The 15 Best Tours in Hakone

1.Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 218 reviews · from $175Our pick

Spend six hours exploring Hakone with a licensed English-speaking guide and choose three or four stops that fit your interests. You might ride the ropeway to Owakudani, visit the Open-Air Museum, walk around Lake Ashi, or see Hakone Shrine. Guides such as Hiro, Yumi, Kate, and Yoshii are praised for planning, local context, and adapting when weather disrupts transport.

“Our tour guide, Hiro, did a tremendous job of showcasing the beauty and history of Hakone! We requested a relaxed, yet informative tour and he more than delivered. We would definitely recommend this tour to anyone who is interested, but if you are lucky enough to get Hiro - congratulations! You will have an amazing time.”

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2.Custom Private Tour in Hakone with a Certified Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 91 reviews · from $300

Spend seven hours exploring Hakone with a certified local guide such as Hiroko, Koto, or Shin. Shape the day around shrines, Lake Ashi, Owakudani, old cedar roads, local crafts, tea, lunch, and an optional ropeway ride or riverside onsen. The tour is private for groups of up to eight and begins at Hakone-Yumoto Station.

“We had a magical day with our guide Koto. She was delightful and informative. And as a bonus, we had the opportunity to meet her family at their tea house. It was a memorable day we will not forget.”

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3.Hakone 8 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 63 reviews · from $201

Spend about eight hours exploring Hakone with a private, government-licensed English-speaking guide such as Yoshi, Hide, Ryuta, or Fumiko. Choose four or five sights around Lake Ashi, Owakudani, Gora, and Sengokuhara. Your guide can shape the day around art, hot springs, food, nature, or transport links, but fares, admissions, and lunch cost extra.

“Coco was absolutely amazing, very helpful and accommodating as to our interests etc. Would definitely recommend.”

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4.Private Tour – Hakone Day Trip! A Tour to Explore All Must-Sees!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 58 reviews · from $181

Explore Hakone by private tour with a guide such as Koji, Tatsu, Nanako, Akira, Mike, or Hori. You’ll visit Hakone Shrine, cruise Lake Ashi, ride the ropeway and cable car, see volcanic Owakudani, and stop at scenic spots such as cu-mo Hakone. Transport, meals, and admissions cost extra.

“Tatsu was incredible. This tour has all you need to see in Hakone in less than a day. Great experience and Tatsu accommodated to go see the open-air museum. Great guide and would definitely recommend!”

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5.Hike Hakone Hachiri

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 48 reviews · from $231

Join Tony for a private, approximately nine-hour hike along a 12-kilometer section of the old Tokaido Highway. Visit Amazake Chaya, walk beneath 400-year-old cedars, stop at Lake Ashi and Yamanaka Castle Ruins, and finish in Mishima. Expect history, Japanese culture, stone paths, and a moderate to challenging walk.

“This hike was amazing and the guide, Tony, was excellent. We would definitely recommend if planning to visit the Hakone area. The hike itself was rigorous and challenging, which we quite enjoyed. Felt we were able to experience the tRead more”

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6.Private Hakone Half-day Car Tour with Hotel Pickup – Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 48 reviews

Spend four to five hours exploring Hakone with a private English-speaking guide and driver such as Kumi, Sunny, Jon, Daisuke, or Naoki. Your guide builds the route around weather, timing, and interests, with possible stops at Lake Ashi, Owakudani, Hakone Shrine, waterfalls, old cedar roads, temples, breweries, and craft workshops. Pickup, parking, WiFi, and an air-conditioned vehicle are included.

“Sunny was very accommodating and took us to all of the spots we wanted to go to. Our visit to the Hakone Shrine was quicker than usual, so we took a pit stop at a beautiful driving range! He is very hospitable and knowledgeable. When we visit Japan again, we want to tour with him again!”

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7.Hike Japan Heritage Hakone Hachiri with certified mountain guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 46 reviews · from $158

Follow Japan’s Edo-period Hachiri route with guide Aki or Akihiro on a seven-hour hike from Hakone Yumoto to Mishima. Walk cobbled mountain paths, visit Lake Ashi, the cedar avenue, Hakone Checkpoint, and Yamanaka Castle Ruins, with local buses filling the gaps. Expect about 8 kilometers of walking, optional Mt Fuji views, and a small group of up to six people.

“This was a really great tour! Aki is so knowledgeable about the history and area it really was a great tour! Would definitely recommend doing this!”

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8.Odawara: Odawara Castle Tenshukaku Entrance Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 30 reviews · from $3Best value

You’ll enter Odawara Castle’s main keep and climb five floors of exhibits on samurai culture, swords, armor, and local history. The ticket also covers the castle grounds and flower garden. At the top, you can look across Sagami Bay. There is no elevator, so plan for a steady stair climb. The experience is self-guided in Japanese.

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9.Traverse Outer Rim of Hakone Caldera and Enjoy Onsen Hiking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $158

Start from Hakone-Yumoto at 8:30 am and ride a chartered taxi to the trailhead. With a nationally certified guide, you’ll climb for 90 minutes, walk the outer rim of Hakone caldera for 2.5 to 3 hours, then descend to Togendai for lunch and an onsen. The six-person limit keeps the day personal.

“This was a great day's hike. Good views and a very interesting and patient guide. I think it's best for active families or individuals and there is uneven terrain but it was delightful day. We are glad we did the hike even though it was foggy and we couldn't see Fuji.”

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10.Odawara: Guided Ninja & Samurai Tour of Odawara Castle

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 25 reviews · 2h 30m · from $116

Meet an English-speaking guide at Odawara Castle’s Ninja Museum for a 150-minute visit to the castle grounds, Samurai Museum, and an after-hours ninja workshop. Learn about the Hojo clan, wear ninja clothing, practice shuriken, blow darts, sword skills, breathing, and hand gestures with a trainer such as Shidou.

“This was great and definitely the highlight of our holiday. The guides and the ninja trainer were warm, friendly, knowledgeable and very helpful. They definitely made the experience. I would say to make sure you stop off in Odawara during your Japan trip and do this experience.”

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11.Day Tour to View Mt Fuji & Wooden Culture Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · 8 hours

Spend eight hours exploring Hakone with Munetaka Horiuchi, a private English- or Chinese-speaking guide. Ride the area’s trains, buses, ropeways, cable cars, and Lake Ashi cruise while visiting Owakudani, Hakone Shrine, a 200-year-old marquetry workshop, and a 400-year-old tea house. The route is full but flexible, and weather may change the order.

“taka was an incredible guide. he was very knowledgeable about the area and history of Japan. he communicated well ahead of time and provided a very detailed itenarary. this is a great way to see all the sights of hakone without having to figure out all the busses, trains, cable cars etc”

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12.Kowakien Yunessun Hot Springs Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 23 reviews · 1 day · from $8

Spend a full day at Hakone Kowakien Yunessun, a family-friendly hot-spring complex with swimsuit pools, wine, coffee, green tea, and sake baths, plus outdoor water features and views toward Hakone’s mountains and Sagami Bay. Select a pass for the swimsuit zone, Mori no Yu, or both. Bring your QR code, swimwear, and towel.

“We did not attend due to the clothing /swimsuit issue”

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13.Hakone Hachiri: Old Tokaido Highway Hiking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 22 reviews · 7 hours · from $167

Walk about 8 km of the old Tokaido Highway with a certified mountain guide, usually Aki, from Hakone-Yumoto to Mishima. You’ll follow forest paths and Edo-era cobbles, visit Lake Ashi, the Hakone Checkpoint, Yamanaka Castle Ruins, Mishima Taisha, and Genbe River. The day includes traditional amazake at a 400-year-old teahouse.

“Great hike, nature and history September 2024 A really good experience on the old Taikado route. Had a good hike with a good tour guide, he shows the best spots. Aki explains also the history and culture of Japan, so you feel the real experience of the country. PS he also makes great pictures of you💪😊”

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14.Hike Japan Heritage Hakone Hachiri (Half Day)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · from $114

Walk part of Japan’s old Tokaido highway from Hakone Yumoto toward Lake Ashi with a certified mountain guide. You’ll pass forest trails, stone paving, Hatajuku’s woodcraft village, and the 400-year-old Amazake Tea House. Guides such as Akihiro and Aki add useful local and Edo-era context. The tour ends near the Hakone Checkpoint around 1pm.

“Akihiro our guide, was so knowledgeable, it was really enjoyable to learn about the area and, the Edo era road connecting Tokyo and Kyoto: Tokaido. The scenery was beautiful. Also we really enjoyed the tea house we stopped at anRead more”

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15.Easygoing Nature Walk in Hakone Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · from $39

Walk Hakone’s flatter nature paths with certified guide Yoshi, using provided binoculars to spot seasonal plants, birds, insects, fish, and perhaps larger wildlife. You’ll visit the Wetlands Botanical Garden, Sengokuhara’s pampas grass fields, and Hakone Visitor Center before finishing at Togendai Station. The small group is capped at five.

“The guide was well informed of the plants, birds, and various creatures in the Hakone area. The guide was also willing to assist with instructions on how to get to the meeting point from the Tokyo area. I would recommend this tour.”

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