Kunozan Toshogu Shrine & Mt. Fuji tour from Shimizu Port

Three landmarks in one morning: a shrine, a mountain view, and a heritage beach

A guided tour departing from Shimizu Port visits Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, Nihondaira Plateau, and Miho Beach in a small chartered bus with an English-speaking guide. The tour runs 4.5 hours and includes round-trip ropeway access over Suruga Bay. You climb stone steps to reach the shrine after the ropeway descent. Starting at 8:30 AM avoids long lines at the Nihondaira ropeway.

Step-by-step itinerary

Shimizu Port to Miho Beach tour

• Car from Shimizu Port to Nihondaira
• Visit Nihondaira Ocha Kaikan green tea field
• Visit Nihondaira Yume Terrace Observatory
• Ride round trip Nihondaira ropeway
• Visit Kunozan Toshogu Shrine
• Car from Nihondaira to Miho Pine Tree Grove
• Visit Miho no Matsubara pine tree grove and beach
• Visit Miho no Matsubara Culture & Creativity Center
• Car from Miho Beach to Shimizu Port

The Experience

Kunozan Toshogu Shrine is a national treasure dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo period. After the ropeway ride (about 20 minutes round trip with views of Suruga Bay, the Izu Peninsula and the Southern Alps), you'll walk up the stone steps to the shrine and its mausoleum. The guide leads you through the site and explains its significance before the group returns to the bus.

Nihondaira Plateau holds two stops. The Nihondaira Yume Terrace Observatory opened in November 2018 and frames Mt. Fuji, Shimizu Port, and the Southern Alps from a single vantage point. At the Nihondaira Ocha Kaikan, a Japanese tea shop with its own green tea field, you can photograph Mt. Fuji rising behind the rows of tea plants if the weather is clear. The guide points out the composition and timing for the shot.

Miho Beach, part of the Mt. Fuji World Heritage site, closes the tour. The black sand, white waves, green pine grove and blue sky create the landscape the guide describes as representing Japan itself. The Miho no Matsugara Culture & Creativity Center, opened in March 2019, shows a short film about the Hagoromo legend and Miho's history: useful if clouds obscure Mt. Fuji from the beach. The small bus then returns you to Shimizu Port.

What’s included

• Chartered small bus with a professional, licensed driver.
• English-speaking government-certified guide.
• round-trip ropeway access between Nihondaira and Kunozan Toshogu Shrine with views of Suruga Bay.

Days and timesDaily · 12 departure times, from 08:30 to 14:00

Meeting point and pickupNo pickup · ends where it startsMeeting point, per the operator: “Shimizu Marine Terminal, at the exit of CIQ terminal (= in front of your cruise ship)”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Local Travel Partners,Inc

Is this one for you?The tour departs from Shimizu Port, so if you're arriving by ship or staying nearby without a car, the small bus handles all transport between the three sites and returns you to the port. Groups stay under 15 travelers, which keeps the pace manageable at each stop and the ropeway line shorter than if you went alone.

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Top questions

What is Kunozan Toshogu Shrine and why does the tour visit it?

Kunozan Toshogu Shrine is a national treasure shrine built to honor Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo period, and holds his mausoleum. The guide leads you through the site after a 5-minute ropeway descent from Nihondaira Plateau.

Can I see Mt. Fuji on this tour?

Yes, Mt. Fuji is visible from two stops: the Nihondaira Yume Terrace Observatory frames it with the surrounding landscape, and the Nihondaira Ocha Kaikan's green tea field offers a foreground for photographs on clear days. Miho Beach also provides a Mt. Fuji view as part of the World Heritage site.

How does the ropeway work and what is the view like?

The round-trip ropeway connects Nihondaira and Kunozan Toshogu Shrine in 5 minutes each way, with about 20 minutes total for waiting and riding. The cable car crosses Suruga Bay, and you see the Izu Peninsula and Southern Alps during the ascent and descent.

What happens if the weather is bad and I can't see Mt. Fuji?

The Miho no Matsugara Culture & Creativity Center, a museum that opened in March 2019, shows a film about Miho's history and the Hagoromo legend, so you can still learn about the site and its significance even if clouds block the mountain view.

How fit do I need to be for this tour?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. After the ropeway descent, you'll climb stone steps to reach Kunozan Toshogu Shrine. The rest of the tour involves walking at each stop but no other steep terrain.