Planning a day trip to Numazu and Mishima? Discover the best things to do near Mt. Fuji, including Mishima Taisha, Kakita River Springs, Numazu Port, and the Deep Sea Aquarium.
After spending the night in Oshino near Mt. Fuji, we decided to explore a different side of the region the next day.
Instead of heading back toward Tokyo immediately, we drove south toward Mishima and Numazu, two cities in Shizuoka Prefecture that sit between Mt. Fuji and Suruga Bay.
At first glance, they may not appear on every tourist itinerary. However, once you start looking into them, you quickly realize that this area offers something unique:
- historic shrines
- incredibly clear spring water
- seaside views
- and fantastic local food
The best part?
You can easily visit all of these places in a single day by car.
Here is the exact route we followed.
Want to explore more near Tokyo? Check this!
Driving from Oshino to Mishima
The drive from Oshino (near the Fuji Five Lakes) to Mishima takes roughly less than one hour.
As you leave the Mt. Fuji area, the landscape gradually changes. Forested mountain roads eventually give way to towns and rivers flowing toward the ocean.
Because public transportation between these smaller spots can be limited, having a car makes the day far easier and more flexible.
With a car, you can stop whenever something catches your eye — and in this region, beautiful scenery appears everywhere.
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11:30 – Lunch in Mishima: Famous Local Eel
Before exploring the city, we started with one of Mishima’s most famous foods: eel (unagi).
Mishima is known throughout Japan for its eel restaurants. The reason goes back to the city’s natural water system. The area sits on underground springs fed by Mt. Fuji’s snowmelt, and restaurants traditionally rinse eel in this clean spring water before cooking it.
This process removes excess fat and odor, creating an incredibly soft and clean flavor.
We ordered hitsumabushi, a style of eel dish served over rice.
What makes hitsumabushi special is how you eat it.
First, enjoy the eel and rice on its own.
Then add condiments such as green onions or wasabi.
Finally, pour warm broth over the bowl to create a comforting eel rice soup.
Each step changes the flavor slightly, which makes the meal surprisingly fun.
It was the perfect way to begin the day.
13:00 – Mishima Taisha Shrine
After lunch, we visited Mishima Taisha, the most important shrine in the city.
This historic shrine once served as the Ichinomiya (highest-ranked shrine) of the old Izu Province, and many historical figures visited here. One of the most famous was Minamoto no Yoritomo, who prayed here before establishing the Kamakura shogunate.
During our visit, part of the shrine grounds was temporarily closed for renovation work. Because of this, we offered our prayers from the worship area on the east side of the Maiden (dance hall) instead of approaching the main hall directly.
Before leaving, we tried a local specialty called Fukutaro, a kusa mochi topped with smooth red bean paste. The set comes with green tea and costs just 300 yen.
The mochi was soft, slightly herbal from the mugwort, and perfectly paired with the tea — a simple but memorable treat after visiting the shrine.
📍 Mishima Taisha Shrine
Mishima Taisha is the most important shrine in Mishima and one of the city’s key historical landmarks, known for its spacious grounds and long connection to Minamoto no Yoritomo.
13:40 – Takigawa Shrine
Just a short distance away lies a much smaller and lesser-known shrine: Takigawa Shrine.
At first glance, it may seem modest. However, the location makes it special.
The shrine sits near a flowing stream, and the sound of running water fills the surrounding area. Because Mishima is famous for its natural springs, water plays an important role in the local culture.
Standing there for a moment, you really begin to understand why the city developed around clean water flowing from Mt. Fuji.
It’s a small stop, but one that adds a quiet, atmospheric moment to the day.
📍 Takigawa Shrine
Takigawa Shrine is a small and peaceful shrine in Mishima known for its quiet setting and flowing spring water, reflecting the city’s deep connection to Mt. Fuji’s underground springs.
14:30 – Kakita River Park
Next, we drove a few minutes to one of the most remarkable natural sites in the region: Kakita River Park.
This park protects the Kakita River spring, one of the largest spring water sources in Japan.
Here’s what makes it extraordinary.
Water from Mt. Fuji travels underground for decades through layers of volcanic rock. Eventually, it rises to the surface here in powerful natural springs.
From the observation deck, you can see the water bubbling up from the ground.
The color is incredible.
Instead of muddy river water, the spring appears clear and deep blue, almost like something you would expect to see in a tropical lagoon.
The surrounding park is quiet and green, making it an ideal place to slow down and enjoy the scenery.
📍 Kakita River Park
Kakita River Park is one of Japan’s most famous spring-water spots, known for its crystal-clear blue pools fed by underground water from Mt. Fuji.
16:00 – Arriving at Numazu Port
From Mishima, it takes only about 20 minutes to reach Numazu Port.
Suddenly, the atmosphere changes again.
Instead of rivers and shrines, you arrive at a lively seaside fishing port filled with seafood restaurants, snack stalls, and small shops.
Numazu is famous for fishing, especially deep-sea species caught in Suruga Bay.
Numazu Port Large Water Gate “View-O”
One of the first things you notice at the port is the massive structure called View-O.
This large water gate protects the city from tsunamis, but it also serves as a viewing platform.
Take the elevator to the top and you’ll get a panoramic view of:
- Suruga Bay
- Numazu Port
- the surrounding coastline
- and sometimes Mt. Fuji in the distance
Seeing the ocean after spending time in the mountains makes the contrast especially memorable.
📍 Numazu Port Large Water Gate View-O
View-O is a large floodgate and observation deck near Numazu Port, offering views over the harbor, Suruga Bay, and on clear days, Mt. Fuji.
Street Food Around Numazu Port
After walking around the harbor, we started exploring the food stalls.
And this is where the fun really began.
Numazu Port is a great place for casual food hopping.
We tried several local treats:
- an-butter taiyaki (sweet red bean and butter inside a fish-shaped pastry)
- matcha soft serve ice cream
- hojicha soft serve
- guri tea, a fragrant local green tea from Shizuoka
Eating snacks while walking along the harbor feels relaxed and festive at the same time.
Numazu Deep Sea Aquarium
Next, we visited one of Numazu’s most unique attractions: the Numazu Deep Sea Aquarium.
Unlike most aquariums that focus on tropical fish or dolphins, this one specializes in deep-sea creatures.
Suruga Bay is one of the deepest bays in Japan, which makes it an ideal place for studying these mysterious species.
Inside the aquarium you can see:
- unusual deep-sea fish
- strange glowing creatures
- and rare marine animals that live hundreds of meters below the surface
It’s a surprisingly fascinating place and quite different from typical aquariums.
📍 Numazu Deep Sea Aquarium
Numazu Deep Sea Aquarium is a unique aquarium near Numazu Port featuring rare deep-sea creatures from Suruga Bay.
Shopping at Numazu Minato Shinsenkan
Before leaving the port area, we stopped at Numazu Minato Shinsenkan, a big shopping complex near the harbor.
This is a great place to look for souvenirs.
You’ll find:
- dried seafood
- local snacks
- Shizuoka tea
- specialty regional products
Even if you’re not planning to buy much, browsing the shops adds to the experience of visiting a working fishing port.
📍 Numazu Minato Shinsenkan
Numazu Minato Shinsenkan is a small shopping complex near Numazu Port where visitors can find seafood products, local snacks, and souvenirs from Shizuoka.
A Fun Bakery Find: The “Mendako” Bread
On the way back, we discovered a bakery selling something unexpected.
They had bread shaped like a deep-sea octopus (mendako).
Even better, this one was strawberry flavored.
It looked so unusual that we decided to buy one for the next morning’s breakfast.
Travel sometimes surprises you with little moments like this.
This Mishima–Numazu Route
Here’s the full route we followed.
Mishima
→ eel lunch
→ Mishima Taisha Shrine
→ Takigawa Shrine
→ Kakita River Park
→ Numazu Port
→ View-O observation deck
→ Numazu Deep Sea Aquarium
All of these places are within 20–30 minutes driving distance, which makes the itinerary comfortable and easy to complete in one day.
Why This Day Trip Works So Well
What makes this route special is the variety.
In just one day, you can experience:
historic shrines
crystal-clear spring water from Mt. Fuji
seaside views of Suruga Bay
fresh seafood and local snacks
And because everything sits relatively close together, the trip never feels rushed.
Final Thoughts
Many travelers visiting the Mt. Fuji region focus only on the Fuji Five Lakes.
However, if you continue south toward Mishima and Numazu, you’ll discover another side of the area.
Here, Mt. Fuji’s underground water shapes the landscape, flowing from mountain springs all the way to the sea.
The result is a region filled with natural beauty, fascinating history, and fantastic food.
If you’re already exploring the Mt. Fuji area, this one-day drive to Mishima and Numazu makes a perfect continuation of the trip.
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* affiliate links are incluede — we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Prices will be changed.
