Shimizu Shore Excursion: Fuji View Car Tour with Licensed Guide

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English or Japanese11 departure times, from 08:00 to 13:00

Guide in English or Japanese11 departure times, from 08:00 to 13:00

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Pick your stops and let a licensed guide drive you through Shizuoka's Mt. Fuji views and historic shrines.

A private car tour departing from Shimizu Port or nearby hotels, customized to your choice of three to four sites from a curated list of Shizuoka attractions. A government-licensed English-speaking guide drives and narrates the route, which typically covers Mt. Fuji viewpoints, Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, Nihondaira's bay views, and cultural museums. The tour runs six hours and suits cruise passengers and hotel guests who want flexibility without arranging their own transport.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Miho no Matsubara1h
2. Kunozan Toshogu Shrine1h

Shizuoka City and Mt. Fuji sightseeing

• Pick up at Shimizu Port or nearby hotels
• Visit Miho-no-Matsubara pine coast
• Take ropeway gondola to Kunozan Toshogu Shrine
• Explore Kunozan Toshogu Shrine and museum
• Enjoy scenic views at Nihondaira hill
• Visit Shizuoka Sengen Shrine complex
• Walk through Sumpu Castle Park
• Experience Tea Museum, Shizuoka
• Explore Mt. Fuji World Heritage Exhibition
• Visit Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha Shrine

The Experience

You choose your itinerary before the tour starts. The operator provides a list of must-see spots: Miho no Matsubara with its 30,000 pine trees framing Mt. Fuji, Kunozan Toshogu Shrine on a 216-meter peak reached by ropeway, Nihondaira's 300-meter overlook of Suruga Bay and the southern Japan Alps, the Oigawa Railway's steam locomotives running through pastoral valleys, Shizuoka Sengen Shrine with its vermilion Romon Gate, Sumpu Castle Park in the city center, the Tea Museum with hands-on tea experiences, the Mt. Fuji World Heritage Exhibition, and Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha at the mountain's base. You select three to four of these before pickup, so the six hours work around what matters most to you.

A government-licensed guide meets you at Shimizu Port or your hotel near the port and drives a private vehicle. The guide speaks English and holds a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certification, which requires demonstrated knowledge of Japanese culture and history. You stay in the same car throughout, so there's no switching vehicles or waiting for a group to assemble. The guide narrates the route and answers questions as you move between sites.

Entrance fees to shrines and museums, lunch, and other personal expenses are separate. If you want to enter a shrine or museum, you pay on-site. The guide's entry is covered only for the attractions you've chosen. The Kunozan Toshogu Shrine charges 500 yen for adults to enter the shrine building, 400 yen for the museum, or 800 yen for both. The Tea Museum and Mt. Fuji World Heritage Exhibition have their own rates. Plan your budget for these before the tour starts so you know what to expect.

What’s included

• Private vehicle with a government-licensed English-speaking guide.
• pickup from Shimizu Port or hotels near the port.
• customizable itinerary of three to four sites from the curated list.
• guide narration throughout the six-hour tour.

Days and timesDaily · 11 departure times, from 08:00 to 13:00

AgesAges 12+ · 6 to 11 years — Free · Under 6 — Free

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup32 pickup points to choose from.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Japan Guide Agency

Is this one for you?Choose the van if you're traveling with family or a small group and want to share the cost. Pick the regular car if it's just two of you and you prefer a more personal pace. Either way, you build the itinerary around what you want to see, Mt. Fuji viewpoints, shrines, or cultural museums, rather than following a fixed schedule.

Traveler reviews

4.87★★★★★★★★★★

23 verified traveler reviews

5 ★22

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★1

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Japanese.

Can children come?

6 to 11 years, free; under 6, free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

Can I visit Mt. Fuji itself on this tour, or do I just see it from a distance?

You see Mt. Fuji from viewpoints rather than climb it. Miho no Matsubara is a 7-kilometer coastline with 30,000 pine trees where Mt. Fuji appears beyond them. It's a UNESCO World Heritage component site. Nihondaira, at 300 meters altitude, offers another vantage point across tea fields toward the mountain and the southern Japan Alps. Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha sits at the mountain's southwestern base and is a sacred shrine dedicated to Mt. Fuji worship, but the tour does not include a climb.

What is Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, and why is it on the list?

Kunozan Toshogu is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, who unified Japan and established the Edo Shogunate about 400 years ago. The shrine sits on Mt. Kuno at 216 meters and is reached by ropeway gondola from Nihondaira. Inside the precincts you can see richly decorated shrine buildings and views of Suruga Bay and the Izu Peninsula. The Kunozan Toshogu Museum holds treasures related to the Tokugawa family, including armor and helmets.

How does the customizable itinerary work? Do I decide on the day, or before?

You select your three to four must-see spots from the provided list before the tour begins, not on the day itself. This lets the guide plan the route and timing in advance. The operator asks you to let them know what you'd like to experience when you book, so the itinerary is set before pickup.

Does the tour include lunch or meals?

Lunch is not included and is your own expense. The six-hour tour covers travel time and stops at your chosen sites, but you'll need to arrange or purchase food separately if you want to eat during the tour.

What's the difference between the van and regular car options?

The van seats up to seven passengers and is better for larger groups or families with luggage. The regular car seats up to two and is more intimate for couples or solo travelers. Both are private vehicles with a licensed guide. Limited car seats and booster seats are available. Contact the operator directly if you need them, as rear-facing seats are not available.