H.I.S. Co., Ltd. · Tokyo Station or Shinjuku
A coach from Tokyo Station or Shinjuku covers the Fuji 5th Station, Owakudani, the Hakone Ropeway and a pirate-ship cruise, run by the Japanese travel company H.I.S. Pick it for the return options: Shinkansen from Odawara, the coach back to Shinjuku, or a drop at Odawara or Hakone-Yumoto, all chosen when you book.
H.I.S. is one of Japan's large travel agencies, and on Viator this tour sells in twelve versions: two start points, three returns, with or without lunch. The coach starts on the sidewalk outside the Marunouchi Building by Tokyo Station, then collects Shinjuku guests at the LOVE sculpture in front of i-Land Tower; the meeting times differ, so read your voucher. Guides speak English, and a QR code on the coach streams live commentary in 20 languages to your phone (bring headphones).
Stops on the listing: 30 minutes at the 5th Station, 30 at Owakudani, 25 on the Hakone Ropeway, 30 on Lake Ashi, plus a lunch break at a hotel (buffet on the lunch option). Then the returns split. Train guests get off at Odawara with a non-reserved Shinkansen ticket; the guide doesn't ride with you, and trains run about twice an hour. Coach guests go on to Nishi-Shinjuku, due around 7:30 pm, near the Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower and not Tokyo Station. You can't change the return after the tour.
It rates 4.2, and the complaints repeat: long coach hours (no toilet on board), a so-so lunch, guides whose English varies. In heavy cloud or snow the 5th Station becomes Oshino Hakkai or the Fujisan World Heritage Center, and wind can swap the cruise for Hakone-machi or the Mishima Skywalk. At $120 it undercuts the Japan Panoramic Tours day by $39, and that gap is the case for it.
Tokyo Station: the sidewalk in front of the Marunouchi Building's main entrance (exit M4). Shinjuku: the LOVE sculpture, 6-5-1 Nishi-Shinjuku; the coach comes from Tokyo Station, so wait there even if it's late.
Out of Tokyo and up the Subaru Line. No toilet on board, so use the one at the meeting point.
Over 2,000 m and cold even in August, as one guest found. In snow or fog the tour visits Oshino Hakkai or the World Heritage Center instead.
A buffet at a hotel on the lunch option. Without it, bring food: the listing warns there may be nowhere to buy lunch.
30 minutes at Owakudani's steam vents, 25 on the Hakone Ropeway and 30 on a pirate-style ship across Lake Ashi.
Odawara Station for the Shinkansen or the drop-off option; the coach continues to Nishi-Shinjuku, due around 7:30 pm.
★★★★★We were not able to go up to the 5th station due to a landslide that happened up the road. Fujiko and our bus driver instead brought us to some natural mountain spring ponds. [...] At the top we were able to see where the Black Eggs were made.
★★★★★We also chose the bullet train option, which was a great decision. They dropped us off and assisted us all the way to Odawara Station, making the whole transition smooth and stress-free.
★★★★★Mt Fuji was being very shy but this didn't spoil our experience. [...] We enjoyed visiting station 5 on Mt Fuji and riding the Hakone rope way. The pirate boat was some unexpected fun too.
★★★★★Also know that it is a full day, 11 to 12 hours [...] My only recommendation is not to do the bullet train unless you're going to Tokyo station because then you have to transfer and it was very confusing for us and for our fellow travelers
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Shinkansen if you stay near Tokyo Station or want to be back early, about 30 to 45 minutes from Odawara. The coach if you stay in Shinjuku and don't mind arriving around 7:30 pm or later. The Odawara or Hakone-Yumoto drop if you're spending the night in Hakone. Our bullet train vs bus guide compares them.
No. The listing says the guide stays with the coach and explains the route from Tokyo Station to your hotel before you board. Seats are non-reserved, and trains to Tokyo run about twice an hour from Odawara.
Snow, landslides or traffic can close it. The tour then goes to Oshino Hakkai, the Fujisan World Heritage Center, Oishi Park on Lake Kawaguchi or Hana no Miyako Park on Lake Yamanaka, or a lower station. There's no refund for the change.
Mostly. The listing says it can't provide gluten-free meals but can accommodate most allergy requests. Tell them at booking. Vegan guests have reported struggling to find enough to eat, so bring backup food.
Ready to book
The 5th Station and Hakone, with the return by train, by bus or from Odawara, chosen when you book.
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