Lake Ashi

The fireworks festival and Mount Omuro were both beautiful. Our guide, Max, was fluent in four languages, making communication easy. He arranged the time well, allowing ample time to visit both attractions. The tour bus driver was very lovely, and the bus was very stable. The only downside was the long journey from Tokyo, taking over two hours each way, which was a bit tiring.

We departed Shinjuku at 8 AM and returned at 6 PM, encountering a slight traffic jam on the Friday return trip. The itinerary included the cable car fare; the pirate ship was at our own expense. We visited Hakone Shrine and took photos of the torii gates in the lake (there were long queues, 3 minutes per person; if time is limited, skip this step). The pirate ship view was fantastic, with beautiful reflections in the lake. The cable car took us to Owakudani to see sulfurous gas eruptions (comparable to Yangmingshan in Taiwan, but Owakudani is fenced off and viewed from a distance), and we ate black eggs (at our own expense). Lunch was at our own expense, featuring Wagyu beef, eel, fried chicken, etc., served at a restaurant combined with a specialty shop (the specialty products were slightly more expensive than in city stores, but there were some discounts, so it was acceptable). We collected "Shinryūsui" (a type of water) at Oshino Hakkai and ate "Kusa Mochi" (baked glutinous rice wrapped with mugwort and red beans). Finally, we went to Lake Yamanaka to see the swans. Although it was a rainy day, we even saw Mount Fuji occasionally appear – good luck!

Driver Xiao Shi deserves a thumbs up! He's enthusiastic, experienced, drives steadily, and is punctual. The itinerary planning is smooth, and he explains things clearly and concisely. Overall, the itinerary offers great value for money and is suitable for tourists who want to enjoy a day trip around Tokyo without wasting time on round trips.

I think this tour guide was basically just a driver, taking you to designated pick-up and drop-off points to save you the trouble of finding your own transportation. There wasn't much explanation; just check Line (a Chinese travel website). The weather wasn't good the day I came, so I didn't get to experience the beauty of Owakudani and Enoshima! But the price wasn't expensive, so there's not much to complain about. Don't think of it like a group tour. The boat trip was pretty good! There's a queue for the torii gates in Hakone, and not enough time! You don't need to pay to go inside the tower on Enoshima.

This day trip to Mt. Fuji, Hakone (Owakudani, Lake Ashi), and Enoshima was incredibly enjoyable! The entire itinerary was well-planned, and although we visited many attractions in one day, the pace was just right, without any sense of rushing. Special praise goes to our guide; he was kind, patient, and professional. His explanations were clear and easy to understand, and he always considered everyone's comfort, ensuring that each traveler felt relaxed and at ease throughout the trip.

Because the number of participants was small, it wasn't a large tour bus but a minibus that could seat 13 people. The tour guide was professional and polite.