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. There are lovely hot spring Japanese-style ryokans in this area for overnight stays, but there is also much more to do. You can enjoy the beautiful nature shaped by volcanic activities from ancient times.
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/ Owakudani
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, 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.
Stroll through the Old Tokaido Hakone-juku Cedar Avenue
The Old Tokaido Hakone-juku Cedar Avenue is a historic path lined with ancient cedar trees, offering a picturesque walk that showcases the natural beauty and historical significance of the area. We will walk from Checkpoint Port through Old Tokaido Avenue to Narikawa Museum.
Narukawa Museum
The Narukawa Museum offers views of Mt. Fuji and features many traditional Japanese-style paintings. We will take a short break here. Since an admission fee is required to enter, we can alternatively rest at a nearby café and enjoy views of Lake Ashi and Mt. Fuji.
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 Romance Car bound for Shinjuku. Alternatively, we may take a regular train instead of the Romance Car.
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.
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.
“Great guide for Tokyo”
We really enjoyed our day with Keiko. We got to see a lot of Tokyo and we never felt we were just doing " the tourist thing ". She met us right at our hotel and we went from there. Keiko is super smart, has a great knowledge of Tokyo and was paitent with two people who had never been to Japan before
Keiko T.
Michael, thank you so much for the enjoyable time we spent together. It was truly a pleasure to guide someone as kind, respectful, and eager to learn about Japan and Japanese culture as you. If you have another opportunity to explore more of Japan, I would be delighted to guide you again!
“Exceptional Tokyo Experience with Keiko”
I recently had the pleasure of exploring Tokyo with Keiko as our private tour guide, and I cannot recommend her highly enough! Our group of 10 people was incredibly impressed with her depth of knowledge, fluency in English, and remarkable patience. From the moment we met Keiko, it was clear that she was not only passionate about her city but also genuinely interested in tailoring the experience to fit our group's interests. Her extensive knowledge of Tokyo's history, culture, and hidden gems enriched our tour and gave us insights that we would never have discovered on our own. Keiko's fluency in English made communication seamless and enjoyable. She effortlessly answered all our questions and provided detailed explanations, ensuring that everyone in our group was engaged and informed. Her storytelling skills brought the history and culture of Tokyo to life, making each stop on our tour both educational and entertaining. One of the standout qualities of Keiko was her patience. Managing a group of 10 can be challenging, but Keiko handled it with grace and ease. She was attentive to everyone's needs, accommodating our requests and pacing the tour perfectly to keep us all comfortable and engaged. What truly set Keiko apart was her ability to make our time in Tokyo efficient without feeling rushed. She expertly navigated the city's bustling streets and public transport, maximizing our time and allowing us to see an impressive array of sights. From iconic landmarks to off-the-beaten-path treasures, Keiko curated an itinerary that was diverse and memorable. In conclusion, Keiko is an exceptional guide who made our Tokyo experience unforgettable. Her knowledge, language skills, patience, and efficiency are unparalleled. If you're looking for a tour guide who will enhance your visit to Tokyo, Keiko is the perfect choice. I wholeheartedly recommend her services to anyone seeking an enriching and enjoyable exploration of this vibrant city.
Keiko T.
Amir, thank you so much for your incredible review. I’m truly flattered. I’m also delighted to hear that you all enjoyed the day trip with me. The time we spent together was memorable for me as well. You were all so friendly, kind, and fun to be around. Your strong curiosity and enthusiasm to learn more about Japanese culture created a wonderful atmosphere and inspired me to share many stories about Japan’s history. Thank you once again for spending such a fantastic day with me. Wishing you all the best, and I truly hope we’ll have the chance to meet again someday!
“Wonderful time and auspicious encounters”
Touring with Keiko was like being shown around by a great friend. We paced ourselves carefully as I had a sore knee, but she made sure we took breaks and was careful not to lose us in the crowds. Meiji Jingu Shrine was so beautiful and we were so lucky as to attend during the Shichi Go San festival. So many adorable children in kimono and hakama. We also saw two traditional weddings there. Keiko explained how to follow tradition, the stories about the Tori gates, read and explained the Tanaka poems from the Emperor and Empress, and the history behind the shrine and surrounding forest. After taking a quick peek at Takeshita Street we moved on to Shibuya and enjoyed an awesome lunch of sukiyaki then got to experience the hustle of Shibuya Crossing ourselves. Afterwards she led us to a spot that we could get good pictures looking down at the crossing as well. Next was Shinjuku and the awesome 3D cat billboard we wanted to see and the Godzilla head. We took a break to people watch and she told us more about Kabukicho. We walked through Omoide Yokocho as she informed us of the storied history. A quick stop to look at Shimbashi station then our day finished at Odaiba with a look at the Statue of Liberty replica and some beautiful illuminations. She artfully led us through the maze of the train stations helping us to minimize stairs and when we wanted to take taxis, she led the way for us. If we had the time, this trip we would have absolutely done more of her tours. Next trip for sure.
Keiko T.
Lorraine, thank you so much for your wonderful review. I truly enjoyed spending time with you as well. You are so kind and friendly, making it easy to talk to you and fun to be around. Walking tours in Tokyo can be challenging for those who find it difficult to walk long distances or navigate stairs, but I’m glad you were able to complete the tour and enjoy all the destinations we planned. Choosing to use a taxi alongside public transportation was a wise decision, as it helped us conserve energy for the walking we needed to do. As you experienced, Downtown Tokyo is vast and full of exciting places to explore. There’s always more to see! When you continue your journey with your family next autumn, I hope to see you again!
$263/ per group