Cruise port · Japan · Japan
Shimizu cruise port guide
Shimizu is the closest cruise port to Mount Fuji, and on a clear day the volcano rises right behind the ship. The catch is weather: Fuji is often hidden by cloud or haze, especially in summer. Popular outings include Miho no Matsubara’s pine-fringed beach, the ropeway to Kunozan Toshogu shrine and green tea country.
- Mount Fuji views
- Green tea
- Tuna and sushi
- Shrines
- Photography
Photo: Alpsdake, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Country
- Japan
- Region
- Japan
- Type of stop
- Cruise port
- Language
- Japanese. English is limited outside tourist sites, but signs at major attractions are bilingual.
- Currency
- Japanese yen (¥). Cards work in larger shops and the Dream Plaza; carry cash for markets, buses and shrines.
- Best time to visit
- March–November
- Average highs
- 52–87°F through the year
About Shimizu
Shimizu is a working port and tuna-fishing town in Shizuoka, a prefecture known for green tea, wasabi and seafood from Suruga Bay. For cruisers, its appeal is simple: it puts you within sight of Mount Fuji, and a good view of the mountain across the bay is one of the great sights of a Japan cruise.
How you spend the day depends on the sky. If Fuji is out, head to Miho no Matsubara or up to Nihondaira for postcard views, or take a longer tour toward the mountain itself. If it’s cloudy, Shimizu still offers a handsome Tokugawa-era shrine, tea farms, a lively fish market and excellent sushi.
Shimizu suits photographers, food lovers and anyone happy with a gentle day. If seeing Fuji is your top priority, keep expectations flexible: views are best on crisp mornings from late autumn through winter.
Where cruise ships dock in Shimizu
Ships berth at Hinode Pier in Shimizu Port, next to the S-Pulse Dream Plaza shopping complex and a short walk from the Kashi no Ichi fish market. Shimizu Station is about 10 to 15 minutes on foot or a quick taxi ride. Miho no Matsubara is about 20 to 25 minutes by road, and Nihondaira is around 30 minutes. The Fuji Five Lakes area, including Lake Kawaguchiko, is roughly two hours or more each way, so it takes a full day and is best done on a ship tour.
Best things to do in Shimizu on a cruise
- 1
Miho no Matsubara
scenery
A long black-sand beach backed by thousands of pine trees, with Mount Fuji framed across Suruga Bay on clear days. It’s part of the Fujisan UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its role in Japanese art. A boardwalk path called Kami no Michi leads through the pines to the shore.
- 2
Nihondaira and Kunozan Toshogu
history
Nihondaira plateau offers sweeping views of the bay and, weather permitting, Fuji. From there, a ropeway crosses a valley to Kunozan Toshogu, an ornate shrine where Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the shogunate, was first buried. The lacquered buildings are richly carved and painted.
- 3
Fuji Five Lakes
nature
Lake Kawaguchiko and its neighbors sit at Fuji’s northern foot, with classic reflections of the mountain on calm days. Tours often include a ropeway or lakeside stop. It’s a long drive in each direction, and if clouds roll in you may not see the summit.
- 4
Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha and Shiraito Falls
nature
About an hour from Shimizu, this grand shrine in Fujinomiya is the head shrine for Fuji worship, fed by crystal spring water. Nearby Shiraito Falls spreads in hundreds of thin cascades across a curved cliff. Both make a good alternative to the longer lakes trip.
- 5
Green tea plantations
culture
Shizuoka is Japan’s best-known green tea region, and hillsides around Shimizu and Shizuoka city are striped with tea rows. Some excursions include a tea-farm visit with tasting, and you’ll find matcha sweets and loose-leaf sencha everywhere.
- 6
Kashi no Ichi fish market and S-Pulse Dream Plaza
food
Right by the pier, the Kashi no Ichi market sells tuna and other seafood, with small restaurants serving rice bowls. S-Pulse Dream Plaza next door has a Ferris wheel, souvenir shops and sushi restaurants, making it an easy stop for your last hour ashore.
Shimizu weather by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F (°C) | 5211 | 5412 | 5915 | 6619 | 7323 | 7725 | 8429 | 8731 | 8228 | 7323 | 6619 | 5714 |
| Low °F (°C) | 436 | 436 | 489 | 5513 | 6317 | 6921 | 7625 | 7926 | 7423 | 6518 | 5714 | 489 |
| Rain in (mm) | 2.769 | 3.281 | 6.8173 | 7.8197 | 8.2209 | 11.3287 | 11.6294 | 9.3236 | 10.6270 | 8.7220 | 4.3110 | 2.666 |
| Daylight (hrs) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 |
What to eat and drink in Shimizu
Shimizu is one of Japan’s major tuna ports, so maguro rice bowls and sushi are the thing to order. Suruga Bay is famous for sakura ebi, tiny pink shrimp often fried as kakiage fritters, and shirasu, delicate whitebait served raw or boiled over rice. Shizuoka oden simmers in a dark broth and is sprinkled with fish powder. Look for fresh wasabi, green tea sweets and Fujinomiya yakisoba, a chewy local fried noodle.
Tips for your port day
- Check the view from your balcony first thing: if Fuji is visible early, head for a viewpoint immediately, as clouds often build by midday.
- Book Fuji Five Lakes trips through the ship or a reliable operator; traffic around the lakes can be heavy, especially on weekends.
- The Mount Fuji fifth stations are reachable only in the summer climbing season and when roads are open; don’t count on them in spring or autumn.
- If clouds hide Fuji, Kunozan Toshogu, a tea farm and the fish market still make a satisfying day.
- Carry yen in cash for small restaurants and the shrine; local shops are less card-friendly than in Tokyo.
Cruise lines that visit Shimizu
Often on the same itinerary
Shimizu cruise FAQs
Can you see Mount Fuji from Shimizu cruise port?
Yes, on clear days. Fuji is visible from the port and from Miho no Matsubara, but cloud and haze often hide it, especially from late spring through summer.
When is the best time to see Mount Fuji from Shimizu?
Late autumn through winter mornings. Cooler, drier air gives the clearest views; by midday clouds often build around the summit.
How far is Mount Fuji from Shimizu port?
Lake Kawaguchiko and the Fuji Five Lakes are roughly two hours or more by road each way. Fujinomiya’s shrine and Shiraito Falls are closer, at about an hour.
What is there to do in Shimizu if it’s cloudy?
Plenty. Visit Kunozan Toshogu shrine by ropeway, tour a green tea farm, eat tuna at the fish market or browse S-Pulse Dream Plaza near the pier.
Is Miho no Matsubara worth visiting?
Yes, especially on a clear day. The pine grove and beach are an easy 20 to 25 minute drive from the port and give one of the classic Fuji views.
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: Wikipedia, Wikidata, NASA POWER climate data.