Hakone is one of the most popular resort towns in Japan. Especially for people in Tokyo, it is easy to access and a great place to spend the weekend away from the hustle and bustle of the workweek. You can enjoy the beautiful nature shaped by volcanic activities from ancient times.
*Please note that changes to the itinerary after booking are not encouraged, so please finalize the itinerary before making a reservation."
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel
- If you know how to come to Odakyu Shinjuku Station, we will meet there at 7:45.
Odakyu Shinjuku (Romance Car)
On weekdays, we will take 8:11 Romance car, and on weekends, we will take 8:00 Romance car to go to Hakone Yumoto Station (arriving at 9:53 on weekdays, and at 9:24 on weekends).
*The Odakyu Romance Car is very popular among tourists heading to Hakone, so tickets are often booked quickly once sales open one month before the travel date. If seats are fully booked, we will take the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Odawara Station, which costs 3,280 yen per person.
Hakone Tozan Railway and Hakone Cable Car
We will take Hakone Tozan Railway and Hakone Cable car to go to Sounzan where we will take Hakone Rope way. While riding on a mountain train traversing the steepest railway in Japan, we can enjoy beautiful views of the Hakone mountain area.
Hakone Ropeway from Sounzan to Ōwakudani, and then to Togendai Port
From Sounzan Station at 1,200 meters above sea level, we take a ropeway down to Lake Ashi at 700 meters above sea level. Along the way, we stop at Owakudani, where clouds of volcanic steam rise from the desolate rocky landscape, while enjoying the views of the actively erupting Mount Hakone. From this ropeway, we can also enjoy breathtaking views of Mount Fuji.
At Togendai Port, we will take a lunch break at the restaurant where we can enjoy a nice view of Lake Ashi.
Cruise on Lake Ashi aboard the Pirate Ship
Lake Ashi is a caldera lake formed by volcanic activity of Mount Hakone. From the bottom of the caldera, you can enjoy the scenery of the outer rim of Mount Hakone, as well as the view of the summit of Mount Fuji beyond. First, we will enjoy a cruise from Togendai Port to Checkpoint Port.
Narukawa Museum
Narukawa Art Museum is a modern art museum located in Hakone, overlooking Lake Ashi. It features a large collection of contemporary Nihonga (Japanese-style paintings) by leading artists. The museum is also known for its beautiful panoramic view of Mount Fuji and the lake from its lounge and glass windows.
Stroll along the shores of Lake Ashi
We will continue to stroll along the coast of Lake Ashi after leaving Narukawa Museum, heading toward Hakone Shrine.
Hakone Shrine
Hakone Shrine was founded in 757 after receiving a divine message from the deity of Hakone. Throughout history, famous warriors including Ieyasu Tokugawa prayed here for victory in battle. Strolling through the grounds of the Shrine, you may experience the divine spiritual atmosphere.
The Torii gate standing in the Lake Ashi is the one of most popular photogenic spots that people want to take a photo of themselves standing in front of it.
Moto Hakone
We will take a bus to Hakone-Yumoto, arriving at 16:50, where we will board the Romancecar bound for Shinjuku. Alternatively, we may take a regular train instead of the Romancecar.
There is also an option to return to Tokyo Station by bullet train from Odawara Station, which requires an additional fare of 3,810 yen per person.
Ending Point
At Shinjuku Station, or at your hotel
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Guide fee and hotel pick-up within 23 wards in Tokyo
Transportation fees (for you and your guide)
Food and drinks (for you and your guide)
Entrance/ Admission Fee (for you and your guide)
<Note>
The total amount of additional fees for this tour, excluding the guiding fee, varies based on the options you select:
1. Standard additional fees: 8,500 yen per person (Hakone Free Pass: 6,100 yen + Round-trip Romance Car express tickets: 2,400 yen).
2. Without the express train on the return to Shinjuku: 7,300 yen per person (Hakone Free Pass: 6,100 yen + One-way Romance Car express ticket: 1,200 yen).
3. Narukawa Museum: In addition to the transportation fees mentioned above, the admission fee is required if we decide to visit (1,500 yen per adult, 1,000 yen per college/high school student, and 500 yen per junior high/elementary student).
* This tour involves a lot of walking, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.
* This tour is not recommended for those with severe back/knee problems.
* This tour is not wheelchair accessible.
* Please let me know in advance if you have any food allergies or other dietary restrictions.
*Pick-up service will not be provided for those staying outside Tokyo, including Yokohama.
*Guiding services are provided in English only. Therefore, guests who are not fluent in spoken English or may have difficulty communicating are kindly advised to find a guide who speaks their native language in order to avoid possible miscommunication.
Hello. I am Keiko, a nationally licensed tour guide for English-speaking tourists. I love traveling to new places, experiencing different cultures, and meeting new people. When I was young, I embarked on a long journey to explore more about my life. I settled in a small town in Illinois, USA, enjoying a new life while studying at the state university, and then moved to Florida to work for a while.
After coming back to Japan, I have been working in downtown Tokyo since 2008, mainly as a translator and sometimes as an interpreter in various fields, including central government offices, TV stations, and a university. Seeing the increased opportunities around the Tokyo Olympics 2020, I transitioned into the tourism industry and am currently working as a tour guide, basically giving day tours of downtown Tokyo, Fuji & Hakone, Kamakura and Nikko.
I love meeting people from different backgrounds, talking with them, and learning new things. That's why I enjoy hosting guests from abroad who want to explore Japan. Many local people helped me during my journey, and now it's time for me to give back. Come and meet me here; I will show you around amazing places in Japan.
Anne marie Y.
“Wonderful Tour of Tokyo”
We had a fantastic time spending the day in Tokyo with Keiko. It was a great tour for first time visitors like ourselves, with lots of nice stops and at a good pace. I traveled with my parents and would not have been able to see as much in a day on our own. Keiko met us in our hotel and we traveled to the Shinto temple Meiji Jingu. It was a wonderful place and we even saw several couples getting married in traditional dress. A highlight of the day for all of us, and a nice historical site in nature that is very worth visiting. We then went to Harajuku and Shiboya, and stopped for ramen for lunch. The afternoon was up to us and we picked the scenic overlook in the municipal building, 3D Cat, and the Godzilla street. We loved it all! We then ended our day in Odaiba which was a nice coastal area with shopping and waterfront cafes. It was a great day and so well thought out. Keiko was so informative and helpful as a guide, and she accompanied us back to our hotel at the end of the tour. It was really delightful to get to know her and talk about life in Japan, and learn about Tokyo through her. Our family spent two days with her touring and I would highly recommend booking Keiko as a guide! She is a lovely person and such an organized guide. We are glad that we worked with her and plan to book with her again on a return trip— we loved Tokyo and our time with her.
Keiko T.
Anne marie, thank you again for your kind reviews. I'm glad to hear that you all enjoyed the Tokyo Highlights Day Tour. It was a pleasure for me as well to spend the day with you and your parents. I still remember the moments we shared, talking and learning from one another. I hope those memories will stay in your hearts as fondly as they do in mine.
Brenda L.
“Keiko is amazing”
Our party of 7 had a great time with Keiko. She was awesome! Not only did she take us around Tokyo and show the sights, but she also taught us how to use the train properly and gave us some great information that we used while in Japan for 10 days. She always made sure my daughter who is pregnant was doing ok and had a seat on the train. All of us wish we could have spent our entire vacation with her. She is definitely a jewel. Thank you Keiko!!
Keiko T.
Brenda, thank you so much for your kind reviews. I trust you’ve returned home safely. It was a memorable trip for me as well, spending time with you and your family. I hope you all fully enjoyed your stay here. If you ever have a chance to come back, please don’t hesitate to let me know. I’d be more than happy to serve you again.
Alicia B.
“Great Day with Keiko! ”
We REALLY enjoyed our tour with Keiko and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for an experienced and kind tour guide. She communicated beforehand to personalize the tour to our specific preferences, which was very much appreciated and you could tell that she wanted to go above and beyond to make sure we were seeing the things we wanted to see. She also made additional recommendations for us for future days and took the time to explain in detail how to navigate additional transportation routes. We very much enjoyed spending the day with her, but as others have said, just be prepared to do a fair amount of walking.
Keiko T.
Alicia, thank you for your kind feedback. I also truly enjoyed spending time with you today. You were all so kind, friendly, and fun to be around, which created a wonderful atmosphere and encouraged me to do my best. It’s all thanks to you! I hope you continue to enjoy the rest of your trip in Japan and have a safe journey home. If you ever have a chance to explore more of Japan in the future, please feel free to reach out—I would be more than happy to serve you again. Keiko
$275/ per group