Custom Private Tour in Hakone with Local Guide

A 1266-year-old shrine, a ropeway above volcanic valleys, and a tea house recipe unchanged for 400 years.

A private, customized tour of Hakone led by a certified local guide in English, visiting Hakone Shrine, Owakudani, Lake Ashi and other attractions you choose. The guide shapes the day around what interests you most. Lunch and tea house beverages are included. Maximum group size is eight people, and pickup is arranged as part of the booking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Owakudani1h
2. Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park1h

Explore Hakone's natural and cultural sites

• Ride Hakone Ropeway from Sounzan to Owakudani
• Enjoy views of Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi
• Take pirate ship cruise on Lake Ashi
• Walk along 400-year-old cedar tree avenue
• Visit Onshi Hakone Park and gardens
• Tour 1266-year-old Hakone Shrine
• Rest at historic tea house and drink Amazake

The Experience

What makes this tour different is that you decide what to see. A certified local guide meets you and builds the itinerary around your interests, whether that's the volcanic landscape of Owakudani, the pirate ship cruises on Lake Ashi, the 400-year-old cedar avenue near Onshi Hakone Park, or the history of Hakone Shrine itself. The guide speaks English and knows the area well enough to adjust on the fly if something catches your attention.

The day moves through several distinct landscapes. Owakudani sits high in the mountains where plumes of smoke rise from the volcanic valley. The Hakone Ropeway carries you above it with views toward Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi on clear days. Lake Ashi itself is ringed by mountains, and three different pirate ships run between the ports. You watch them pass if the timing works. Hakone Shrine, standing for 1266 years, has the iconic red torii gate on the water that appears in most photographs of the area. Between stops, you rest at a tea house that the same family has run for 400 years. They serve Amazake, a traditional sweet rice drink, made from a recipe that has not changed since the beginning.

Lunch is included in the tour price. The guide handles the route and the timing. Public transportation options are available nearby if you prefer not to use private transport, though that is optional at checkout. The tour runs about seven hours and suits groups up to eight people.

What’s included

• Lunch.
• a nationally certified guide who speaks English.
• beverages at a local tea house.
• customized itinerary built around your interests.
• pickup arranged at booking.

Days and timesMon–Fri · 09:00

AgesAges 13+ · Under 13

Meeting point and pickupPickup optional · ends where it startsMeeting point, per the operator: “I'll be holing your name board in front of the ticket gate.”

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Explore Hakone

Is this one for you?Pickup is included and the guide speaks English, which means you don't need a car or Japanese language skills to move through the day. The guide handles the route and the timing while you focus on what you came to see. Choose private transportation or public transit at checkout depending on where you're staying.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Under 13.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

What is Owakudani like when you get there?

Owakudani is a volcanic valley where plumes of smoke rise from desolate mountainsides. The Hakone Ropeway rises above it, and from the ropeway you can see the valley floor below. On clear days, views extend toward Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi.

Can I customize which attractions we visit on this tour?

Yes, the entire tour is customized based on your interests. The certified guide works with you to shape the itinerary around what you want to see, whether that's Hakone Shrine, Owakudani, Lake Ashi, the cedar avenue, or other attractions in the area.

Is transportation included, or do I need to arrange my own way to the starting point?

Pickup is included as part of the booking. Public transportation options are also available nearby if you prefer to meet the guide at a specific location instead.

What is the tea house stop like?

The tea house has been run by the same family for 400 years across 13 generations. You rest there and drink Amazake, a traditional sweet rice beverage, made from the original recipe that has remained unchanged since the beginning.