Shizuoka Day Trip 日本静冈一日游

Shizuoka Day Trip 日本静冈一日游
I’ve finally checked off another prefecture in Japan — Shizuoka! It’s my 14th visit to the prefecture, and I’m excited to explore the remaining 33 in the future. As a tea lover, I’ve always wanted to visit Shizuoka, but due to scheduling, we managed to explore it only as a day trip. If you have any questions, please comment and let me know!


About Shizuoka
About Shizuoka



With over 700,000 residents, Shizuoka (静岡) is a medium-sized city between Tokyo and Nagoya. Situated along Suruga Bay on the historic Tokaido route, Shizuoka is renowned for producing most of Japan's tea and maguro tuna.

In Shizuoka City, which lies in the heart of Shizuoka Prefecture, there are various spots where you can enjoy different views of Mt. Fuji. The best time to see Mt. Fuji is from November to March.

How to access Shizuoka from Tokyo
The fastest way to get from Tokyo to Shizuoka is by train, which takes 1 hour and 17 minutes and costs $35 to $55. Is there a direct bus between Tokyo and Shizuoka? A direct bus departs from the Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal and arrives at Shizuoka Station's North Exit.


Attractions
Fujisan Yumeno Ohashi Bridge
Fujisan Yumeno Ohashi Bridge



This scenic view of Mt. Fuji has become a favourite among travel influencers from abroad! The photo was taken from Fujisan Yumeno Ohashi Bridge (富士山夢の大橋) in Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture. True to its name, which means "the bridge of dreams," it offers stunning, dreamlike photos.

Fujisan Yumeno Ohashi Bridge



Yumeno Ohashi is a 70-meter-long bridge that provides an unobstructed view of Mt. Fuji when looking north. It's gaining popularity among tourists.

If you’ve seen those photos on Instagram or XHS, you might notice some showing people standing in the middle of the road. Well, we didn’t do that because it’s illegal and can inconvenience drivers. Also, I have to confess — the Mount Fuji you see in these photos is photoshopped. When we arrived, the weather wasn’t great, and the mountain was half-covered by clouds. We just took a few shots, and I edited the mountain in — no big deal, hahaha. We drove over an hour from Yamanashi to get here, so we couldn’t miss this spot!

Details
Location : Japan, 〒416-0931 Shizuoka, Fuji, Tadehara, 国道 139 号線.
How to access : It's a 5-minute drive from Kanasashi Station or Kiga Station (Tenryu Hamanako Railroad). Alternatively, take a bus from Hamamatsu Station bound for Okuyama (about 70 minutes), get off at Jinguji, and walk for approximately 10 minutes.


Izu Shaboten Zoo
Izu Shaboten Zoo



Izu Shaboten Zoo (伊豆シャボテン动物公园) is a zoological park and botanical garden located in Itō, Shizuoka, Japan. Established in 1959, the zoo is known for its capybara exhibits and succulent greenhouses, and it is open year-round. The zoo spans approximately 200,000 square meters at the foot of Mt. Omuroyama, a designated national natural monument.

Izu Shaboten Zoo
Peacocks and squirrel monkeys roam freely throughout the zoo, and visitors can even enter areas where capybaras and kangaroos live to feed them snacks! We were so lucky to get a free ticket because it was Thanksgiving Day!

Izu Shaboten Zoo



Izu Shaboten Zoo is the birthplace of the original Capybara Outdoor Bath, an Izu winter tradition that has gained nationwide fame. Held annually from November to April, the sight of capybaras soaking in outdoor baths brings a sense of peace to many visitors.

I finally got to see and feed the adorable capybaras! They are so cuteeeeeeeee!

Izu Shaboten Zoo



Cacti and succulents from around the world  
At the entrance to the greenhouse, you'll be greeted by the "Highland Dragon", the park's symbol. Inside, you'll find an impressive collection of approximately 1,500 varieties of cacti and succulents. You'll see towering columnar cacti over 5 meters tall, edible prickly pear cacti, tiny cacti as small as 3 cm, and the "Kinshachi", the king of cacti, which is over 170 years old.

Izu Shaboten Zoo



Forest Animal Restaurant - GIBBONTEI  
In this greenery-filled restaurant, you can dine alongside adorable stuffed capybaras and red pandas. The menu features unique items like the popular "Capi Burger""Red Panda Tail Bun", and the "Baku Baku Hamburger".

Details
Location : 1317-13 Futo, Itō, Shizuoka 413-0231, Japan.
Business hours : Daily (9.30am - 5.00pm)
Admission fees : 2,700 yen per pax


Shizuoka Sengen Shrine
Shizuoka Sengen Shrine



Shizuoka Sengen Shrine refers to three shrines: Kambe Shrine, Sengen Shrine, and Ohtoshimioya Shrine. It was revered as the Soja of Suruga Province and received the patronage of the Tokugawa family during the Edo era. The grand, brilliantly coloured main buildings feature rich urushi lacquer coating, and 26 have been designated nationally important cultural properties.

Shizuoka Sengen Shrine



It was a peaceful shrine with no tourists (except us). Most of the visitors were locals. We wandered around, took in the atmosphere, and said a prayer before heading to our next destination.

Details
Location : 102-1 Miyagasakicho, Aoi Ward, Shizuoka, 420-0868, Japan.
Business hours : Daily (9.00am - 5.00pm)
Admission fees : Free
How to access : Take the Abe-sen bus from JR Shizuoka Station for 8 minutes and get off at Aka-Torii Sengen Jinja Iriguchi. It's approximately 15 minutes from the Tomei/Shin-Tomei Expressway.


Sumpu Castle Park



Sumpu Castle (孙府城) was built by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1586 and later became his retirement residence. At that time, the city of Shizuoka, then called Sumpu, developed around the castle, which still stands at the city's centre, just a ten-minute walk from JR Shizuoka Station. Although none of the original castle buildings remain, the grounds are now primarily a park. The castle was also known as Fuchu Castle or Shizuoka Castle.




Over the years, Sumpu Castle was destroyed and rebuilt several times. The Tokugawa family lost power with the Meiji Restoration in the late 1860s, and the new rulers dismantled the castle. In 1949, the innermost courtyards were converted into a public space, now known as Sumpu Park, which is still surrounded by a moat.

Details
Location : 1-1 Sunpujokoen, Aoi Ward, Shizuoka, 420-0855, Japan.
Business hours : Daily (9.00am - 4.30pm)
Admission fees : 150 yen (garden only) ; 200 yen (gate only) ; 360 yen (gate and garden)


Food
Togakushi Honten
Togakushi Honten



Togakushi Honten (戸隠とがくしそば本店) is a popular traditional soba noodle restaurant in Shizuoka, often requiring customers to queue outside. We waited about 15 minutes in the rain. The staff was friendly and regularly checked on the line every 10 minutes. The soba is served either hot or cold.

Togakushi Honten



Of course, we had to try their popular soba, while my husband went for the tempura don. The soba had a wonderfully elastic texture, and I always prefer it served cold. Definitely worth trying!

Details
Location : 12-1 Seikancho, Aoi Ward, Shizuoka, 420-0047, Japan.
Business hours : Daily (11.00am - 8.00pm)


I guess that’s all for our Shizuoka Day Trip itinerary. There wasn’t much to do, but if you have any other suggestions, feel free to leave a comment and let me know. I’ll be sure to check out those places next time. 

Okie dokie! I’m preparing for my baby’s delivery in the next few days, so by the time you read my next post, it’ll be all about Mini Lola. Lol. Till next time!


#ShiniInShizuoka
For more photos, search the hashtag #ShiniInShizuoka on Instagram. There, you can also find additional details about my personal experiences during the trip.


Japan Related Posts

0 comments