Stand on the pine-lined sand at Miho no Matsubara on a clear morning and Mount Fuji rises across the water beyond the trees. That single view explains why Shizuoka rewards travellers who slow down and look outward, whether from a hilltop, a castle park or a temple garden.
The city suits history-minded visitors following the Tokugawa trail, art lovers interested in ukiyo-e prints, and anyone who wants mountain and bay scenery without leaving an urban base. Most sights sit within reach of Shizuoka Station by bus, ropeway or a short walk.
This guide covers the sights and experiences in and around Shizuoka, with practical notes on what to combine and when to go.
Top things to do in Shizuoka
1. Miho no Matsubara
A spot on the Miho peninsula with pine trees and views of Mount Fuji on a clear day, counted among Japan's New Three Views. Come for the combination of shoreline, pines and the mountain across the water.
Go on a clear day, since the Fuji view is the point. Pair it with the Shimizu side of the city, where the Jirocho Residence also sits.
2. Nihondaira
A 308-meter hill in central Shizuoka with good views of Mt. Fuji, the Izu Peninsula, Shimizu Bay and more. It is reached by the Nihondaira Line bus from Shizuoka Station, about 35 minutes, and is also accessible by ropeway from the Kunozan Toshogu Shrine.
Combine the hill with the shrine below by taking the ropeway between them, which turns two sights into one continuous outing.
3. Kunōzan Tōshō-gū
The actual burial place of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Dynasty, with most structures dating from 1617. His official mausoleum is at Nikko, so this is the quieter, more direct site of the two.
Reach it by ropeway from Nihondaira and allow time for the shrine grounds rather than treating it as a quick stop.
4. Sunpu Castle
The castle has not been restored, but the restored guard house is very interesting. The original castle was started in 1585 by Tokugawa Ieyasu, and after he retired as shogun in 1607 he began repairing and expanding it; the tower and other buildings that now exist were constructed following blueprints from the 1630s.
Look for the lifelike statue of Tokugawa, the small replicas of the castles and surrounding buildings, and a small but beautiful display of dolls. Nearby are a children's park and a garden with a tea ceremony available. It is a few blocks up the main street from the north exit of the subway station, with several arrow signs pointing the way, and entry is ¥200. Set aside a couple of hours or more.
5. Shizuoka Sengen Shrine
Originally called Kanbe Shrine, it served as the tutelary shrine of the former Suruga Province and was later made a Sengen Shrine, dedicated to the worship of Mount Fuji. Tokugawa Ieyasu had it rebuilt near Sunpu Castle for easy access, and over 26 of the structures are designated National Important Cultural Properties.
Its position near Sunpu Castle makes it a natural pairing with the castle and its garden.
6. Shizuoka City Toro Museum
A recreated Yayoi Period village with an accompanying museum holding exhibits, artifacts and information about the Yayoi Period. The museum also offers a variety of experiences where visitors can try their hand at performing various tasks in the Yayoi way.
The museum is open 09:00-16:30 and costs ¥300, while the recreated village can be viewed for free.
7. Tokaido Hiroshige Museum of Art
Utagawa Hiroshige is one of Japan's most renowned ukiyoe artists, and among his most famous works were those of the 53 stations of the Tokaido Road. Six of the stations are located within present-day Shizuoka City, and the museum stands where Yui Station once did.
The collection covers the entirety of Hiroshige's work, not just the stations in the city, and this was the first art museum built in Japan dedicated to his works. Admission is ¥520.
8. Togetsubo Saiokuji Temple
A Muromachi Period temple known for its garden. Visit for the garden itself rather than for scale or spectacle.
It is one of the quieter stops on this list, so slot it into a day when you want a slower pace between the larger sights.
9. Shizuoka City Museum of Art
The museum features a variety of special exhibits along with its own permanent exhibits. Check what is on during your dates, since the programme changes.
Its central location makes it easy to fold into a city day alongside Sunpu Castle and the surrounding streets.
10. Abe Falls
A popular waterfall considered to be one of Japan's top 100 waterfalls. It is a nature stop rather than a built attraction.
Give it its own half-day rather than squeezing it between city sights.
11. Jirocho Residence
The former residence of local yakuza member Shimizu no Jirocho. He inherited a rice-selling business after the death of his uncle but later started a gambling business and built up enough influence to take territories along the river and around Shimizu port.
Although the port was already bustling, his contributions helped further develop the local area and industry. Pair it with the Shimizu-side scenery at Miho no Matsubara.
12. Fujiyoshi Onsen
There is a rotenburo, an unisex communal bath, for those brave enough to try it, in beautiful surrounds on the coast. It is the one bathing experience named in the city's listings.
Go if you are comfortable with a mixed communal bath, and treat it as a coastal stop rather than a city-centre one.
13. Tanaka Castle
In Fujieda, Tanaka Castle was built in 1537 by the Imagawa clan and demolished in 1871. The current structures include remnants of the moats and stonework, as well as a large yagura, reconstructed in 1992 to serve as a local history museum.
It sits outside the central city, so plan it as a separate excursion rather than part of a Shizuoka Station-based day.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Sunpu Castle, a few blocks up the main street from the north exit of the subway station, and give it a couple of hours for the restored guard house, the statue, the replicas and the doll display. Walk on to Shizuoka Sengen Shrine, which Tokugawa Ieyasu had rebuilt near the castle.
Afternoon: Take the Nihondaira Line bus from Shizuoka Station, about 35 minutes, up to Nihondaira for the views of Mt. Fuji, the Izu Peninsula and Shimizu Bay. Continue by ropeway to Kunōzan Tōshō-gū, the burial place of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Evening: Return to the city and use the remaining time for the Shizuoka City Museum of Art and its special exhibits, or for the garden and tea ceremony near Sunpu Castle if you would rather end the day outdoors.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see Mount Fuji from Miho no Matsubara?
The view of Mount Fuji appears on a clear day. Plan the visit around the weather rather than a fixed time, since cloud is what blocks the view.
How do I get to Nihondaira and Kunōzan Tōshō-gū?
Take the Nihondaira Line bus from Shizuoka Station, about 35 minutes, or reach the hill by ropeway from the Kunozan Toshogu Shrine. The ropeway connects the two sites, so you can visit them in one trip.
Is Sunpu Castle worth a visit if the castle has not been restored?
Yes. The restored guard house is very interesting, and the site holds a lifelike statue of Tokugawa, small replicas of the castles and surrounding buildings, and a small but beautiful display of dolls. Entry is ¥200, and there is a children's park and a garden with a tea ceremony available nearby.
What does the Shizuoka City Toro Museum offer beyond exhibits?
Alongside the museum's exhibits, artifacts and information about the Yayoi Period, there is a recreated Yayoi Period village and a variety of experiences where visitors can try their hand at performing various tasks in the Yayoi way. The museum is open 09:00-16:30 and costs ¥300, while the recreated village can be viewed for free.
Decide which of these fits your days, check the weather for the Fuji views, and start mapping your route from Shizuoka Station.