjoyed the tour. It is said that the early bird gets the worm, and the beautiful Lake Ashi and the red torii gate standing on the lake in the early morning when there were few people around were exceptional! And we saw Mt. Fuji too!! I was very happy too. You three are a very nice family and I felt like a Japanese grandma. :-) Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to be a part of your family's important trip. And I hope you will come to Japan again in the near future! Take care! Eiko
Patricia S.
Tokyo Highlights Walking Tour: Asakusa, Ueno, Tsukiji & More
“Fun time in Tokyo”
We had a wonderful 2 days with Eiko in Tokyo. She was extremely patient and helped answered a million of my questions prior to the trip. :p With Eiko’s help, we had an amazing 2 days of touring in Tokyo and visited all the places on our list. Thank you Eiko!
Eiko S.
(64 reviews)Hi Patti, Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to write this wonderful review. It was my pleasure to spend two days with you both. I am also very happy to know that you enjoyed the tour! I had been worried about the weather of the day we visited the observation deck of Shibuya Sky until the day before, but the weather recovered and we were able to take many great pictures! I also wished I could have joined you at the Micro Pig Cafe. I believe you have enjoyed it!! Please come back to Japan again in the near future. Take care!! Eiko
