Shizuoka: Miho no Matsubara & S-Pulse Dream Plaza — Guide Anne

What Is a Private Shimizu Port Taxi Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Nihondaira, Miho no Matsubara, and Seiken-ji

I arranged a taxi at Shimizu Port, but it was very crowded and we waited about 30 minutes. Since I had prepaid for three hours at the port taxi reception, I could not shorten the morning itinerary despite the 30-minute delay, so I had to adjust the afternoon plans. The weather was cloudy, but Mount Fuji appeared between the clouds, and the guests were delighted by the views from the car window, from Nihondaira, and from Miho no Matsubara. In particular, during the tea plantation visit at the Nihondaira Ochakaikan (Tea Hall), the guests asked the staff many questions about green tea and were very satisfied to be able to buy the genmaicha they said they loved. As some of the charter time remained, one guest wanted to eat sushi, so I guided the group to Esards Dream Plaza, but unfortunately there was a long line, so we gave up on entering and instead they bought satsuma-age (fish cake) that they could eat while walking. However, even though I explained it was "Fish Cake," a portion was also bought for a guest who was vegetarian, and there was an incident where a few bites were eaten before I noticed, which flustered me. The guest laughed and said "No Problem," but I should have been more careful. Based on prior information, one of the guests had requested vegetarian and gluten-free meals, so I had suggested CoCo Ichibanya for lunch. However, on the day the guest said they could eat a small amount of wheat and wanted to have Japanese food, so after consulting with the guests I quickly guided them to a nearby soba restaurant instead. The guest had tempura and rice, and did not appear to feel unwell afterward. The other guests were also very satisfied with the soba and tempura. In the afternoon we took the train toward the Okitsu area and I guided them along the Tokaido to Seiken-ji Temple. During the Tokaido walk, the guests asked questions about the shops and houses along the old road and seemed very interested. When visiting inside the Seiken-ji hall, one guest was unable to take off their shoes for a certain reason, so they waited while viewing the garden. I had informed the guests by email in advance that we would enter the hall, but I should have also told them that they would need to remove their shoes. The other guests went up into the hall and viewed the scenic garden and Japanese-style rooms. They listened attentively. Finally, there was a bit of trouble when the guests exited the ticket gate at the station without inserting their tickets into the automatic gate. (This was resolved after talking with the station staff.) I should have explained more carefully how to handle the tickets. Although there were some irregular situations, I was helped by the bright, good-humored guests. I would like to work on improving the points I reflected on for the future.

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

Tour Report by Anne

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!