On this tour, you will visit three of the most popular tourist destinations in Hakone and enjoy riding the ropeway, the cable car and the pirate ship on Lake Ashi. If you take Odakyu Romance car “Mt. Fuji No.1” leaving Shinjuku at 06:40 a.m., you will arrive at Gotemba station at 08:13 a.m. Weather permitting, you can see magnificent Mount Fuji from the train window and the town of Gotemba. How about starting a one-day tour from Gotemba, shall we?
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At around the ticket gate of JR Gotemba station
- I hold a piece of paper that says “Let’s Enjoy Hakone!”
Take a bus to Gora
Ride a cable car
Ride a ropeway
Visit Owakudani Valley
Owakudani Valley is one of the most popular tourist destinations. The valley was created by the landslide of Hakone volcano about 3,000 years ago. You can see the activity up close. Kurotamago or black eggs boiled in hot spring water are a local specialty. They say that eating one of Owakudani’s black eggs will add seven years to your life.
Board the Pirate Ship and Enjoy Cruising on Lake Ashi
It is a forty-minute cruise from Togendai Port to Motohakone Port. During the cruise, passengers can see the red torii gate of Hakone Shrine.
Lunch at Motohakone
Visit Hakone Shrine and Kuzuryu Shrine
Built on the edge of Lake Ashi, Hakone Shrine is very popular tourist destination. According to legend, this Shinto shrine was founded in 757. You also visit Kuzuryu Shrine, which honors the nine-headed dragon deity known as the protector of Lake Ashi.
Visit Hakone Open-Air Museum
Hakone Open-Air Museum opened in 1961 as the first open-air art museum in Japan. The spectacular grounds with many artworks attract visitors from home and abroad. There are four exhibition halls including the Picasso Pavilion. You can enjoy foot-bath as well. Please take your time to look around.
Take a bus to Gotemba station
Ending Point
JR Gotemba station
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
- guide fee
- Hakone Free-Pass (for you and your guide) / 5,000 yen per person
- admission to Hakone Open-Air Museum (for you) / 1,900 yen per person
(discounted price for Hakone Free-Pass holders)
- if you choose Pola Museum instead of Hakone Open-Air Museum,
admission to Pola Museum (for you) 2,000 yen per person
(discounted price for Hakone Free-Pass holders)
- lunch (for you)
- food & drink (for you)
* If you prefer, you can choose Pola Museum of Art instead of Hakone Open-Air Museum.
* Pola Museum of Art will be closed from May 19 to May 30, 2025. You cannot choose this museum during this period.
* If you are coming from Shinjuku to Gotemba, Odakyu Romance Car “Mt. Fuji No.1” leaving Shinjuku at 06:40 AM is a convenient option. You will arrive at Gotemba station at 08:13.
* If you are going to Shinjuku from Gotemba after the tour, Odakyu Romance Car “Mt. Fuji No.6” leaving Gotemba at 05:23 PM or Odakyu Highway Bus are available.
* This tour requires Hakone Free-Pass to make your trip efficient and economical. Your guide will purchase them for you and your guide in advance. Please pay me for Hakone Free-Pass in cash before getting on a bus on the tour day. (5,000 yen per person)
* Hakone Free-Pass is a great value and includes transportation fee for Odakyu Bus, Hakone Tozan Bus, Hakone Ropeway, Sightseeing Cruise, Mountain Train, etc. Just show the pass to a bus driver and you can visit many places in Hokone.
* The operations of ropeway, cruise ship and other transportation might be suspended due to strong wind or bad weather. Please let me talk to you about the itinerary in that case.
* Hakone is a very popular resort area and always crowded with tourists from home and abroad. During the tourist season, many of restaurants are full and you may have to wait in a long line. Please be advised of that.
* Comfortable shoes are recommended for this tour.
* Please send a message to confirm my availability before booking.
* yen=Japanese yen
Hello, I am Yumiko, a government licensed tour guide. I was born and raised in Aichi prefecture. I have lived in Gotemba City at the foot of Mt. Fuji for over 35 years since I moved from Tokyo. Needless to say, Mt. Fuji is a symbol of Japan. It shows many faces depending on the seasons and time of the day. Many tourists visit here to see Mt. Fuji from home and abroad every year.
Gotemba is located halfway between Hakone and Fuji five lakes area. And it is easily accessible from Tokyo. You can come to Gotemba from Shinjuku in Tokyo by Odakyu highway bus or Odakyu limited express train without any transfers. Please visit attractive sightseeing spots in Gotemba, such as Chichibunomiya Memorial Park, Tokino Sumika and Gotemba Premium Outlets, the biggest outlet mall in Japan.
I love eating, chatting, traveling abroad and meeting people. And I enjoy tea ceremony and ballroom dancing.
I would be happy if I could show you around Gotemba and Hakone area. I am looking forward to seeing you soon!
Paige P.
“Great tour for Gotemba ”
We did a tour of the beautiful town Gotemba on April 15! Yumiko was able to show us some amazing cherry blossoms across a variety of parks and gardens. We also saw Mt. Fuji it was very beautiful. Thank you Yumiko for your friendly tour and hopefully we can visit Gotemba again one day!
Yumiko K.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for visiting Gotemba. I am happy you enjoyed the cherry blossom viewing and Mount Fuji. We walked over 23,000 steps yesterday. It was a pleasure to show you around Gotemba. Please visit here again to see big Mount Fuji someday. I put up your photo on my profile page. Thank you again!
Eric R.
“An unforgettable trip to a breathtaking part of Japan”
Yumiko-San was an absolutely amazing tour guide! She helped us plan beforehand, and was very flexible with adjustments to the schedule. She was knowledgeable about the area, took us to some amazing places, and had everything prepared before that. Using the public transportation was a breeze with her help! But best of all, she was extremely kind and lovely to chat with. We had a great time talking about travel, family, everything! If you come to Hakone, absolutely consider going with Yumiko-San. Finally, if you see this Yumiko-San, then thank you again from the bottom of our hearts! My dad and I will never forget the adventure we had with you.
Yumiko K.
Your thoughtful message means a lot to me. It is I who should be sincerely thanking you. I feel very lucky to guide such kind, friendly and broad-minded guests. The weather was not perfect, but I hope you will bring back some happy memories of your time in Hakone to your countries. Please visit Hakone again and stay at that beautiful hotel someday. Wishing you very best of health and happiness. PS. Thank you for beautiful pictures! I put up your pictures I took on my tour page. Thank you again!
Christine B.
“Trip of our dreams”
Yumiko was so kind and patient with our group. She was always so helpful and answered any questions we had. She brought the sunshine and we had a great day. Would highly recommend using her services while in Hakone.
Yumiko K.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your warm message. I was lucky and happy, because everyone was so nice to me. I have posted your photos on my tour page. It will be a pleasant memory for me too! I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable trip during your stay in Japan. Sunshine Yumiko
$258/ per group