Hakone Scenic Adventure Nature and Tranquil Journey

We took this private tour of Hakone with Taku as our guide, and I am so glad we did. There was a slight mixup as to the starting point vs the meeting point, but Taku reached out via WhatsApp and guided us to where to meet him. The tour was well paced, and as this was a private tour, we got to ask questions and just have genuine conversation with Taku. Hakone is amazingly beautiful, and we were blessed with great weather that day. We didn’t get to see the top of Mt Fuji due to the clouds over it (which is usually the view rather than to actually see the top); it was beautiful nonetheless. The Ropeway/Skyway was a nice ride, the train was nostalgic, and the pirate ship was a bit Disney but I love being on the water so it was a highlight. We got to eat a black egg, and black bread (like a donut with Japanese curry inside) - both good and worth the try. Would recommend getting the Hakone Free Pass (not free), but will cover all the days transport, and definitely recommend this private tour with Taku!

This tour felt very “touristy” and lacked the depth we were hoping for. If you’re looking for something more informative or hoping your guide can share insights about the sites you’re visiting, this may not be the best choice. Our guide, Elizabeth, was a kind and lovely person, and we appreciated that she helped us get more comfortable with navigating transportation in Hakone. However, when we asked about things like the cable car, ropeway, the history of how they were built, how long they’ve been there, or the volcanic steam vents — she unfortunately didn’t have any information to share. We also requested a meeting point closer to our hotel, but the tour company chose a very small “tourist information center” that even our hotel staff, the bus driver, and Elizabeth herself had difficulty locating. Because of this and our unfamiliarity with the area’s transportation system, we lost two hours of the tour and ended up finishing in the rain. Overall, while the experience had some kind moments, it did not meet our expectations in terms of organization or depth of information.