October 5, 2026 Shimizu Port Shore Day Guide for Star Seeker Passengers

Monday, October 5, 2026. Star Seeker departs Shingu, sails north across Suruga Bay, and arrives at Hinode Pier in Shimizu Port at 8:00 a.m. She sets sail again the same day at 5:00 p.m., bound for Tokyo.

🇯🇵 日本語版はこちら: 日本語で読む

On paper you have nine hours in port, but once you factor in disembarkation and the return-to-ship deadline, roughly seven and a half hours is realistic for time actually spent ashore. Even so, that’s plenty to take in the best of Shimizu and Shizuoka in a single day: Kunozan Toshogu Shrine with its National Treasure halls, Nihondaira overlooking Mt. Fuji and Suruga Bay, the Kashi-no-Ichi fish market piled high with Shimizu’s famous tuna, and the UNESCO World Heritage pine grove of Miho no Matsubara.

Think of this page as your morning paper for your day in port — something to read on the morning your ship arrives at Shimizu. With Shingu still fresh in your mind, here’s what to see, what to eat, and how to spend your hours in Shimizu, told from a local point of view.

About the Author

Shimizu Port Cruise Guide — Site Operator

Based in Shizuoka City. I plan and run the “Shimizu Cruise Festival“, an event at Shimizu Port where visitors from Japan and abroad mingle with the local community, and I work on other projects that connect cruise travelers with local people.

Through my interactions with cruise travelers and local residents, I’ve come to realize that enjoying a limited port call is not just about deciding where to go. What really matters is concrete, up-to-date information: How long does it take to get there? Can I visit without a reservation? Will it be open that day?

On this site, I introduce access routes from Shimizu Port, sightseeing spots, events, restaurants, and model itineraries in an easy-to-follow way, from the perspective of someone active on the ground.

My goal is to bring you the kind of real, local information about Shimizu and Shizuoka that guidebooks alone can’t offer, and to help make your day in port an even more enjoyable and memorable one. My hope is that this site feels like the morning paper you read on the day your ship arrives at Shimizu.

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1. Port Call Essentials

Here’s your October 5, 2026 schedule at a glance.

Item	Details
Port call date	Monday, October 5, 2026
Arrival	08:00
Departure	17:00
Scheduled time in port	Approx. 9 hours
Realistic sightseeing time	Approx. 7 hours 30 minutes
Berth	Hinode Pier, Shimizu Port
Previous port	Shingu
Next port	Tokyo

Early October in Shimizu is a comfortable time to be out walking — the muggy heat of summer has finally lifted.

It also falls near the end of typhoon season, and on calm days the air turns clear enough for Mt. Fuji to stand out sharply on the horizon. The autumn sakura shrimp season gets under way in October, so you may well find freshly fried kakiage made with them at Kashi-no-Ichi or in the restaurants at Dream Plaza.

Note that it’s a Monday. Several museums in Shimizu close on Mondays, so be sure to check the opening-day details in Section 4.

2. Weather and What to Wear on October 5, 2026

The forecast for your port day calls for moderate drizzle. Expect a high of around 21.3℃ (70°F) and a low of around 17.4℃ (63°F), with a 24% chance of rain.

If you’re not used to Celsius, use these as a guide: 15℃ = 59°F, 20℃ = 68°F, 25℃ = 77°F.

Temperature-wise, a long-sleeved shirt with a light layer over it is just about perfect. Sea breezes will make it feel cooler when you disembark in the morning and at the summit of Nihondaira, so a light jacket or cardigan will keep you comfortable.

A 24% chance of rain isn’t high, but drizzle is in the forecast. Tuck a folding umbrella into your bag and you’ll be fine on the stone steps at Kunozan Toshogu or among the pines at Miho no Matsubara. For footwear, sneakers with good grip when wet are your best bet.

7-day Shizuoka forecast by meteoblue

Please note that this forecast reflects conditions as of publication (a few days before your port call). The weather widget above always shows the latest week-ahead forecast, so do check it again on the morning you arrive.

3. Getting from Shimizu Port into the City and Beyond

Shimizu is an easy port to explore on your own. Below is a breakdown of each option — how fares work, how to pay, and how often services run. If you want maximum freedom within your limited time ashore, a taxi is your best choice.

🚕 Taxi (the most flexible option — recommended)

The biggest advantage is being able to string together places like Nihondaira and Kunozan Toshogu that are awkward to reach by public transport. Split among a group, the per-person cost is more reasonable than you might expect. Our model itinerary below uses taxis as well.

• 【Where to board】Taxis line up at Hinode Pier to meet arriving cruise ships. If you don’t see any, the tourist information desk inside the port terminal can call one for you (Shizutetsu Taxi dispatch center: 054-281-5111)
• 【How fares work】Metered. The base fare is ¥700 (up to 1.17 km), then ¥100 for every additional 285 m. Waiting at lights and sitting in traffic also add to the fare by time. It’s perfectly acceptable to ask roughly what the ride to a given destination will cost before you get in
• 【Chartering by the hour】Hourly charter runs ¥7,700 per hour for a standard vehicle. Sightseeing taxi plans (Shizutetsu Taxi) start at ¥30,800 for four hours — about ¥7,700 per person with four people. Show the driver your list of destinations and plan the route together
• 【Payment】Cash and credit cards are your safest bets. Support for IC transit cards and QR payments varies by vehicle, so ask before boarding if you plan to use them. No tipping required
• 【Language】Most drivers speak Japanese only, but showing them the place names in this article (with Japanese text) on your phone works just fine

On a drizzly day, traveling by taxi keeps your clothes and bags dry.

🚌 Free Shuttle Buses (connecting the port and Shimizu Station — a surprisingly little-known ally)

There are two different free buses at Shimizu Port. They depart from different places, so it helps to know which is which.

① S-Pulse Dream Plaza Free Shuttle (year-round, open to everyone)

Connects Dream Plaza — Shin-Shimizu Station (Shizutetsu) — JR Shimizu Station Minato-guchi in about 8 minutes. The stop is not at Hinode Pier but at Dream Plaza, right next door to the pier.

• 【Fare】Free. You don’t need to be a shopper to ride
• 【Frequency】Every 30 minutes on weekdays (departing Dream Plaza at :00 and :30), every 15 minutes on weekends and holidays (:00, :15, :30, :45)
• 【First and last runs】From Dream Plaza: first at 10:00, last at 22:20. From JR Shimizu Station Minato-guchi: first at 9:45
• 【Important】It does not run before 10:00 a.m. On early-arrival days, plan on a taxi or walking for your first move of the morning
• 【Best used for】Heading to JR Shimizu Station or Shin-Shimizu Station. It saves you a walk of 20 minutes or more

Your call is an 8:00 arrival on a Monday. This bus won’t be running yet right after you disembark, so plan on a taxi for your morning move.

② Cruise-Day-Only Free Shuttle for Passengers (arranged by the cruise line)

On cruise call days, a free bus sometimes runs right from the front of Hinode Pier to Shin-Shimizu Station and JR Shimizu Station. The key difference from ① is that you can board the moment you step off the ship.

• During Celebrity Millennium’s call on August 16, 2026, Ihara Kanko Bus operated this service linking Hinode Pier, Shin-Shimizu Station, and JR Shimizu Station (confirmed on site by our team)
• Whether it runs, and its times and destinations, vary with each port call. Check the onboard announcements or ask pier staff after disembarking
• How to tell them apart: ① is a red bus marked “S-PULSE DREAM PLAZA”; ② is a chartered vehicle running only on cruise days

⛴ Water Bus (travel with Mt. Fuji views from the water)

A small boat connecting the Hinode landing (in front of Dream Plaza) with Miho and Ejiri (near Kashi-no-Ichi). The ride itself is a sightseeing experience of Shimizu Port. Our model itinerary uses it too.

• 【How fares work】A flat ¥1,000 per leg for adults, ¥500 for elementary school children. Hinode to Miho takes about 15 minutes; Hinode to Ejiri about 10 minutes
• 【Frequency】7 sailings a day. No reservations — boarding is first-come, first-served
• 【Tickets】Buy at the landing
• 【Cancellations】Because the route stays within the harbor, cancellations are rare, but service may be suspended in typhoons or other severe weather. Check the day’s operating status at the landing or by phone (054-353-2222)

Light drizzle rarely stops service, but if the forecast shifts toward strong winds, confirm the day’s status at the landing before locking in your plans.

🚏 Local Bus (the standard route to Miho — Shizutetsu Just Line)

To reach Miho no Matsubara by public transport, take the “Miho Yamanote Line.” From Shimizu Station to Miho no Matsubara Iriguchi costs ¥440 and takes about 25 minutes.

• 【Frequency】Roughly 3–4 buses per hour during the day
• 【How to ride】Board through the rear door and pay at the farebox by the driver when you get off. With nationally interoperable IC cards like Suica or ICOCA, just tap on when boarding and tap off when alighting
• 【Paying cash】The onboard change machine accepts coins and ¥1,000 notes only. If you only have larger bills, break them at a convenience store before boarding
• 【Note】You’ll need the free shuttle bus or a walk to get from the port to the Shimizu Station bus terminal

🚃 Train (to central Shizuoka City)

Your option if you want to venture out to the Shizuoka Station area for Aoba Yokocho’s Shizuoka oden or Sunpu Castle Park.

• 【JR Tokaido Line】Shimizu Station to Shizuoka Station: ¥240, about 12 minutes. 3–4 trains per hour during the day
• 【Shizuoka Railway (Shizutetsu)】Shin-Shimizu Station to Shin-Shizuoka Station: ¥350, about 23 minutes. Trains run about every 8 minutes, so you can turn up without checking a timetable
• 【Payment】Both accept IC cards such as Suica and ICOCA. Contactless credit card payment is not supported at the gates, so use an IC card or buy a paper ticket with cash
• 【From the port to the stations】The free shuttle bus is the easiest way to reach Shimizu Station and Shin-Shimizu Station

🚶 On Foot (fine for the area right around the port)

• S-Pulse Dream Plaza: right next to the pier (1–3 minutes’ walk)
• Shimizu Fish Market “Kashi-no-Ichi”: about 1.3 km, 15–20 minutes’ walk. Or take the water bus from Hinode to Ejiri (about 10 minutes) and you’ll step off right in front of it
• JR Shimizu Station: about 1.5 km, 20–25 minutes’ walk. The free shuttle bus is recommended
• Shin-Shimizu Station (Shizutetsu): about 1 km, around 15 minutes’ walk

For a deeper dive into transport options and practical tips from the port, see our Shimizu Cruise Port Complete Guide.

4. Recommended Model Itinerary: “The Full Shizuoka Course” (Nihondaira, Toshogu, Miho, and Food)

If you’re weighing a ship’s excursion against a local tour or doing it yourself, start with our Shimizu Shore Excursions Compared, which lays out costs and who each option suits.

“What can I actually see in seven and a half hours?”

This full Shizuoka course is the answer. Head out by taxi first thing to Nihondaira, where the summit observatory takes in Mt. Fuji and Suruga Bay. From there, ride the ropeway down to Kunozan Toshogu and tour its National Treasure shrine halls. Lunch is a tuna rice bowl at Kashi-no-Ichi; in the afternoon, cross to Miho no Matsubara by water bus, then wrap up with shopping at Dream Plaza right beside the pier before reboarding.

The route runs from the port into the hills to the south, back to the port area, across the water to Miho, and then back to the ship — a single forward-moving loop with no backtracking, so you lose almost no time in transit. Early October is when the air begins to settle, and some days reward you with superb summit views.

Time	Place	What you’ll do	Duration
08:30	Hinode Pier	Disembark and take a taxi (about 30 min to Nihondaira)	30 min
09:00	Nihondaira Yume Terrace	Sweeping 360° views of Mt. Fuji, Suruga Bay, and the Southern Alps from the observation corridor	60 min
10:00	Nihondaira Ropeway	A short aerial ride to Kunozan (about 5 min)	10 min
10:10	Kunozan Toshogu	Tour the National Treasure shrine halls and museum	90 min
11:40	Transfer	Ropeway back to Nihondaira, then taxi to Kashi-no-Ichi (about 20 min)	35 min
12:15	Shimizu Fish Market “Kashi-no-Ichi”	Tuna bowls and seafood lunch; souvenir shopping	60 min
13:15	Ejiri Landing	Board the water bus right in front of Kashi-no-Ichi (to Miho)	30 min
13:45	Miho no Matsubara	Stroll the Path of the Gods and see the Hagoromo Pine; Mt. Fuji through the pines	75 min
15:00	Transfer	Return to Hinode by water bus, bus, or taxi	30 min
15:30	S-Pulse Dream Plaza	Chibi Maruko-chan Land and souvenir shopping	60 min
16:30	Hinode Pier	5-minute walk back to the ship	30 min

Estimated budget: from about ¥12,000 per person (taxis, admissions, and meals included)

Nihondaira and Nihondaira Yume Terrace

An observation facility atop a 307-meter hill. Walk the full loop of its wooden observation corridor and you’ll take in Mt. Fuji, Suruga Bay, the Southern Alps, and Miho no Matsubara below. The corridor is open all day and admission is free. Mornings see fewer tour buses, so you can enjoy the view at your own pace. Even if Mt. Fuji is hidden in cloud, the panorama of Suruga Bay and the town of Shimizu is well worth the trip.

For details on reaching Nihondaira and Kunozan Toshogu independently, including costs, see our Nihondaira & Kunozan Toshogu Guide.

Kunozan Toshogu

Japan’s oldest Toshogu shrine, dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu. He was interred here before Nikko, and the shrine halls — covered in brilliantly colored carvings — are designated National Treasures. It’s about five minutes from Nihondaira by ropeway, and the aerial crossing over the valley is a highlight in itself. Admission is ¥700 for the shrine, ¥600 for the museum, or ¥1,200 for a combined ticket. The museum displays items associated with Ieyasu and the Tokugawa family.

Shimizu Fish Market “Kashi-no-Ichi”

Shimizu’s fish market opened up to the general public, made up of two buildings: the Maguro-kan (tuna hall) and the Ichiba-kan (market hall). Shimizu Port is known for its frozen tuna landings, and the Maguro-kan is lined with eateries serving rice bowls and sashimi. Bowls generally run somewhere in the ¥1,000–2,500 range, and many come generously topped with several cuts of tuna at once — the kind of value you only find at the source. The Ichiba-kan is the place for souvenirs.

Miho no Matsubara

A stretch of coastline lined with some 30,000 pines, inscribed as a component of the Mt. Fuji World Heritage site. The highlights are the Hagoromo Pine, tied to the legend of a celestial maiden’s feather robe, and the pine-lined approach leading to it known as the “Path of the Gods.” Step out onto the shore and you’ll find Mt. Fuji rising beyond the sand. Admission is free, and the Mihoshirube visitor center (9:00–16:30) offers pamphlets in multiple languages.

For more on Miho no Matsubara’s highlights, the Hagoromo legend, and how to get there, see our Miho no Matsubara UNESCO Guide.

S-Pulse Dream Plaza

A complex right next to Hinode Pier, with around 60 shops including Shimizu Sushi Yokocho, Chibi Maruko-chan Land, and the Dream Sky Ferris wheel (¥700, 52 m tall, about 13 minutes per ride). Being indoors, it’s a welcome refuge on a drizzly day — and the perfect place to spend your last hour souvenir shopping before heading back to the ship.

Opening Status on Monday, October 5, 2026

• Nihondaira Yume Terrace: Open (9:00–17:00). It closes on the second Tuesday of the month, so it’s open this day
• Kunozan Toshogu: Open (9:00–17:00, no closing days)
• Shimizu Fish Market “Kashi-no-Ichi”: Open (Ichiba-kan 9:30–17:30). Its regular closing day is Wednesday, so no problem here
• Miho no Matsubara: Open all day. Mihoshirube is open 9:00–16:30, year-round
• S-Pulse Dream Plaza: Open (shops 10:00–20:00 / restaurants 11:00–21:00)
• Verkehr Museum: Closed Mondays — not available this day
• Shimizu Jirocho Birthplace: Closed Tuesdays, so it’s open on this Monday (weekdays 10:00–16:00)
• Toro Museum: Closed Mondays — not available this day (the archaeological park remains open)

Mondays are the day museums tend to close in Shimizu. If the rain picks up and you want to shift to indoor options, skip the Verkehr Museum and Toro Museum and head instead to Dream Plaza, Kashi-no-Ichi, or the covered Shimizu Ekimae Ginza shopping arcade.

For options beyond those covered here — from walkable spots to half-day plans and rainy-day ideas — see 20 Things to Do in Shimizu.

5. Events in Shimizu on October 5, 2026

As of the time of writing, no specific events were confirmed in Shimizu for October 5.

That said, autumn is a season when local festivals and markets pop up on an irregular schedule. It’s not unusual in Shimizu to suddenly hear festival music drifting from a neighborhood shrine. After disembarking, try asking at the tourist information desk in the port terminal whether anything is happening nearby that day — they often know about one-off events. Searching “清水 イベント” (Shimizu events) on your phone is another way to find out.

⚠️ Events may be changed or canceled due to weather or other circumstances. Please check official sources before heading out.

6. Local Food of Shimizu and Shizuoka

The Shimizu–Shizuoka area is one of Japan’s great food destinations. Here are the specialties worth seeking out on your day in port.

Dish	Where	Price range	Notes
Tuna rice bowl	Maguro-kan (inside Kashi-no-Ichi, 10 min walk)	¥1,000–2,500	Shimizu Port tuna at source prices. English menus, cards accepted
Sushi	Shimizu Sushi Yokocho (inside Dream Plaza, 5 min walk)	¥1,500–4,000	The closest sushi to the port. Sakura shrimp gunkan too
Sakura shrimp kakiage	Yui fishing port area (25 min by car)	¥800–1,500	Autumn season runs October–December. Cash only; sold until gone
Shizuoka oden	Aoba Yokocho (20 min by train from Shimizu Station + 5 min walk)	¥500–1,500	Kuro-hanpen with dashi powder and aonori. Most shops open in the evening
Seafood bowls & takeout	Ichiba-kan (Kashi-no-Ichi)	¥500–2,000	Tuna tataki, sakura shrimp shumai. Good for souvenirs too
Wasabi products	Various spots near Shimizu Port	¥300–3,000	Shizuoka is Japan’s top wasabi producer. Wasabi-zuke and even soft-serve

One thing especially worth highlighting is the October delicacy: sakura shrimp.

Suruga Bay is the only place in Japan where sakura shrimp are commercially fished. There are two seasons a year — spring (March–June) and autumn (October–December) — and October 5 falls right at the start of the autumn season. These tiny, translucent pink shrimp turn wonderfully fragrant when fried as kakiage, releasing a burst of sweetness the moment you bite in.

The heartland is Yui, 25 minutes by car from Shimizu Port, but if your time is limited you’ll find sakura shrimp dishes at Kashi-no-Ichi and in the restaurants at Dream Plaza as well. Depending on the catch, you may even come across raw sakura shrimp, so take a look at the menus posted outside.

For a deeper look at tuna, sakura shrimp, and shirasu — their seasons, how to eat them, and where to go — see our Shimizu Seafood Guide.

7. Practical Information for a Worry-Free Day Ashore

Wi-Fi

• Shimizu Port Terminal: Free Wi-Fi available (inside the terminal)
• S-Pulse Dream Plaza: Free Wi-Fi available
• Convenience stores (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart): Nationwide free Wi-Fi available
• If you plan to be online for long stretches, buying a prepaid SIM at the airport is recommended

Payment

Cash is still the default at many businesses in Japan, and small restaurants and taxis may accept nothing else.

Larger shops at S-Pulse Dream Plaza and Kashi-no-Ichi take credit cards, with Visa and Mastercard the most widely accepted. Amex and Diners are refused at quite a few places.

There’s a Seven Bank ATM near the port (inside a convenience store) that handles cash withdrawals with overseas-issued cards. As a rule of thumb, carrying ¥3,000–10,000 in cash per person per day will see you through.

IC Transit Cards

Buses and trains accept nationally interoperable IC cards such as Suica and ICOCA. You can buy one at convenience stores near the port or at Shimizu Station.

Cash works too, but change isn’t always given, so keep some coins handy.

Language Support

• Tourist information centers (Shimizu Port Terminal, Shimizu Station): English available
• S-Pulse Dream Plaza and Kashi-no-Ichi: English menus and staff available
• Mihoshirube at Miho no Matsubara: Multilingual pamphlets available
• Taxis: Japanese only, as a rule. Having Google Translate on your phone makes things go smoothly

Tourist Information Centers

• Inside Shimizu Port Passenger Terminal — right where you disembark
• Shimizu Station Tourist Information Center — about 1.5 km from the port (free shuttle bus or a 20–25 minute walk)

Emergency Contacts

Purpose	Number
Police	110
Ambulance / Fire	119
Shizuoka City Tourist Information Center (Shizuoka Station North Exit, English available)	054-253-1170
Taxi (Shizutetsu Taxi central dispatch)	054-281-5111

8. Getting Back to the Ship

Star Seeker departs at 17:00.

To be safe, aim to be back at Hinode Pier by 16:30. The reason our itinerary ends at Dream Plaza is simple: it’s just a five-minute walk from the pier. Even if time runs out mid-shopping, you can be back on board in minutes.

If you get lost, search Google Maps for “Shimizu Port Hinode Pier” or “清水港 日の出埠頭.” From anywhere in central Shimizu, you’re within a 15-minute drive.

If you take a taxi, telling the driver “清水港 日の出埠頭 (Hinode Pier)” will get the message across — or simply show them this page. With a large cruise ship berthed there, the pier is easy to spot as you approach.

9. About Star Seeker

Star Seeker is a 9,923-ton foreign-flagged cruise ship. In an age when large vessels run well over 100,000 tons, coming in under 10,000 is actually an advantage.

She can berth at small ports that bigger ships can’t reach — calling at a port like Shingu is the kind of stop a ship of this size can slot in easily. At Shimizu, too, it means less time between stepping off the ship and stepping out of the port gates, so you can make the most of every hour ashore.

With fewer passengers aboard, the atmosphere feels less like a hotel and more like a private yacht club. On board, passengers and crew are never far apart, and after crossing paths a few times, conversation comes naturally. The views from deck are different too — rather than looking down from the upper floors of a megaship, you take in the waves and distant islands from close to the water. As she leaves Shimizu for Tokyo in the late afternoon, the Izu Peninsula slides by.

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From the forests of Kumano at Shingu, across Suruga Bay, to Mt. Fuji and the port town of Shimizu today — and next, the skyline of Tokyo awaits. Mountains, sea, and city in quick succession: that’s the signature of this itinerary. Enjoy your day of it here in Shimizu.

良い旅を。Have a wonderful voyage.