Nihondaira & Kunozan Toshogu Shrine

Nihondaira is a plateau above Shimizu Ward in Shizuoka City, reached in about 30 minutes by Shizutetsu Justline bus from Shizuoka or Shimizu Station, or roughly 30 minutes by taxi for about ¥4,200. From the plateau's observation deck, Suruga Bay, the tea terraces of the surrounding hillsides, and, on clear winter mornings, the full profile of Mt Fuji are visible across the water. A five-minute descent by the Nihondaira Ropeway connects the plateau to Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, the ornately lacquered mausoleum built for shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was first interred on this hillside in 1616 before his remains were moved to Nikko. A typical day starts with the morning bus or taxi up to Nihondaira for the clearest light and least crowded viewing deck, followed by the ropeway down to explore the shrine's vermilion halls, carved gables, and small museum of Tokugawa relics, then the ropeway back up and a return bus to Shizuoka Station. The plateau also has a tea museum and a handful of small cafes serving Shizuoka green tea and mikan-flavored soft serve, useful for a light lunch or rest stop before or after the shrine visit. November through February offers the sharpest Mt Fuji visibility, ideally arriving by mid-morning before haze builds; spring and autumn suit those prioritizing the shrine and tea terraces over the mountain view. Visitors driving from the Tomei Expressway's Shimizu interchange can park free at the summit, an option worth considering with a full day and side stops planned in the Shimizu area.