Things to do in  Shizuoka Prefecture

Shiraito Falls (Shiraito no Taki) is located in Japan's Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park in Shizuoka Prefecture. Shiraito Falls translates to "White Thread Falls" because the wide cascade makes the falling water look like many hanging threads of white silk. The site, which stretches nearly 500 feet (150 meters) across and 65 feet (20 meters) high, is officially a Natural Treasure of Japan.

At over 7,500 feet (2,300 meters) high, the Fuji-Subaru Line 5th Station—not to be confused with Fujinomiya 5th Station—affords spectacular views over Fuji Five Lakes and Hakone National Park. Easily accessible by road, the 5th Station lies at the midpoint of the Yoshida Trail to Mount Fuji’s summit, so many hikers begin their ascent here.

There are more than 1,300 Sengen shrines in Japan—Shinto shrines dedicated to volcanoes, often Mt. Fuji—but the Fujisan Sengen Shrine (Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha) in Fujinomiya is the most important. In the past it was the traditional starting point for climbing the mountain. Now, the ancient shrine is a beautiful place to wander—whether or not you plan to climb Mt. Fuji.

Shizuoka City’s Miho no Matsubara, or Pine Grove, is a scenic area of over 50,000 pine trees along a 4.3-mile (7-kilometer) stretch of beach on a peninsula. It’s part of the Mt. Fuji UNESCO World Heritage Site and, with Fuji views on a clear day, it’s long been considered one of Japan’s most beautiful natural landscapes.

On Shizuoka Prefecture’s Izu Peninsula, south of Mt. Fuji, stands the 1,902-foot (580-meter) Mt. Omuro, an extinct volcano. A chairlift leads to the top, where you can walk along a path around its crater for great views of Mt. Fuji, the Japan Alps, and the Izu coastline when the weather’s clear. Archery and paragliding are also offered from the top.

Shizuoka City’s Kunozan Toshogu Shrine is one of the city’s most important historic sites, and a must-visit attraction. The shrine houses the remains of Tokugawa Ieyasu, a 16th–17th-century shogun who played a significant role in Japanese history. Visitors can stroll the grounds, admire the paintings and sculptures, and learn more about the shogun at the on-site museum.

Utagawa Hiroshige’s (1797–1858) art is among the most recognizable of Japan’s ukiyo-e genre, and even travelers who aren’t au fait with Japanese fine art will have seen some of his images on their travels. Learn more about the influential woodblock artist and the world he inhabited at the Shizuoka City Tokaido Hiroshige Museum of Art.

Mt. Fuji Children’s World is an expansive park below the famous peak, offering a range of activities for kids, mostly themed around nature, sports, and outdoor adventures. Kids can canoe on the lake, play a mini round of golf, meet farm animals on the pasture, fish for trout, and much more. The park provides a wholesome antidote to some of Japan’s more high-tech attractions.

Embark on an safari adventure without leaving Japan at Fuji Safari Park, one of the country’s largest safari parks. By foot or by vehicle, you can journey through the simulated habitats of freely roaming animals from around the world, including lions, tigers, giraffes, cheetahs, elephants, rhinoceroses, and zebras.

Spreading out along the western foothills of Mt. Fuji, the Asagiri Plateau is known for its green dairy pastures, with the volcano looming near in the background. It’s a great place to enjoy Fuji views when the weather’s clear, and you can also try paragliding or stop to sample local goods at Asagiri Food Park.

Shizuoka Municipal Nihondaira Zoo, covering an expansive space with natural surroundings, is a popular tourist attraction that also runs successful red panda and giant anteater breeding programs. Visiting is a good opportunity to see these animals, as well as many others that are difficult to spot in the wild.

Bird lovers don’t need to leave bird-spotting to chance around Mt. Fuji. The Fuji Kachoen Garden Park is a flower garden and aviary that’s home to a number of owl species and other inhabitants. Stroll through greenhouses bursting with begonias and fuchsia, attend a bird show or feeding, and catch views of Mt. Fuji in clear weather.

Standing at 6,444 feet (1,964 meters), Mt. Kenashi (Kenashiyama) is the tallest summit in the Tenshi Mountains, on the border of Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures. The Asagiri Plateau at the base of the mountain stretches to its more famous neighbor, Mt. Fuji, and hiking or camping here affords views of Fuji.

Asagiri Food Park, at the foot of Mt. Fuji, highlights the produce and other specialties grown and produced in the Fuji area. The park has a buffet restaurant, a milk factory, a sake (nihonshu) brewery, and a sweet potato shop, among other spots to complete the foodie experience with a view.