Hello, this is Hiko!

On October 15th, I enjoyed a 4-hour tour around Shizuoka City with a lovely mother and her two daughters from Canada.
It was their first time visiting Japan! Though it rained a bit the day before, we were blessed with sunny skies on the day of the tour. The sky had a few clouds, but we were still able to catch glimpses of Mount Fuji’s beautiful peak throughout the morning.

It was a bit chilly at Shimizu Port in the morning, but by midday, the weather warmed up nicely to around 26℃. Since the mother travels in a wheelchair, our company had carefully designed an accessible itinerary with barrier-free spots so everyone could enjoy the day comfortably.

Our first stop was Miho no Matsubara.
Because wheelchairs cannot roll easily on the sandy path, the mother waited comfortably near the famous Hagoromo pine tree while I walked down to the beach with her daughters. Interestingly, while the sand at Miho no Matsubara is dark, the daughters shared that some beaches in Canada have reddish sand due to the iron content—a fascinating fact!
Thanks to our early morning departure, we arrived before the large tour groups, allowing us to enjoy the UNESCO World Heritage view of Mount Fuji in peace. In the meantime, their mother told us how much she enjoyed relaxing under the pine trees, soaking in the tranquil and sacred atmosphere.

Next, we visited Nihondaira Yume Terrace. From the accessible parking area, we took the elevator in the building up to the observation deck, where everyone enjoyed the panoramic views of Shizuoka.

Our third destination was Ryugeji Temple.
Inside the hall, the daughters were truly impressed by the beautiful artwork, including about 200 maki-e ceiling paintings, elegant sliding doors,  and decorative ceiling canopy. They kindly remarked how unique and beautiful these works were compared to what they see back home. When they asked how long ancestral tablets are memorialized at the temple, they were genuinely surprised to learn it can be up to 50 years!
Afterward, they enjoyed a special tea break.

Since the mother couldn’t enter the hall in her wheelchair, she stayed comfortably at the entrance with green tea and macha chocolate. And thanks to the wonderful hospitality of the temple, the daughters sat on chairs on the veranda facing Mount Fuji with green tea and sweets. They mentioned that their visits to famous spots in Kyoto, like Kinkaku-ji Temple and Fushimi Inari Shrine, were packed!

Here at Ryugeji Temple, with almost no other tourists around, they even had a second cup of tea and truly enjoyed a peaceful, relaxing moment together.

Our final stop was Kashi-no-Ichi Fish Market. During our 40-minute visit, they enjoyed browsing the gift shops and showed interest in local specialties like braised tuna. On the second-floor deck, the elder sister tried a tuna and cheese croquette with traditional Japanese Chuno sauce, while their mother enjoyed a delicious vanilla and strawberry soft-serve ice cream.

It was truly heartwarming to see how kind and caring the daughters were toward their mother. I am so glad that they had a safe, pleasant, and memorable private tour in Shizuoka.
Thank you so much for visiting, and I sincerely hope to welcome you back to Shizuoka again someday!

Discover the best of Shizuoka and nearby areas with a local guide—from iconic, breathtaking views of Mt. Fuji to hidden gems, historic spots, and authentic culinary delights that you won’t find in standard guidebooks. ✨