Shizuoka City is the capital and 2nd largest city of Shizuoka Prefecture. Located on the coast of Suruga Bay, easily accessible from Shizuoka Station, are the fishing towns of Shimizu and Mochimune.
There are many great attractions in this small area and here are 5 of the best on offer.
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Shimizu Port
It is a short train ride from Shizuoka Station to Shimizu Station on the local Tokaido Train Line to Shimizu Port Area which is famous for Kashinoichi fish market – a seafood lovers dream come true!! An amazing array of seafood options but specifically tuna – try the all you can eat Tuna bowls.
From there it is a short bus, or water bus, ride to S-Pulse Dream Plaza Shopping area which has restaurants cafes, sushi museum, sushi making school advance reservation required and ferris wheel with spectacular views of Mt. Fuji.
Do you love sushi? If yes, then Japan’s first sushi themed museum is for you!
Comprised of Shimizu Sushi Yokocho for eating all types of sushi and an educational area where you can learn the history of sushi and get some hands on experience.
Miho no Matsubara
From Shimizu Port or S-Pulse Dream Plaza it is easy to jump on a waterbus to explore the Miho area and grab a photo on famous Miho no Matsubara beach with Mt. Fuji in the background.
Miho no Matsubara was registered as a part of Mt. Fuji’s world heritage site in June of 2013.
There are over thirty-thousand pine trees growing along the 7km beach, which along with the white waves, blue ocean, and Mt. Fuji, has been expressed through Japanese art for centuries.
If stunning views of Mt. Fuji, beautiful pine forests, the deep blue water of Suruga Bay, and long walks down a 7 km beach are your thing, then look no further!
Nihondaira & Kunozan Toshogu Shrine
One of the best things to do around Shizuoka City is to head for the hills and spend a day around Nihondaira.
Jump on the cable car and visit Kunozan Toshogu Shrine which is said to be the last resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu, and closely connected with the Nikko Toshogu Shrine. #kunosantoshogu
Visit the architecturally stunning Nihondaira Yume terrace for, on a good day, some of the best and most famous views of Mt. Fuji.
For the kids the Nihondaira Zoo is a fun place to spend the day visiting the famous red panda. #nihondairazoo
Enjoy lunch, afternoon tea or green tea cocktails at the bar at Nippondaira Hotel while you watch the outstanding views of Mt. Fuji – many of the rooms in this hotel have large windows that face toward this iconic mountain and you will be tempted to stay the night so you can enjoy the views of Mt. Fuji, which changes from moment to moment.
Strawberry Coastal Road
At the foot of Mt. Kunozan and Kunozan Toshogun Shrine is a stretch of road known as “Ichigo Kaigan Douri” which translates to Strawberry Coastal Road.
Shizuoka Prefecture is well known for its production of Green Tea around the world but the fact that the prefecture grows some of the biggest and best strawberries is still relatively unknown to anyone outside of Japan.
With the greenhouses warmed by all day sun thanks to the relatively stable winter weather and fed by the mineral rich water coming down from the hills you get some of the biggest, sweetest, most amazing strawberries you will ever eat.
From January to May each year you can indulge in an all you can eat picking session for a fraction of the cost that these berries would be in stores – grab a punnet and some condensed milk and enjoy!
Mochimune
Mochimune is a small coastal fishing village in Suruga Ward just 6 minutes on the local train from Shizuoka Station. It is located at the point where the mighty Pacific Ocean meets nutrient rich Suruga Bay.
This small, tranquil coastal town and is famous for its ‘Shirasu’ (Whitebait) and particularly its ‘Nama’ (Raw) Shirasu. It is said that to really experience Whitebait, it needs to be eaten within an hour of being caught and eaten raw.
This obviously makes it difficult to do unless you go to the source. To ensure freshness the fishing boats that catch whitebait have support boats that travel back and forth from the main dock bringing the whitebait catch back to dock as soon as possible.
If you enjoy whitebait then Mochimune is a must visit on your trip to Japan, and even if you are not a big whitebait fan, brand new facilities such as the spectacular Nihoniro accommodation, Mochimune Port Onsen and the fantastic Mochimune Yokocho and of course, West Coast Brewing tap room – that will make your stay here unforgettable!
