Private 2-Day Tour: Mt Fuji Hakone & Kamakura + Onsen Ryokan

Mount Fuji is the headline, but the appeal of this two-day trip is how much ground you cover without changing hotels every night. You’ll visit Fuji viewpoints and shrines, sleep in a traditional Hakone ryokan, then take a Lake Ashi cruise before heading to Odawara and Kamakura.

I like the private vehicle, which gives you room to ask questions and spend time at stops without following a large group. I also like the overnight ryokan stay: an onsen, seasonal kaiseki dinner and Japanese breakfast turn a sightseeing run into a proper cultural pause.

The trade-off is a busy schedule, especially on day two, when Hakone, Odawara, Kamakura and possibly Yokohama all compete for your time. And Fuji views depend on the weather, so go for the range of experiences, not a guaranteed postcard-perfect mountain.

At a glance

• Fuji from several angles: Visit Lake Kawaguchi, Arakura Sengen Shrine, Kitaguchi Hongu Shrine and Oshino Hakkai.
• A night in a Hakone ryokan: Stay at Tōnosawa Ichinoyu Honkan, with an onsen, kaiseki dinner and traditional breakfast.
• A Lake Ashi cruise: The boat ride takes about 45 minutes and ends at Togendai Port.
• Volcanic scenery: Walk around Owakudani’s sulfur vents and hot-spring area, with black eggs available to see and buy.
• A long second day: Odawara Castle and Kamakura’s Great Buddha follow the Hakone stops, with Yokohama Chinatown possible if time allows.
• Private transport from Tokyo: Pickup and drop-off are available at hotels and Airbnbs inside Tokyo’s 23 wards.

Day one: Fuji views, shrines and spring water

A private Toyota Alphard or Hiace picks you up in Tokyo for the drive toward the Mount Fuji area. The vehicle is a practical advantage on a two-day route with several separate stops: you avoid coordinating public transport and can keep your belongings with you. The drive to the Fuji region is listed at about two hours, though traffic can change the pace.

At Lake Kawaguchi, the tour stops at Oishi Park for about 30 minutes. It’s a short lakeside walk and a chance to take in the open view toward Fuji. This is a good first stop for photos, but the mountain is not always visible. Clouds and changing weather can obscure it, so treat this as a scenic pause rather than a guaranteed view.

Next comes Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine, with about an hour for a visit and walk. The shrine is known for its five-story pagoda with Mount Fuji behind it, one of the region’s signature views when conditions cooperate. The setting gives the trip a cultural stop as well as a photo opportunity. Be ready to walk, and bring shoes that are comfortable for uneven or sloping paths.

The route also includes Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine, a place with a strong connection to Fuji pilgrimage. Its quiet, wooded surroundings offer a different mood from the well-known pagoda viewpoint. The stop is about 30 minutes, enough for a look around but not a long, unhurried visit.

The order of the Fuji-area stops may shift. The tour description places Oshino Hakkai and Kitaguchi in slightly different sequences, and weather or traffic can affect the day. Your driver can confirm the planned order as you go.

Oshino Hakkai is a village area known for its clear spring water and views of Fuji. You have about an hour to walk, look around and browse. It’s a useful change of pace after the shrines: here, the attraction is the water and the setting rather than a single major monument. The first day also includes a Yamanashi-style houtou lunch, a traditional noodle dish from the prefecture. That meal is included, while lunch on the second day is not.

The schedule is full, but the stops have different strengths: a lake view, a famous pagoda, a pilgrimage shrine and spring water. That variety makes day one more than a sequence of Fuji photo stops.

The ryokan night: onsen, kaiseki and a slower pace

The overnight stay is at Tōnosawa Ichinoyu Honkan, a traditional Japanese ryokan in Hakone. You’ll have time to check in and use the onsen before dinner. The bath is part of the stay, though a private onsen is not specified as a standard inclusion. If having a private bath matters to you, ask the provider before booking.

Dinner is a traditional kaiseki meal, a sequence of courses built around seasonal ingredients and fresh seafood. The precise menu can vary, but the point is the format: instead of grabbing a quick meal between sights, you get a slower dinner that is part of the Japanese inn experience.

The next morning brings a Japanese breakfast with fish, rice, pickles and miso soup. Both meals are included, which adds meaningful value to the overnight package and saves you from having to arrange dinner and breakfast separately. It also means the trip has a clear rhythm: sightseeing, bathing, dinner, sleep, breakfast, then back on the road.

One person who took the tour named the guide Keith and described him as helpful, ready with information and patient with questions. Another praised the guide for allowing time to explore each location. Keith’s name is not a guaranteed assignment, but the accounts suggest that a good driver-guide can make a real difference on a route with many stops.

Day two: Lake Ashi and Owakudani’s volcanic ground

After breakfast, the tour heads out for a Lake Ashi cruise. The boat ride is about 45 minutes and is scheduled to depart at 9:30 a.m., finishing at Togendai Port. You’ll see the lake and surrounding hills, with possible views of Fuji if the skies are clear. The cruise is a welcome change from the road and gives you a different perspective on Hakone.

Next is Owakudani, a volcanic valley known for sulfur vents and hot springs. You’ll have about 45 minutes to walk around and take in the terrain. The area’s famous black eggs, boiled in the sulfurous hot-spring water, are one of its best-known curiosities. This is a short visit, so expect a look around rather than a long hike or an extended geology lesson.

Fuji views at Owakudani also depend on the weather. The tour may adjust the itinerary or offer alternative scenic stops if visibility is poor. That flexibility is sensible, but it can’t make a cloudy day clear. Pack warm clothing: conditions around Fuji and Hakone can change, and the tour runs in rain unless conditions are extreme.

Odawara Castle, Kamakura’s Great Buddha and a possible Chinatown stop

The route continues to Odawara Castle, where you have about 45 minutes to see the grounds and visit the museum. The castle offers context on samurai history, and the grounds and views from the top add a break from the day’s drive. The visit is self-guided, so use the time to focus on what interests you most rather than expecting a long guided tour.

In Kamakura, the stop is at the Great Buddha, or Kamakura Daibutsu. The bronze statue stands more than 13 metres tall and is one of Japan’s best-known landmarks. The scheduled visit is about 30 minutes, which is enough for a look and photos, but brief if you want to explore more of Kamakura.

Yokohama Chinatown is a possible final stop, not a guaranteed one. The schedule allows about 30 minutes if time permits, for a quick walk or browse before the return to Tokyo. Because the day already includes a cruise, Owakudani, Odawara and Kamakura, Chinatown is the first stop likely to be shortened or skipped if traffic or timing runs late.

The tour returns to central Tokyo, with drop-off at your hotel or another location inside the 23 wards. The overall route is ambitious. You’ll see several important places, but this is not the right plan if you want long visits at every site or a leisurely afternoon in Kamakura.

What the $838 price includes, and where value lies

At $838 per person, this is not a budget day trip. The value comes from bundling private transport over two days with an overnight ryokan stay, onsen access, kaiseki dinner, breakfast, a first-day lunch, the Lake Ashi boat ride and listed site entrance fees. You also avoid planning the transfers between Fuji, Hakone, Odawara and Kamakura yourself.

The private vehicle matters most if you value convenience, have limited time in Japan, or are travelling with family or a small party. It lets you move between widely spaced stops without managing train connections and luggage. The price is harder to justify if your priority is slow travel, or if you are comfortable arranging transport and accommodation independently.

The included meals help, but remember that day-two lunch is not included, and personal expenses are extra. The listed price is per person; check the booking total for your party before committing.

The activity details give two different cancellation descriptions: one says you can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, while another provides a tiered fee schedule beginning seven days before check-in. Confirm the terms that apply to your booking before you pay.

Who should book this two-day route?

This trip suits you if you want a private, high-coverage introduction to Mount Fuji, Hakone and Kamakura without organizing each leg yourself. It is especially appealing if the ryokan stay and traditional meals are as important to you as the sightseeing. The two travellers who shared detailed accounts both singled out the guide’s help and the room to explore, so I’d put a responsive driver-guide high on the list of things to confirm.

It is also a sensible choice for families or groups who prefer a private vehicle, though the days are long and include walking at several stops. Bring comfortable shoes, warm layers and a change of clothes, as requested. You’ll need a passport or ID card, and smoking is not allowed in the vehicle or indoors. Pets are not allowed, except assistance dogs.

Think twice if you want a relaxed visit to every place, need a guaranteed view of Fuji, or want a private onsen specifically. Ask about customization if you’d like to change stops, pickup arrangements or meals. The tour allows requests, but the tight schedule means every added stop has a cost in time.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want the convenience of private transport, a broad route through Fuji and Hakone, and a night at a traditional ryokan with dinner and breakfast included. The combination of shrines, spring water, volcanic scenery and Kamakura’s Great Buddha gives you more range than a Fuji-only outing.

Skip it if you prefer fewer stops and longer visits, or if seeing Fuji clearly is your main reason for going. The weather cannot be controlled, and the second day packs several destinations into one drive back to Tokyo. For the right traveller, though, the ryokan night and attentive guide make that busy schedule more comfortable and personal.

FAQ

Is this a private tour?

Yes. It is a private vehicle tour, with pickup and drop-off available at hotels or Airbnbs inside Tokyo’s 23 wards.

What languages are offered?

The listed driver languages are English and Chinese.

Which meals are included?

The tour includes a Yamanashi houtou lunch on day one, traditional ryokan dinner and breakfast. Lunch on day two is not included.

Where do you stay overnight?

The overnight stay is at Tōnosawa Ichinoyu Honkan, a traditional ryokan in Hakone with an onsen experience.

Is the Lake Ashi boat ride included?

Yes. The boat ride is included and takes about 45 minutes, ending at Togendai Port. The stated departure time is 9:30 a.m.

Will I definitely see Mount Fuji?

No. Fuji visibility depends on the weather. The itinerary may be adjusted if visibility is poor, and alternative scenic stops may be offered.

Is Yokohama Chinatown guaranteed?

No. It is a possible quick stop if time allows. The visit is listed at about 30 minutes.

What should I bring?

Bring your passport or ID card, comfortable walking shoes, warm clothing and a change of clothes. The tour advises preparing for weather changes around Mount Fuji and Hakone.