Cruise Port Guide
Shimizu (Shizuoka City) Cruise Port
Quick answerShimizu is a docking port: cruise ships berth at Hinode Wharf in the harbour, about 8 minutes' walk from the S-Pulse Dream Plaza and a short bus or shuttle ride from JR Shimizu Station. The Miho Hagoromo water bus links Hinode with Shimizu Station (10 min) and Miho (15 min) for ¥1,000 a ride in 2026. Be back at Hinode 60 minutes before all-aboard, and leave Miho no Matsubara or Kunozan 90 minutes before.
Checked October 2026 · Sources
At a glance
Terminal to centre
Miho Hagoromo water bus
Hinode–Ejiri (Shimizu Station) 10 min; Ejiri–Miho 15 min; Miho–Hinode 15 min · ¥1,000 adult per ride (from 1 April 2026)
Walkable to centre
Partly
About 8 min · null km
Tender
No
Dock port
Buffer before all-aboard
90 min
PortTrip planning default
Currency
JPY
Japanese
Transport and cost figures are estimates — always confirm current fares at the terminal.
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When to head back to the ship in Shimizu (Shizuoka City)
S-Pulse Dream Plaza
Walk, about 8 min
Leave by
16:20
JR Shimizu Station and Kashi no Ichi
Water bus from Ejiri (10 min), Dream Plaza shuttle (10 min) plus 8 min walk, or bus to Hatoba Verkehr Museum
Leave by
16:15
Miho no Matsubara
Water bus Miho–Hinode (15 min) or bus via Shimizu Station
Leave by
16:00
Nihondaira and Kunozan Toshogu
Ropeway, then taxi
Leave by
16:00
Where to leave from, and when
on foot bus, train, boat taxiPins show when to leave each place. Lines: route back to your ship.
Where people get it wrong: Leaving Mt Fuji for later in the day, when cloud usually hides it, or relying on the last water bus back from Miho.
Times count back from all-aboard using the travel times and buffers in this guide. Your ship's daily programme always wins.
Open my full Shimizu (Shizuoka City) day, timed to 17:30 Get this for every port on your cruise, with alerts on the day Write about Shimizu (Shizuoka City)? Put these leave-by times on your blog, freeFees and limits in Shimizu (Shizuoka City)
Japan's International Tourist Tax, charged on every departure from Japan by air or sea, tripled.
¥3,000 per departure (was ¥1,000); under-2s exempt
Status and sources
Transport: Port of Shimizu (Hinode Wharf) to Shimizu town and JR Shimizu Station
Shimizu is the port for Shizuoka City and the closest cruise stop to Mt Fuji, which you can see across the bay on clear days. Ships berth at Hinode Wharf, rebuilt in 2024 so a large cruise ship and a cargo ship can berth together. The harbour has three short trips: the Dream Plaza and fish market on foot or by water bus, the Miho no Matsubara pine beach, part of the Fujisan World Heritage site, and the Nihondaira plateau with the ropeway to Kunozan Toshogu shrine. Fuji is often hidden by cloud, so go for the view early.
Walkable? Partly · about 8 min
The S-Pulse Dream Plaza, with shops, the sushi alley and the Ferris wheel, is about 8 minutes on foot. For Shimizu Station and the Kashi no Ichi fish market, the water bus or a shuttle is quickest; Miho no Matsubara and Nihondaira need the water bus, a bus or a taxi.
Where your ship docks
- Hinode Wharf (Hinode No. 1 and No. 2 quays) — Cruise berths for ships of the 150,000-ton class; No. 2 is dedicated to cruise ships and No. 1 is shared with cargo. Passenger terminal and a tourist information office. The Hatoba Verkehr Museum bus stop is about 4–5 minutes' walk, and the water bus Hinode pier is beside the wharf.
Miho Hagoromo water bus
¥1,000 adult per ride (from 1 April 2026)Hinode–Ejiri (Shimizu Station) 10 min; Ejiri–Miho 15 min; Miho–Hinode 15 min
Seven sailings a day; the first leaves Hinode at 09:55 and the last at 15:55. The Ejiri pier is by the Kashi no Ichi fish market and JR Shimizu Station. Sailings can be cancelled in rough seas, bad weather or during events.
Free shuttle bus to JR Shimizu Station
Free where providedVaries
Passengers in 2019 and 2025 reported a complimentary shuttle from the pier to Shimizu Station. Check your daily programme for times.
Shizutetsu Justline bus
Pay when you get off; national IC cards acceptedAbout 7 min from Shimizu Station west exit to Hatoba Verkehr Museum, then 4–5 min walk
Miho-bound buses from JR Shimizu Station (Miho Yamanote route from stop 3, west exit) call at Hatoba Verkehr Museum, the stop for Hinode. For Miho no Matsubara, buses from Shimizu Station take about 25 minutes to Miho no Matsubara Iriguchi, then walk about 15 minutes; at weekends some run to the Sekai Isan Miho no Matsubara stop, 5 minutes' walk away.
Dream Plaza free shuttle
FreeAbout 10 min
Runs between the JR Shimizu Station east exit and S-Pulse Dream Plaza, 8 minutes' walk from Hinode. A useful way back from the station.
Taxi
Metered; a passenger reported about ¥11,000 for a 1.5-hour round trip to Miho with waiting (2025)About 20 min from Shimizu Station to Nihondaira
The practical way to Nihondaira and the Kunozan ropeway on a cruise day.
Know your all-aboard time? Build the whole day around it.
Return timing: getting back to the ship on time
Be back on board 60 minutes before all-aboard (16:30 for 17:30). Leave Miho no Matsubara and Nihondaira or Kunozan 90 minutes before all-aboard (16:00).
Miho and Nihondaira depend on buses, the water bus or taxis. The water bus runs only seven times a day: the last sailing from Miho, at 16:35, is too late for a 17:30 all-aboard, so check the board at the pier and take an earlier one.
If you're running late
Take a taxi and say Hinode Wharf cruise terminal. If you will miss all-aboard, call the port agent number on your daily programme. The 24-hour Japan Visitor Hotline is 050-3816-2787.
A one-day plan for Shimizu (Shizuoka City) (all aboard 17:30)
Assumes the ship docks at Hinode at 08:00 and all-aboard is 17:30.
08:15 Look for Mt Fuji from the wharf or the deck before the clouds build. Then walk 8 minutes to Dream Plaza.
09:55 First water bus from Hinode to Miho (15 min, ¥1,000).
10:15 Walk to Miho no Matsubara: the pine beach, the Hagoromo pine and the Miho Shirube centre (free, 09:00–16:30).
12:30 Water bus from Miho to Ejiri (15 min), for the Kashi no Ichi fish market by Shimizu Station.
13:00 Lunch at Maguro Hall in Kashi no Ichi (closed Wednesdays): tuna bowl or kaisen-don.
14:15 Free shuttle from the station east exit to Dream Plaza, or the water bus from Ejiri to Hinode.
14:45 Dream Plaza: Shimizu Sushi Museum and the sushi alley, or the Ferris wheel.
16:15 Walk back to Hinode Wharf, 8 minutes.
16:30 Back on board, 60 minutes before all-aboard.
What to see in Shimizu (Shizuoka City) on a cruise day
Miho no Matsubara
Pine-lined beach with the classic view of Mt Fuji across the bay, part of the Fujisan World Heritage site since 2013.
⏱ 2–2.5 hours including travelFree
Tip: The Miho Shirube culture centre explains the Hagoromo legend and the Fuji views, free, 09:00–16:30.
Mt Fuji views
Shimizu faces Fuji across Suruga Bay; the wharf, Miho and Nihondaira all give a view on clear days.
⏱ Any timeFree
Tip: Look first thing; cloud often covers the summit by mid-morning.
Kunozan Toshogu shrine
Tokugawa-era shrine with over 400 years of history, reached by ropeway from Nihondaira or 1,159 stone steps from below.
⏱ 3 hours including travelShrine admission and ropeway fares charged; check on the day
Tip: Ropeway from the top of Nihondaira takes about 5 minutes and runs 09:10–17:00. The steps from Kunozan-shita take about 20 minutes.
Nihondaira
Plateau above the city with a wide view over Shimizu, the bay and Mt Fuji.
⏱ 1 hour plus travelFree
Tip: About 20 minutes by car from Shimizu Station. Combine it with the ropeway to Kunozan.
S-Pulse Dream Plaza
Waterfront complex with the Shimizu Sushi Museum, the sushi alley, shops and a Ferris wheel.
⏱ 1–1.5 hoursFree to enter
Tip: Shops 10:00–20:00, restaurants 11:00–21:00. About 8 minutes' walk from the ship.
Kashi no Ichi fish market
Shimizu's tuna and seafood market: Ichiba Hall for shopping, Maguro Hall with 14 seafood restaurants.
⏱ 1 hourFree to enter
Tip: Closed Wednesdays. Ichiba Hall 09:30–17:30. Gets busy from about 11:00; go early for lunch.
Shimizu harbour by water bus
The water bus loop between Hinode, Ejiri and Miho is itself a short harbour trip.
⏱ 40 minutes for the full loop¥1,000 a ride (2026)
Tip: Seven sailings a day; plan legs around the timetable.
Beaches near Shimizu (Shizuoka City) cruise port
Miho no Matsubara beach
Water bus from Hinode to Miho, or bus from Shimizu Station to Miho no Matsubara Iriguchi then 15 minutes' walk · 15 min by water bus; about 25 min by bus from Shimizu Station · Free
A beach for walking and the Fuji view rather than a swimming beach.
What to eat in Shimizu (Shizuoka City)
Tuna bowl (maguro-don) or kaisen-don
Maguro Hall, Kashi no Ichi fish market
Sashimi set meal with sakura shrimp kakiage
Ryoshi-Meshi Kishiya, first floor of Maguro Hall, Kashi no Ichi
Sushi
Shimizu Sushi Yokocho (sushi alley), S-Pulse Dream Plaza
Shirasu (whitebait) bowl
Donburi House, Mochimune fishing port (only when the shirasu boats are out)
Ship excursion or do it yourself?
Varies by line
Ship excursion avg, per person
See table
DIY day avg, per person
Depends on line
Saving, per person
Ship tour prices differ by cruise line and change often, so we only show ones we could verify. Check your line's cruise planner.
| Item | Ship tour | On your own | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miho no Matsubara | Varies by line; check your cruise planner | Water bus ¥1,000 each way (2026); the pine grove and the Miho Shirube centre are free | Depends on your line's price |
Miho no Matsubara and the harbour are easy alone by water bus. Nihondaira and Kunozan are doable by taxi. The ship's tour earns its price for anything closer to Mt Fuji itself, such as the Fuji Five Lakes, where an independent return on public transport would be hard to time; and remember Fuji may be hidden by cloud whichever way you go.
Common mistakes cruise passengers make in Shimizu (Shizuoka City)
Waiting until the afternoon to look for Mt Fuji.
Instead: Look from the deck or wharf first thing; cloud often hides the summit by mid-morning.
Planning to take the last water bus back from Miho.
Instead: It leaves Miho at 16:35, too late for a 17:30 all-aboard. Take an earlier sailing or the bus.
Going to the fish market on a Wednesday.
Instead: Kashi no Ichi closes on Wednesdays. Use the Dream Plaza sushi alley instead.
Trying to reach the Fuji Five Lakes or fifth station independently.
Instead: They are well inland from Shimizu. Take the ship's tour or stay with Miho and Nihondaira.
Missing the quick rides to Shimizu Station and the fish market.
Instead: Use the water bus to Ejiri, the shuttle, or the Miho-line bus from Hatoba Verkehr Museum.
Safety: is Shimizu (Shizuoka City) safe for cruise passengers?
Shimizu is a quiet, safe port town. The main risks are weather: typhoons peak from July to September and can cancel the water bus or change the ship's schedule. The Kunozan steps are long and steep, so wear proper shoes and allow time. Japan is an earthquake zone and Shimizu is on the coast; follow staff instructions and evacuation signs if a tsunami alert sounds.
Scams and tourist traps
- Bar overcharging: the UK government reports disputes over very large bar bills in Japan. Check prices and any cover charge before ordering.
- Street touts: touting is illegal but happens in nightlife areas. Do not follow a tout into a bar.
- Drink spiking with card fraud: reported in Japanese nightlife districts. Do not leave drinks unattended.
Emergency number: 110 (police), 119 (ambulance and fire)
Practical information
Crowds
Several ships can call in a week in autumn and two can be in on the same day. Kashi no Ichi's restaurants fill from about 11:00, so eat early. Miho is quieter on weekdays, but weekend buses run closer to the pine grove.
Accessibility
Hinode Wharf has a passenger terminal and the walk to Dream Plaza is short and level. The water bus is the easiest way to Miho and the station; ask the crew about wheelchair boarding. At Miho the beach is sand and the walk from the bus stop is 5–15 minutes. Kunozan is reached either by the ropeway and about 100 steps, or by 1,159 steps from below, so it is not suitable for wheelchair users.
If it rains
Fuji will not be visible and the water bus may be cancelled in rough weather. Spend the day at Dream Plaza and the Shimizu Sushi Museum, and the covered Kashi no Ichi market by Shimizu Station (not Wednesdays).
Money, language, time
Currency: JPY · Language: Japanese · Time zone: JST (UTC+9), no daylight saving
Your whole cruise, planned like this
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The day plan above assumes a 17:30 all-aboard. Your ship's times will differ, and so will every other stop. Pro builds the plan from your ship's real times: a timed day in Shimizu (Shizuoka City) and every other port, a leave-by time for each stop, and a Plan B if you run late. Ultimate adds a live leave-by countdown from where you are on the day. Every plan uses the same checked facts as this guide. Nothing is made up.
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Other ports on cruises that call at Shimizu (Shizuoka City)
Hakodate cruise port guide
Walk or short rideMost ships dock at Wakamatsu Wharf, near JR Hakodate Station and within walking distance of the Morning Market; the biggest ships use Minato-cho Wh…
Read the Hakodate guide
Nagasaki cruise port guide
Walk to townNagasaki is a docking port: most ships berth at the Matsugae International Terminal, in town below Glover Garden.
Read the Nagasaki guide
Busan cruise port guide
Walk or short rideBusan is a docking port with two cruise berths.
Read the Busan guide
Naha cruise port guide
Walk or short rideNaha is a docking port with two cruise berths.
Read the Naha guide
Shimizu (Shizuoka City) Cruise Port — Common Questions
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Sources & method
Facts checked against official sources: October 2026
- Japan Tourism Agency (MLIT) – Cruise port detail: Shimizu
- MLIT Chubu Shimizu Port Office – Hinode quay improvement completion (March 2024)
- Mt. Fuji Shimizu Port Cruise – Water bus
- Mt. Fuji Shimizu Port Cruise – Fares and timetable (April 2026)
- Visit Shizuoka – Shimizu Port Water Bus
- Visit Shizuoka – Shimizu area map (English)
- Visit Shizuoka – Tuna in Shizuoka City: Shimizu Port and Mochimune
- Shizuoka City – Miho no Matsubara Culture & Creativity Center (Miho Shirube)
- Kunozan Toshogu – Access
- Explore Shizuoka – Kashi no Ichi market
- Good Luck Trip – Nihondaira Ropeway
- Forever Karen – Shimizu cruise port (2025)
- My Cruise Stories – Shimizu cruise ship port (2019)
- CruiseMapper – Shimizu port schedule
- GOV.UK – Japan travel advice: safety and security
- Japan Tourism Agency – Safety information for visitors
Independently researched
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