How to get to Shizuoka
Because of its location on the main line connecting Tokyo and Kyoto, Shizuoka is very easy to access, and many foreign tourists come to visit Shizuoka Prefecture. The Shinkansen bullet train is the most convenient way to travel here, but you also have the option of taking a long-distance bus or regular train.
From Tokyo
The fastest and most popular way to get to Shizuoka from Tokyo is to take the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train from either Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station. In just 40 minutes, you will arrive in Atami, a historically famous hot spring resort, where you can explore the coastline of the Izu Peninsula, lie on the beach, or take a dip in the hot springs overlooking the ocean. Mishima Station and Shin-Fuji Station are only a few minutes away from Atami. Both destinations allow you to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy a relaxing view of the famous Mt. Fuji.
Another option is the Odakyu Romancecar, a comfortable train offering beautiful views. Departing from Shinjuku Station, you can reach Gotemba Station in just over 90 minutes. There are also many buses connecting Shinjuku and Gotemba stations. The journey takes about two hours. Alternatively, if you start at Tokyo Station, you can take a bus to Fujinomiya in around two-and-a-half hours.
For those who want to travel around the Mt. Fuji area a bit more, the Odakyu Electric Railway Company offers a three-day pass that allows unlimited riding around Hakone and the eastern base of Mt. Fuji. It’s a great deal!
From Kyoto
When traveling from Kyoto to Tokyo, Shizuoka offers a convenient stop to take a break and experience things that neither Tokyo nor Kyoto have to offer. From Kyoto Station you can simply hop onto the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train towards Tokyo, and get off the train in Shizuoka Prefecture. In just 70 minutes, you can reach Hamamatsu Station, the first station within Shizuoka Prefecture. The trip to Kakegawa Station, with its historic castle town, takes just over 90 minutes.
The JR Rail Pass
The Japan Rail Pass offers great value for traveling around Japan, and it is also a great way to travel to and within Shizuoka. If you combine the JR pass with another discount travel pass that lets you travel around the prefecture, such as the Izu Dream Pass, you will be able to tour Shizuoka at an affordable price.
Local Trains
Shizuoka Prefecture has rugged coastlines, rural landscapes, vast tea plantations as far as the eye can see, rivers created by the spring water of Mt. Fuji, and of course, the magnificent Mt. Fuji itself. You can take the local trains to visit all of these beautiful attractions. There are also several special travel passes that enable you to travel within the prefecture at low cost.
After taking a stroll along the beach in Shimoda on the Izu Peninsula, you can take a train to Gotemba Station to shop at the outlets with Mt. Fuji in the background. After you’ve finished your shopping, you can take the Odakyu Romancecar or an express bus and make it to Shinjuku in time for dinner. Alternatively, you can take one of the steam locomotives that run through the paddy fields and vast tea plantations along the Oigawa River.
If you want to take a relaxing train ride at a slower pace, how about taking the Tenryu Hamanako Railroad from Hamamatsu or Kakegawa station, winding through tea fields, passing the Tenryu River, and circling Lake Hamana?
In addition to these, you can also ride the Izuhakone Railway that connects Mishima City to Shuzenji Onsen, the Gakunan Railway in Fuji City, the Enshu Railway within Hamamatsu City, and the Shizuoka Railway within Shizuoka City.