[18 Date Spots in Shizuoka] A Couple’s Trip with Scenic Views of Mt. Fuji

This modern art museum opened in 1982 on the hillside behind JR Atami Station and was newly reborn through a renovation in 2017. Its four-level building, with three stories above ground and one below, has a total floor area of 17,000 m² and houses around 3,500 works, mainly East Asian art such as paintings, calligraphy, and crafts.
The views from the main lobby and MOA Square are also outstanding, offering a 180-degree panoramic vista that stretches from the Boso Peninsula to the Izu Peninsula, including Izu Oshima and Hatsushima.

This is the collective name for three shrines, Kambe Shrine, Asama Shrine, and Ootoshimioya Shrine, and it is affectionately known as “Osengensan.”
The current shrine buildings were constructed by the Tokugawa shogunate over 60 years starting in 1804, and all 26 shrine structures are designated Important Cultural Properties of Japan.
The lacquered and vividly colored shrine buildings are lavish and magnificent, and the especially striking highlight is the two-story main worship hall, which reaches a height of 21 m.

A scenic attraction in Ito City within Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, overlooking Sagami Bay and Mt. Fuji.
The wooden deck called Komuroyama Ridge Walk “MISORA,” developed at the summit of Mt. Komuro, is a 166.3 m-long promenade extending along the ridgeline at an elevation of 321 m.
From this open deck with nothing blocking the view, you can enjoy a spectacular landscape where the sea and sky seem to stretch on as one.

Perry Road in Shimoda City, Shizuoka Prefecture, is a historic lane lined with stone pavement along the Hiraname River.
It is known as the road Commodore Perry marched along to Ryosenji Temple in 1854, and its buildings made of Izu stone and namako walls, along with rows of willow trees, still evoke the old atmosphere of a port town once said to have welcomed and sent off 3,000 ships.
Along the Approx. 500 m street are cafes, shops selling miscellaneous goods, and galleries in renovated old houses, making it a lovely place for a relaxed stroll in a retro setting.

A sightseeing facility spread across the summit of Mt. Katsuragi, a scenic viewpoint overlooking Suruga Bay and Mt. Fuji.
It has a ropeway with a one-way distance of Approx. 1,800 m connecting the foot of the mountain and the summit at an elevation of 452 m, allowing you to reach the spectacular view area in one sweep with an Approx. 7-minute aerial ride.
At the summit’s Ao Terrace, deck terraces, sofa seats, and counters are scattered throughout, and from every spot you can enjoy sweeping views of Mt. Fuji and Suruga Bay.

Lake Hamana stretches across Hamamatsu City and Kosai City in Shizuoka Prefecture. It is the 10th largest lake in Japan and is known as a brackish lake because its southern end connects to the Enshu Sea, allowing seawater from the Pacific Ocean to flow in.
The lake and its naturally rich surroundings are popular as a resort area filled with many sightseeing spots and facilities.
There are plenty of places for visitors of all ages to enjoy, including the amusement park Hamanako Pal Pal and Hamamatsu Zoo.

An urban park created on the former site of the 2004 Hamana Lake Flower Expo. Located at the tip of a peninsula jutting into Lake Hamana, it is known for its beautiful setting surrounded by the lake and abundant nature.
The vast 56 ha grounds, said to be about 12 times the size of Tokyo Dome, are divided into three zones: the Town Area, the West Area, and the Village Area.
The central Town Area is a lively zone with a water play area, a children’s plaza, and sightseeing boats.

A flower and greenery theme park on the shores of Lake Hamana, where you can enjoy Approx. 3,000 kinds of plants blooming with the seasons across a vast 300,000-square-meter site that makes use of the natural terrain.
Spring is especially popular, when many different flowers such as wisteria, roses, irises, and hydrangeas come into season one after another like a relay.
One must-see highlight is the “Cherry Blossoms and Tulip Garden,” which can be enjoyed from late March to mid-April.

A park facing Lake Hamana and stretching Approx. 500 m from east to west. Palm trees line the grounds, creating a tropical atmosphere.
The 18 m-high red torii gate rising from the lake surface is the symbolic tower of Bentenjima.
The sight of the setting sun sinking between the symbolic tower, visible only for a limited time around November to January, is both mysterious and dreamlike.
The scenery also changes with the season, weather, and the ebb and flow of the tide.

Opened in 2015, this 400 m-long bridge is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in Japan.
It spans a site on the western foothills of Hakone at an elevation of Approx. 415 m, with a height difference of 70 m. From the bridge, you can see Japan’s tallest mountain, Mt. Fuji, and Japan’s deepest bay, Suruga Bay, and it is popular for letting visitors experience three of Japan’s “number ones” at once.
On clear days, you can also see the mountains of the Izu Peninsula and as far as the urban areas of Mishima and Numazu, making it a great place to enjoy spectacular views.

Atami City is one of Japan’s leading hot spring destinations, blessed with abundant high-temperature natural hot springs. This shopping street stands right near JR Atami Station, the city’s gateway.
A wide variety of shops line the street, centered on souvenir stores selling specialties from Atami, Izu, and Shizuoka as well as sweets such as onsen manju, along with eateries where you can enjoy Atami gourmet cuisine.
Another highlight of this shopping street is Fuku Fuku no Yu, where you can enjoy a hand bath.

One of Japan’s largest safari parks, located at an elevation of 850 m at the foot of Mt. Fuji.
Inside the park, you can see lions, cheetahs, giraffes, elephants, and bears living in a natural environment.
There are two main tour courses. On the safari tour, you can enjoy a drive course of Approx. 50–60 minutes in your own car, a “navigation car” equipped with a tablet device, or a “jungle bus” fitted with wire mesh instead of glass windows.

Kirin’s only distillery, set in a superb location with a full view of sacred Mt. Fuji right in front of it.
Since 1973, it has continued to pursue the ideal whisky in an environment blessed for whisky-making, including a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 13°C, frequent fog throughout the year, and underground water from Mt. Fuji.
On the reservation-only distillery tour, you can first experience the distillery’s appeal through projection mapping in a theater Approx. 12 m long, then tour the actual stills and other equipment used on site.

ACAO FOREST is a resort park spread across an expansive hillside of 200,000 tsubo, made up of 13 distinctive gardens and artworks.
While taking in sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean sparkling in Atami blue, you can enjoy seasonal flowers in bloom and explore the artworks scattered throughout the grounds.
Inside the park is COEDA HOUSE, a cafe designed by Kengo Kuma with a style that blends into the rose garden.

A facility where you can experience traditional crafts that Shizuoka City is proud of, reopened after renovation in May 2021.
Experiences are divided among three workshops, “Bamboo and Dyeing Workshop,” “Wood and Lacquer Workshop,” and “Fire and Clay Workshop,” with a variety of hands-on plans available.
At the Bamboo and Dyeing Workshop, you can try Suruga bamboo latticework, indigo dyeing, and tea dyeing. At the Wood and Lacquer Workshop, you can experience woodworking and lacquer. At the Fire and Clay Workshop, you can challenge yourself with ceramics using electric potter’s wheels and more.

Nihondaira in Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, is a hilly area at an elevation of 307 m and one of Japan’s leading scenic spots, even having been selected as the No. 1 destination in the Japan Tourist Destination Top 100 Contest.
Nihondaira Yume Terrace opened at its summit in 2018.
It consists of an indoor exhibition area, lounge space, observation floor, and outdoor observation corridor, and from each area you can enjoy spectacular views of Mt. Fuji, Suruga Bay, and Miho no Matsubara.
The night view of the city with Mt. Fuji in the background, seen from the observation corridor, is also beautiful.
The charm of the night view stands out even more from late April to late June, when the observation corridor is illuminated.

Since the Edo period, people have traveled through Satta Pass, long known as one of the difficult stretches of the old Tokaido road.
Its scenery was even depicted in ukiyo-e prints and is regarded as one of the most beautiful passes along the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido.
From the observation deck, a grand landscape unfolds with views of Suruga Bay, Mt. Fuji, the Tomei Expressway, and National Route 1.
After sunset, the lights of Yui, Kambara, and Fuji City along Suruga Bay begin to glow, while the trails of car lights on the Tomei Expressway and National Route 1 come into view.
The sight of Mt. Fuji’s silhouette emerging against the city lights is also beautiful.

S-Pulse Dream Plaza is a multi-use commercial complex located in the bay area of Shimizu Ward, Shizuoka City.
In addition to a wide variety of shops and restaurants, it also has a movie theater, hands-on museum, and amusement park, making it a place you can enjoy throughout the day.
From the Ferris wheel “Dream Sky,” you can see Miho no Matsubara, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site, and the Izu Peninsula beyond Suruga Bay, and on clear days even Mt. Fuji.
After evening falls, the city lights of Fuji and Numazu to the northeast and the lights of cars traveling along the Tomei Expressway to the southwest color the night view.
Below, you can also enjoy the illuminated Shimizu Port Telpher, a nationally registered Tangible Cultural Property, as well as winter illuminations, creating a romantic scene.

A specialty tempura restaurant located Approx. 5 minutes on foot from Shin-Shizuoka Station.
The owner travels around Japan to carefully select ingredients and is thoroughly particular about freshness, batter condition, and frying technique.
Freshly fried tempura is served one piece at a time, so you can enjoy each ingredient at its very best.
The appeal lies in the delicate batter that breaks with a crisp bite, its fragrant aroma, and the rich flavors of the ingredients themselves.
With its calm atmosphere, it is also perfect for a special dinner on an anniversary or other special occasion.

A restaurant located just steps from Izu-Kogen Sakuranamiki-guchi.
It serves Mediterranean cuisine beautifully prepared with ingredients from Izu, blessed with rich nature, including seafood centered on local fish from Ito and Shimoda and freshly harvested vegetables.
Both lunch and dinner offer three course options.
The “Harmony of Sea, Earth, and Sun” course requires reservations at least 2 days in advance, and weekday dinner is by reservation only.

A robata-style restaurant with convenient access, located Approx. 10 minutes on foot from Hamamatsu Station.
The restaurant is housed in a renovated long-established building founded in the Meiji era, and as many original building materials and fittings as possible have been preserved, allowing you to feel the character that only comes with a building shaped by many years of history.
Seasonal ingredients from Hamamatsu and across Shizuoka Prefecture are grilled over an irori hearth using genshiyaki, an ancient Japanese cooking method, bringing out the ingredients’ natural flavors.
The “8,000-yen Course,” consisting of eight dishes, includes clay-pot rice, three kinds of sashimi, robata-grilled vegetables, genshiyaki seasonal fish grilled on skewers, and both kabayaki and shirayaki of Hamamatsu eel.

Nippondaira is known as one of Japan’s leading sightseeing destinations. Nippondaira Hotel stands in an outstanding location with the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mt. Fuji in front and Suruga Bay spread out below.
The rooms facing Mt. Fuji are spacious, and the view of the mountain through the large one-frame window looks just like a painting.
By day, you can enjoy the hotel’s proud 15,000-tsubo garden filled with greenery, at dusk Mt. Fuji colored by the sunset, and at night the city lights below, with beautiful scenery changing over time.

Shuzenji has a history of over 1,200 years and flourished as the oldest hot spring area in Izu.
Sora Togetsusou Kinryu is a place where you can enjoy these long-loved hot springs in a variety of open-air baths.
The open-air baths designed by spatial designer Hisanobu Tsujimura create a dreamlike atmosphere enhanced by lighting effects, and the open-air bath connected to the indoor bath also offers soothing natural scenery.
Above all, soaking in the bath while watching the sun set behind Mt. Daruma is an exceptional experience.

A resort hotel known for its excellent restaurant views overlooking Lake Hamana and its private hot spring source, Yuto Onsen.
At the sky restaurant on the top floor, colorful French cuisine delights both the eyes and the palate.
Each photogenic dish looks so good you’ll want to take a picture before eating.
As time passes, the changing dusk scenery over Lake Hamana makes dinner feel even more romantic.