This is a private guided tour report by Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), a network of 1,000+ government-licensed, English-speaking local guides across all 47 prefectures of Japan. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Tour Itinerary
- ※Travel by customer-reserved taxi
- 9:00 Meet at Shimizu Port
- 10:10 Shiraito Falls
- 11:10 Lake Tanuki
- 12:00 Lunch @ McDonald's
- 12:40 Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha Shrine
- 1:30 Obuchi Sasaba
- 2:40 See-off at Shimizu Port
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The itinerary covered Shiraito Falls at 10:10, Lake Tanuki at 11:10, Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha Shrine at 12:40, Obuchi Sasaba at 1:30 and See-off at Shimizu Port at 2:40.
Title: What's a Private Fuji Day Tour from Shizuoka Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group visiting from North America. One of the guests had worked at a U.S. military base in Japan long ago and spoke a little Japanese. Everyone was very much looking forward to seeing Mount Fuji, but unfortunately the yellow sand haze was severe and visibility was almost completely white. Even so, once we entered the city of Fuji, Mount Fuji began to appear faintly, and it remained visible throughout the sightseeing. It probably could not be seen from within Shizuoka City. I was truly glad we chartered a taxi and came all the way to Fujinomiya.
At Sengen Shrine, we were also able to see another highlight: cherry blossoms in full bloom, and the guests took many photos. Once they had seen the cherry blossoms they seemed satisfied, so the visit to Sengen Shrine ended quickly.
For lunch, the guests wished to have a quick lunch, so we went to McDonald's. They were surprised that a staff member delivered the order to the table and that the restaurant was so clean. They were also amused by a menu item named after a samurai.
When we said goodbye, the guests told me that it had been a truly wonderful day, that they had been able to visit places they could not reach on their own or by bus tour and had seen magnificent scenery, and that they were grateful for my constant attentiveness. These were kind and heartwarming words. As a guide, I feel even more motivated to keep improving.
The photo was taken at Lake Tanuki.
Click here for more details: Mt. Fuji View Shimizu Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
Nice to meet you. I’m your guide, Grace. My Japanese name is Rie. Each kanji has its own meaning—“Ri” means profit, and “E” means grace, so I chose the nickname Grace. You can call me either Rie or Grace; I’d be happy with either. Let me start by giving you a brief introduction about myself.
I was born in Shizuoka and grew up there. I could clearly see Mount Fuji from my elementary school, junior high school and high school I attended. Looking back, it was a very fortunate environment, isn’t it? Since I saw Mount Fuji every day, I became able to predict the weather by observing the shape of the clouds over Mt.Fuji.
After I got married, I lived in the United States due to my husband’s job. I spent about five years in New Jersey and California. While my children attended preschool and elementary school, I participated in school volunteer activities. The experience at an American elementary school is something I still treasure to this day. As part of this volunteer activity, I brought Japanese calligraphy brushes and ink, and wrote the names of all the students in Japanese, hiragana. If you’re interested, I would be happy to write your name in hiragana as well, so please look forward to it.
After returning to Japan, I obtained the qualification of a licensed tour guide. Currently, I mainly guide cruise ship passengers who come to Shimizu Port. In addition to the famous tourist spots in Shizuoka, I also introduce hidden gems and old townscapes that only locals know about. Additionally, having raised two children in Shizuoka, I believe I know some great spots that children will enjoy. Please feel free to share what your children like or are interested in, and I would be happy to help you find the best places to visit.
I’m looking forward to the day when I can tour Shizuoka together with you.
Jun 17, 2026
GatorPappi
My. Fuji & Shizuoka tour
Tripadvisor review: Port Pick-Up: Shizuoka Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
Grace was excellent and someone…
Jun 17, 2026
GatorPappi
My. Fuji & Shizuoka tour
Tripadvisor review: Port Pick-Up: Shizuoka Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
Grace was excellent and someone we would gladly recommend to others.
From the very beginning, she was responsive, helpful, and offered thoughtful suggestions as we planned our day. She took the time to understand our family’s interests and coordinated a tour that felt personal rather than scripted.
Some of our favorite moments included visiting the Dentist House and the beautiful temple, both of which gave us a deeper appreciation for the area. One of the highlights was stopping at a small tea shop, where the family welcomed us so warmly that we felt less like customers and more like guests in their home.
Thank you, Grace, for helping create such a memorable day for our family. Highly recommended.
Sep 14, 2025
C
Cindy_S
Best Mt Fuji Tour
Viator review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
Perfect day with our…
Sep 14, 2025
C
Cindy_S
Best Mt Fuji Tour
Viator review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
Perfect day with our guide! Grace was waiting for us at the pier and the rest of the day was seamless. She was very knowledgeable and friendly and made the day very fun for all of us. I highly recommend her to anyone!
Jul 29, 2025
test_pilot_guy
Lifetime Memories with Grace
Tripadvisor review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
My family LOVED our day…
Jul 29, 2025
test_pilot_guy
Lifetime Memories with Grace
Tripadvisor review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
My family LOVED our day in Shimizu and Shizuoka with our guide Grace! She arranged the absolute perfect day for us.
My daughter loves arts and crafts, so Grace took us to an art education center where we learned about traditional Japanese crafts and had an opportunity to try making some ourselves. A resident artist explained how to weave and shape bamboo into beautiful coasters for almost 45 minutes; they looked great! Our daughter also had one-on-one instruction with an artist who specialized in indigo dying, and she produced a gorgeous fabric that we were able to take home with us.
Next, Grace brought us to a tasty dumpling restaurant in Shizuoka. We enjoyed a lovely meal while chatting about life in Japan. Grace told wonderful stories that gripped our attention.
She then led us to a beautiful Japanese garden where we took fantastic pictures and enjoyed a casual tea ceremony. Our whole family sipped delicious green tea and tried traditional Japanese sweets.
Grace treated us to such a wonderful day. She was simply amazing. She earned the very best review from our entire family. We would love to spend even more time with her the next time we return to Japan!!
Jul 7, 2025
Go18332474202
Cruise Day Shimizu Port
Tripadvisor review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
The tour was amazing!!! Grace…
Jul 7, 2025
Go18332474202
Cruise Day Shimizu Port
Tripadvisor review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
The tour was amazing!!! Grace contacted us right away after booking and helped us navigate several challenges to complete our personalized itinerary. We were able to see everything we wanted to see!!! Grace explained everything in detail and was full of intriguing information. She was even able to answer most of my son’s questions. I would highly recommend this tour and Grace!!!