A Tour of Shrines and Japanese Gardens Associated with the Shogun
Departing from Shimizu Port! This tour takes you to shrines associated with Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, historic castle towns, and Japanese gardens.
At Shizuoka Sengen Shrine, after experiencing the vibrant shrine buildings and Japanese culture, take a stroll through the shopping district that once flourished as a temple town—you’ll get a close-up look at the daily lives and traditions of the local people. In the second half of the tour, savor the beauty of Japanese gardens along with Shizuoka tea and local cuisine, and finish off with some shopping in the surrounding area. Enjoy a day that embodies the essence of Shizuoka, where history and culture intersect.
- Suggested Time
- 5 to 6 hours
- Transport Options
- Bus/taxi, Shizutetsu Railway, on foot
Hinode Pier
Welcome to Shimizu Port, the gateway to Mount Fuji!
Shimizu Port, Shizuoka City’s gateway to the sea, offers views of Mount Fuji.
A tourist information center has been set up at the pier where cruise ships dock, where you can pick up various maps and brochures. If you’re unsure how to spend your time in Shimizu, feel free to stop by the tourist information center first!
Shizuoka Sengen Shrine
A shrine associated with the shogun, boasting 26 structures designated as Important Cultural Properties
Shizuoka Sengen Shrine is a collective name for three shrines: Kanbe Shrine, Asama Shrine, and Otoshimioya Shrine. It is also known as the site where Tokugawa Ieyasu, the shogun who led Japan into a long era of peace, is said to have performed his coming-of-age ceremony.
Located in downtown Shizuoka City, it is affectionately known locally as “O-Sengen-san.”
The current shrine complex was rebuilt over a period of 60 years during the Edo period and consists of a magnificent and splendid group of buildings, entirely lacquered and painted in vivid colors. The Main Hall stands 21 meters tall, making it a truly unique and monumental structure. Twenty-six of the shrine buildings have been designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan.
*Shizuoka Sengen Shrine is currently undergoing preservation and restoration work expected to last approximately 20 years to protect and pass down its historic shrine buildings to future generations; however, visitors can still enjoy worshipping at the shrine during the construction period.
Basic Information
- Address
- 102-1 Miyagasaki-cho, Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture
- Telephone Number
- 054-245-1820
Asama-dori Shopping Street
The town at the foot of Shizuoka Sengen Shrine, stretching out beyond the bright red giant torii gate
The Asama-dori Shopping Street is a temple town shopping district located in front of Shizuoka Sengen Shrine, where visitors are greeted by a bright red torii gate. The approximately 600-meter-long Asama-dori is lined with a variety of shops, including historic, long-established stores.You’ll find everything from restaurants serving Japanese cuisine and okonomiyaki to cafes and bakeries offering light meals, as well as drugstores and other shops that capture the everyday atmosphere of the area. You can also discover unique items found nowhere else at the antique and variety shops. After paying your respects at Asama Shrine, be sure to sample local specialties such as Shizuoka oden and gelato.
Please refer to the map below for detailed information on each shop.
Basic Information
- Address
- 14 Baba-cho, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture 420-0867
Sunpu Castle Park, Momijiyama Garden
Famous Japanese gardens where you can enjoy tea amidst the changing seasons
Momijiyama Garden is a space where visitors can enjoy traditional Japanese gardens and a tea house, centered around four gardens that depict Mount Fuji and the Miho Pine Grove.The garden offers a variety of seasonal views. Why not enjoy a cup of tea at the standing tea ceremony area while admiring the flowers of each season—cherry blossoms in spring, hydrangeas in summer, autumn foliage in fall, and camellias in winter? The standing tea ceremony area is a facility where you can enter with your shoes on and enjoy tea in a relaxed atmosphere. You can savor Shizuoka matcha and sencha, along with traditional Japanese sweets, while gazing out at the garden. Please feel free to enjoy authentic Japanese culture in a casual setting.
Basic Information
- Address
- 1-1 Sunpu Castle Park, Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture
- Telephone Number
- 054-251-0016
- Open
- 9:00 AM–4:30 PM (Last admission at 4:00 PM)
- Closed Days
- Mondays (Open on Mondays that are public holidays; no make-up closure), Year-end and New Year holidays
Gofukumachi-dori Shopping Street
A bustling shopping district beloved by locals, home to everything from large chain stores to small independent shops
Located in the heart of downtown Shizuoka, this shopping district is a popular, bustling commercial area.
It is said that the shopping district got its name because it was once dotted with many “kimono” shops. Today, it is a shopping district beloved by locals, offering everything from restaurants and home goods stores to drugstores, tea cafes, 100-yen shops, and clothing stores.
Basic Information
- Address
- 420-0031 Gofukumachi, Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture
Hinode Pier
Welcome back to Shimizu Port!
How was your trip to Shizuoka?
I hope you had a wonderful time in Shizuoka City, home to Shimizu Port.
We look forward to seeing you again at Shimizu Port! Have a wonderful voyage!
![[Reservations Required] An Interactive Course Featuring Views of Mount Fuji and Shizuoka Cuisine](/lsc/upfile/course/0000/0006/6_1_m.jpg)
