Published on May, 2025

We had only one full day to spend in Hakone, so we decided to book a tour to make the most of our time there. We had a fun and interesting tour with Kiyomi—he was friendly and engaging. We met Kiyomi at the Hakone-Yumoto Train Station and boarded the Hakone-Tozan Railway, which is quite scenic and has switchbacks that enable the train to work its way up the steep terrain. We then changed to the Hakone-Tozan Cable Car—a funicular, and then to a gondola car of the Hakone Ropeway—which crosses above the volcanic area. We had heard that on a clear day the view of Mt. Fuji from the Ropeway is magnificent, but unfortunately it was very overcast the day we went. We stopped for lunch at Owakudani Station, and Kiyomi told us about the area. We then took the Ropeway down to Lake Ashi, where we boarded one of the Pirate ships that cross the lake. Again, it was too cloudy to see Mt. Fuji, but the lake was scenic and peaceful. We were interested in shopping for local handicrafts, so Kiyomi found a shop that had beautiful wooden products made in the area. We then caught a bus back to the Hakone-YumotoTrain Station. It was a fun and interesting day, and we were able to see and learn a lot about the area without the stress of trying to navigate it ourselves!

Published on May, 2025

What an amazing day! The weather was gracious with us as we took the ropeway from Gora and stopped at the fuming Owakudani valley where we got to admire Mount Fuji before the clouds came in. We then continued to Lake Ashi where we had lunch and then took the impressive pirate ship for a short cruise on the lake (first class recommended) - beautiful views. The local bus took us from the shore back to Gora where we changed to a shuttle for the Pola museum. Gorgeous location, interesting architecture, very impressive collection and a lovely nature path outside of the museum. Our guide Hosoda Ikuyo got in touch with us well beforehand to agree the plan for the day. She spoke English very well and was easy to communicate with. On the day she was perfectly prepared for all eventualities, she took our kids and their interests nicely into consideration and ensured the day with all the transfers went super smoothly and on schedule. She was very knowledgeable about the region and the attractions but also shared about Japan as a whole. We can recommend Hosoda san and this tour without reservations.

Published on May, 2025

We had an amazing day in Hakone thanks to Tatsu, our fantastic guide! From the moment we met, he was friendly, organized, and incredibly knowledgeable about the area’s history, nature, and cultural spots. Tatsu helped us navigate the Hakone loop effortlessly, including the ropeway, Lake Ashi cruise, and even timed our visit to open air museum perfectly to avoid the crowds. Tatsu also bought for us some black eggs to extend our lifetimes. It felt like a truly authentic experience. Highly recommended if you want to make the most of Hakone without any stress. Worth every yen!

Published on May, 2025

We had an absolutely wonderful experience with our guide, Tatsu, in Hakone! From the very beginning, he was incredibly kind, friendly, and attentive. Tatsu was not only knowledgeable about the area and its history, but also made the entire day feel relaxed and enjoyable. One of the things we appreciated most was how often he offered to take photos of us—it may seem like a small gesture, but it made such a big difference and allowed us to fully enjoy the moment without worrying about documenting it ourselves.

Published on Apr, 2025

Hide was our tour guide, he was great company and we had an amazing time on our first day in japan. He took pictures and gave us amazing recommendations on places to eat and where to buy things. Great experience, highly recommend