Title: What Is a Private Shizuoka Cruise Shore Excursion Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Shiraito Falls, Fujinomiya, and Kunozan Toshogu

The guests were cruise ship passengers from North America. At the time of booking in July, their request was for seven locations, adding Sunpu Castle, Shizuoka Sengen Shrine, and the Mishima Skywalk to the four places we actually visited. Even when I recommended narrowing it down to the four sites within Shizuoka City, the only one they gave up was the Mishima Skywalk. On top of that, they had a strong wish to "use public transportation as much as possible." They understood that even moving quickly would likely mean about a two-hour extension, and we ended our correspondence there for the time being.

So, after carefully checking the buses that run only once per hour in advance, I guided them starting with the Fujinomiya course. Right from the opening stop at Shiraito Falls, they were delighted by the pleasant natural atmosphere, and an enthusiastic photo session began. One of the guests said, "I've visited waterfalls all over the world, and this ranks in my top three. It's inferior to the grand Iguazu, but above Niagara." Another guest was moved, describing it as "a very Japanese harmony."

At Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha, one of the guests tried drawing an omikuji fortune. They drew "Dai-kichi" (great blessing), and everyone, myself included, got excited. Both here and at the next stop, Kunozan Toshogu, the orange-and-black outfit worn by one of the guests matched the colors of the buildings perfectly, so the photo session continued. At Kunozan Toshogu, the guests kept offering kind words to me as a guide, saying, "Of today's course, this is the best spot" — perhaps partly as flattery.

The real climax came afterward. On the way to Nippondaira Hotel, just a few minutes away by a taxi that happened to be available in front of the ropeway station, the driver said, "Mount Fuji has shown its face." The summit, which had been hidden by clouds since the tour began, appeared beautifully. At Nippondaira Hotel, while still clutching a numbered ticket to wait for a table at the cafe, we continued with wonderful photography on the front lawn overlooking Mount Fuji. One of the guests said, "There's little greenery where we live. I envy the Japanese people who can enjoy such beautiful nature." We had already gone well beyond the scheduled time, and they readily gave up the trip into the Shizuoka city center. In the end, they relaxed at the hotel cafe while waiting for a taxi.

One mistake and how I handled it: We missed the bus going from Shiraito Falls to Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha, and I apologized profusely. When we got off the bus, I had correctly told them, "We have 50 minutes here," but by the time we returned to the bus stop, I had mistakenly thought "the bus departs at 50 minutes past" (when it actually departed at 40 minutes past). However, there was a taxi office just a few minutes' walk up from the bus stop, so the time loss was kept to a minimum.

Click here for more details: Mt. Fuji View Shimizu Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

Tour Report by Tomoji

Welcome to Japan! What would you like to do today? Which places would you like to visit tomorrow? Feel free to ask questions or make requests anytime, anywhere. I find immense joy in sharing the charms or Tokyo and the surrounding metropolitan area –delicious meals, picturesque views, majestic architectures, magnificent history and the latest trends in Japan — all while bringing smiles to your face.

I spent my childhood in Geneva, Switzerland, and grew up in Tokyo. While working for a newspaper company, I lived in various parts of Japan and even in New York. With the physical strength I’ve developed through weekly tennis and a smile on my face, I’m committed to making your stay in Japan an unforgettable experience.