Shizuoka: Nihondaira Tea Hall & Verkehr Museum — Guide Anne
September, 2024
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
- 8:30 Meet @ Shimizu Port Hinode Wharf
- 8:50 Nihondaira Ropeway (round trip)
- Kunozan Toshogu Shrine
- 10:40 Nihondaira Tea Hall
- 11:10 Mihoshirube, Miho no Matsubara, Miho Shrine
- 12:40 Lunch @ S-Pulse Dream Plaza
- 13:50 Verkehr Museum
- 14:30 Dismiss @ S-Pulse Dream Plaza
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 8:30 at @ Shimizu Port Hinode Wharf and ended at 14:30. The day ran to 6 hours from start to finish. It included lunch @ S-Pulse Dream Plaza at 12:40.
Over the course of the day the route took in Nihondaira Ropeway (round trip) at 8:50, Nihondaira Tea Hall at 10:40, Mihoshirube, Miho no Matsubara, Miho Shrine at 11:10 and Verkehr Museum at 13:50.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Nihondaira to Kunozan Toshogu Shrine (1,250JPY). Across 1 sections the fare came to 1,250JPY per person.
Title: What's a Private Shizuoka Day Tour from Shimizu Port Like for Cruise Passengers? A Licensed Guide's Report
I guided guests who were traveling by cruise ship. Since they wished to visit Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, I changed the departure time to 8:30 in advance (to avoid the crowds at the ropeway). Because the taxi stand at Shimizu Port was not crowded at that time, we were able to board smoothly. The original plan was to charter a taxi for three hours and guide the guests along the route from Shimizu Port to Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, Miho no Matsubara, and back to Shimizu Port, adjusting the timing depending on how busy the sites were, but the guests changed it to a four-hour charter as they wanted to visit each place at a relaxed pace. Thanks to this, we were able to see each site slowly. Along the way, I learned that the guests were fond of green tea, so I used the extra time to guide them to a tea hall, which they enjoyed. The guests enjoyed the atmosphere of Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, which was different from the shrines they had visited in Tokyo. At first, the guests did not seem very interested in Miho no Matsubara, but when I guided them through the exhibits at Mihoshirube, they came to understand its history and cultural significance, and together with the beautiful scenery, they were very satisfied. Because the taxi was chartered for one hour longer than planned, I changed the afternoon itinerary and did not visit the planned "Sushi Museum" (I shared the relevant stories while they were enjoying sushi for lunch), guiding them only to the Fujimi Sea and Ship Museum (Verkehr Museum). The guests listened attentively to the exhibits at the Verkehr Museum as well. Since the guests wanted to shop at Uniqlo before returning to the cruise ship, I guided them to the store inside Esupals Dream Plaza and we parted ways there. Perhaps because I had explained in advance about the harsh lingering summer heat and the concern about heatstroke, the day before the tour I received a message that they might want to change the itinerary depending on the heat. I quickly prepared an alternative itinerary and headed to the meeting point, but the guests agreed to proceed with the planned itinerary and I guided them accordingly.
Click here for more details: Mt. Fuji View Shimizu Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Other | Nihondaira～Kunozan Toshogu Shrine | 1,250JPY |
| Total | 1,250JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Shizuoka tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at @ Shimizu Port Hinode Wharf at 8:30, and the tour finished at @ S-Pulse Dream Plaza at 14:30.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours in total, from 8:30 to 14:30.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Nihondaira Ropeway (round trip), Nihondaira Tea Hall, Mihoshirube, Miho no Matsubara, Miho Shrine and Verkehr Museum.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,250JPY per person across 1 sections. Transport fares are paid by the guests and are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the guide licensed, and what language is the tour in?
Anne is a government-licensed national guide-interpreter of Japan and guided this tour in English. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) works with more than 1,000 licensed guides across all 47 prefectures. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Can the itinerary be changed for my own trip?
Yes. This report describes one private tour as it actually ran. Every Shizuoka itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
Hello, I’m Anne. I was born and raised in Shizuoka. As a student, I volunteered as an interpreter guide in Kyoto. I love traveling and even worked for a travel company in the past. I like learning different cultures, too. After graduating from a graduate school in Australia, I came back to Shizuoka and have been teaching at a high school and a university. I am also certified as a Japanese (language) teacher. Through my experiences living in different places and my interest in Japan, I realized again the charms of Japan and Shizuoka. This passion for sharing the attractions of Japan, especially Shizuoka, led me to become a national licensed guide interpreter in March 2024. Shizuoka is an attractive destination for its rich nature, fascinating history and culture, and delicious local foods. I would be delighted to help you discover more about Shizuoka and make your stay even more memorable!
Sep 22, 2024
Bertold_K
Beautiful landscape
Viator review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
Anne war eine freundliche und flexible Stadtführerrin.…
Sep 22, 2024
Bertold_K
Beautiful landscape
Viator review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
Anne war eine freundliche und flexible Stadtführerrin. Sie hat sich auf unsere Wünsche gut vorbereitet und schnell dem heftigen Regen angepasst und unsere Tour verändert. Ihr Englisch und ihr Wissen sind sehr gut.
Auch wenn wir morgens am Strand Mount Fuji nicht sehen konnten war es sehr schön. Nihondaira ist auch sehr beeindruckend
Aug 30, 2024
G
Guy_P
Great all around view of Shimizu!
Viator review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
Anne was…
Aug 30, 2024
G
Guy_P
Great all around view of Shimizu!
Viator review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
Anne was extremely knowlegeable and authentic! And her recommendation to use a
private driver was a must!
Jun 17, 2024
Travis_P
Great tour
Viator review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
We had a great tour with Anne.…
Jun 17, 2024
Travis_P
Great tour
Viator review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
We had a great tour with Anne. Her knowledge of all of the sites we visited was excellent and
also her communication before the tour.
Jul 16, 2024
Cosmopolitan227787
Beautiful Shizuoka !
Tripadvisor review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
This tour was amazing. Anne our…
Jul 16, 2024
Cosmopolitan227787
Beautiful Shizuoka !
Tripadvisor review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
This tour was amazing. Anne our tour guide was so knowledgeable and interesting. She tailored our tour to our interests. Prior to the trip she kept in touch and asked questions about our preferences and made suggestions. The Miho-no-Matsubara (Miho Pine Grove) was spectacular. Anne suggested we visit The Shizuoka City Tokaido Hiroshige Museum of Art Featuring Utagawa Hiroshige. It turned out to be a highlight. Learning about Ukiyoe (woodblock prints) was fascinating. It was a good pace, we didn’t feel rushed. Because we had hired a car we were able to fit in a few more stops.