Shimizu is one of the best spots in Japan for viewing Mt. Fuji on a clear day, and this locally guided half-day tour is built around that scenery and the region's shrine heritage.

Head to Miho no Matsubara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and part of Mt. Fuji's registered cultural landscape, where a 7km coastline lined with some 30,000 ancient pine trees frames the classic view of Mt. Fuji rising beyond the ocean — a scene immortalised in traditional Ukiyo-e prints.

Look for the legendary Hagoromo-no-Matsu ('Angel's Feather Robe Pine'), a sacred tree with over 650 years of history.

Continue to Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, the original mausoleum built in 1617 for shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu on the slopes of Mt. Kuno overlooking Suruga Bay. Reached via the Nihondaira Ropeway, the shrine is known for its lavishly decorated main hall, a National Treasure.

Time and transfers permitting, continue to Nihondaira Yume Terrace, a modern observation deck with sweeping views over Suruga Bay and, on clear days, Mt. Fuji itself.

On the private-vehicle version, the day also includes Kashi-no-Ichi Market, known as the 'Kitchen of Shimizu.' As Japan's top port for tuna, this lively wholesale market offers fresh seafood and a genuine taste of the region's maritime food culture.

The public-transport version covers Miho no Matsubara and Kunozan Toshogu Shrine as its core route, with Nihondaira Yume Terrace included only when the day's transfer schedule allows.

The private-vehicle version comfortably fits all four stops, including Kashi-no-Ichi Market, at a more relaxed pace.