Most people treat the Shinkansen ride between Tokyo and Kyoto like a high-speed blur. They stare out the window, wait for that three-second glimpse of Mount Fuji, and then go back to their bento boxes. They’re missing the point. If you actually get off the train halfway, you’ll find yourself in Shizuoka. It’s the green heart of the country. Honestly, if you want the "real" Japan—the one with the sprawling tea plantations, rugged coastlines, and a version of Fuji that isn't swamped by five thousand influencers—you need to look at things to do in Shizuoka Japan.
Shizuoka produces 40% of Japan’s green tea. That’s not a typo. The landscape is literally sculpted by tea bushes. But it’s also where the Tokugawa Shogunate was born and where the deepest bay in Japan, Suruga Bay, provides seafood so fresh it’s basically still vibrating.
The Fuji View Everyone Misses at Nihondaira
Forget the crowded Five Lakes for a second. If you want a perspective that feels cinematic, head to the Nihondaira Plateau. It’s a massive hilly area overlooking the city and the sea. You’ve got the 1,000-meter-high peak of Fuji in the background, the blue waters of Suruga Bay in the mid-ground, and the lush green tea fields in the foreground. It’s the "triple threat" of Japanese scenery.
Kengo Kuma, the architect behind the Tokyo Olympic Stadium, designed the Nihondaira Yume Terrace. It’s a masterpiece of wood and glass. It doesn't scream at you. It just sits there, offering a 360-degree walkway that lets you soak in the Pacific.
After you’ve filled your camera roll, take the ropeway. It’s a five-minute dangle across a deep valley to Kunozan Toshogu Shrine. This is where Tokugawa Ieyasu, the guy who basically unified Japan, was first buried. The architecture is "Momoyama style"—lots of gold leaf, intricate carvings of phoenixes, and bright reds. It’s flashy, sure, but it’s historically heavy. Walking up the 1,159 stone steps from the coast is an option if you want to punish your calves, but most sane people take the cable car.
Tea is Life: More Than Just a Drink
You can’t talk about things to do in Shizuoka Japan without mentioning tea. It’s everywhere. It’s not just a beverage here; it’s the local economy, the local aesthetic, and the local pride.
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If you want to get your hands dirty, go to Makinohara. This is one of the largest tea-growing regions in the country. At places like Grinpia Makinohara, you can literally put on a traditional tea-picker’s outfit—complete with the kimono and the headscarf—and head into the fields. Picking the "two leaves and a bud" is harder than it looks. Your fingers get sticky, the sun beats down, and you realize why the good stuff costs $50 a tin.
Then there’s the Nanaya shop in Shizuoka City. They are famous for their matcha gelato. They offer seven different "levels" of matcha intensity. Level one is basically milk with a hint of green. Level seven? It’s widely considered the most intense matcha gelato in the world. It’s dark, borderline bitter, and incredibly rich. If you aren't a hardcore tea fan, level three or four is the sweet spot. Honestly, level seven feels like eating a direct infusion of the earth, but in a good way.
The Raw Power of the Izu Peninsula
South of the city lies the Izu Peninsula. It’s a UNESCO Global Geopark. This place was formed by volcanic activity when an island chain crashed into mainland Japan millions of years ago. The result is a coastline that looks like something out of Jurassic Park.
Jogasaki Coast is the standout. You’re walking on old lava flows that cooled into jagged, hexagonal patterns. There’s a suspension bridge called the Kadoshawa Bridge that hangs 18 meters over the crashing waves. If you have vertigo, maybe don't look down. The wind howls through the pine trees, and the salt spray hits your face. It’s a far cry from the polite, manicured gardens of Kyoto.
Further down the coast, you hit Shimoda. This is where Commodore Perry’s "Black Ships" arrived in 1854, effectively ending Japan’s two centuries of isolation. You can walk down Perry Road, a charming stone-paved path alongside a canal lined with cafes and boutiques. It’s quiet. It’s historic. It feels like a movie set, but people actually live there.
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Eating Shizuoka: Wasabi and "Black" Oden
Shizuoka food is weird. In a great way.
First, let’s talk about Wasabi. Most "wasabi" you eat in the West is actually just dyed horseradish. Real wasabi comes from the Utogi area in Shizuoka, which is the birthplace of wasabi cultivation. It grows in clear, cold, running spring water. In Shizuoka, you’ll see "Wasabi Soft Serve" ice cream. Don’t scoff. The heat hits the back of your throat, but the creaminess of the milk cools it down instantly. It’s a bizarre, addictive sensation.
Then there is Shizuoka Oden. Most oden in Japan uses a clear dashi broth. Shizuoka’s version is dark. Very dark. It uses a beef tendon stock and heavy soy sauce, which is topped up for years (sometimes decades) like a sourdough starter. Every skewer is dusted with aonori (green seaweed) and ground fish powder.
To find the best stuff, head to Aoba Oden Alleys (Aoba Oden Yokocho and Aoba Koan). These are two narrow alleys packed with tiny stalls that fit maybe six or eight people. It’s smoky, cramped, and wonderful. You sit shoulder-to-shoulder with locals, drink "Shizuoka Wariba" (green tea mixed with shochu), and eat skewers of kuro hanpen—a grey, crescent-shaped fish cake that tastes way better than it looks.
The Suspension Bridges of the Southern Alps
If you head north into the mountains (the "Sumata Valley" area), things get wild. This is the Dream Suspension Bridge (Yume no Tsuribashi). It’s a narrow wooden bridge that stretches 90 meters across a turquoise blue lake. The water gets its color from "Tyndall scattering"—basically, the water is so pure and the particles so fine that it reflects only the blue end of the spectrum.
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The bridge only allows ten people at a time. It creaks. It sways. There are only two thin wooden planks for your feet. It’s terrifying and beautiful. Local legend says that if you pray for love in the middle of the bridge, your wish will come true. Whether that’s true or just a clever marketing ploy to get tourists to brave the height, who knows? But the view is worth the shaky knees.
Practical Logistics for Shizuoka
Getting around Shizuoka requires a bit more planning than Tokyo. The JR Tokaido Shinkansen stops at Shizuoka Station, Hamamatsu, and Atami.
- Transportation: Inside the city, buses are okay, but for the Izu Peninsula or the tea fields, you really want a rental car. Driving in Shizuoka is actually quite pleasant compared to the chaos of Tokyo.
- Timing: Spring (late March to April) is peak for cherry blossoms against the backdrop of Fuji. However, October and November offer the clearest skies for seeing the mountain. Summer is often too humid and cloudy—Fuji is a shy mountain and hides behind clouds frequently in July and August.
- The "Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport": Yes, there is one. If you’re flying domestically or from a few Asian hubs, you can land right in the middle of the tea fields.
Things to do in Shizuoka Japan: The Actionable Checklist
If you’re planning a 48-hour stopover, here is how you should actually spend your time to avoid the "tourist traps" and see the soul of the prefecture:
- Morning Day 1: Grab a rental car at Shizuoka Station. Drive 20 minutes to Nihondaira. Walk the Yume Terrace. Take the ropeway to Kunozan Toshogu.
- Lunch: Find a spot serving Sakura Ebi (tiny pink shrimp). These are only caught in Suruga Bay and are usually served as kakiage (crispy tempura fritters).
- Afternoon Day 1: Head to Miho no Matsubara. It’s a pine-lined beach that is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This is the iconic "Fuji and the Sea" view you see on old woodblock prints.
- Evening Day 1: Aoba Oden Alley. Order the black oden and a green tea highball. Talk to the person sitting next to you; Shizuoka locals are famously friendlier than Tokyoites.
- Morning Day 2: Drive toward the Izu Peninsula. Stop at Dogashima for a boat cave tour if the sea is calm.
- Afternoon Day 2: Walk the Jogasaki Coast. If you have time, soak in an onsen (hot spring) in Shuzenji, one of the oldest onsen towns in Japan.
Shizuoka isn't a "check-the-box" destination. It’s a place that rewards slowing down. You don't come here to rush through temples; you come here to breathe in the smell of roasting tea leaves and watch the sun set over the most famous mountain in the world. It’s the Japan you hoped existed but thought was lost to urbanization.
Next Steps for Your Trip
To make the most of your visit, download the "Shizuoka Guide" app or check the Explore Shizuoka official website for real-time Fuji visibility cameras. Fuji is notoriously fickle; checking the live feed before you drive to Nihondaira can save you a lot of disappointment. If the clouds are low, pivot your plans to the Izu Peninsula or the indoor tea museums in Shimada. Look into the Mt. Fuji-Shizuoka Area Tourist Pass Mini, which covers many of the bus and train routes mentioned if you prefer not to drive.