Early on a frosty February morning, me and a friend made our way to Meitetsu Bus Centre to catch a tour bus to the neighbouring prefecture of Shizuoka, where the great Mt. Fuji awaited us. From within Meitetsu Nagoya Rail Station the bus centre is only minutes away. It’s well signposted and despite our sleepy state was a breeze to navigate.
The Kanko Bus arrived right on time at the terminal. All aboard, we comfortably settled into our seats for the three-hour journey to Shimizu Port, Shizuoka. We were provided a detailed itinerary and our knowledgeable tour guide highlighted sights of interest to glimpse from our window. For example, the Mikawa Area of eastern Aichi or the 10th largest lake in Japan, Lake Hamana.
Both the English and Japanese speaking tourists were well catered for and we were pleased to find WiFi and charging ports available on board too.

As we journeyed east it was clear to see that the land of Shizuoka was exceptionally fertile and abundant with green tea farms, tangerine groves and bamboo forests. Shizuoka alone produces 40% of Japan’s green tea leaves. Service stations are the perfect opportunity to buy a range of the region’s finest produce and even try a steamy cup of the famous green tea.

Our bus reached the port area just in time for lunch. We enjoyed an all-you-can-eat buffet at Jaws Kitchen, a restaurant within the bay side shopping complex of S-Pulse Dream Plaza. The buffet consisted of a variety of international cuisine to suit all tastes, including a ramen-making station and the chance to cook your own waffle- which the kids on the tour went crazy for!

S-Pulse Dream Plaza was a delight to saunter through, taking in not only the boutique souvenir shops but also museums dedicated to sushi and the popular Japanese anime character, Chibi Maruko-chan.

After lunch we re-grouped at Hinode pier opposite the Plaza to board a three-tiered cruise ship that drifted us into the bay to capture the most photogenic views of Mt. Fuji. Remarkably, mischievous seagulls were fed by the braver tourists on the top deck…

We were in luck, it was a bright, clear day with fantastic visibility of Japan’s tallest mountain (3776 metres). In fact, winter is known to be the best time of year to see Mt. Fuji, free of the summer’s rainy haze.
The small tuna fishing boats bobbing atop the deep blue water were the perfect visual accompaniment to the snow-capped peak. As were the magnificent birds of prey circling the Miho Marina, accentuating the wild allure of Mt. Fuji.

After 45 minutes of cruising, we were bussed up to a surprisingly quiet observation spot. At Nihondaira Yume Terrace one can behold a grand panorama, containing the tips of the Southern Alps, Mt.Fuji, Shimizu Port, Mt.Asitaka and the Izu peninsula.
A sight in and of itself, the terrace was designed by the architect Kengo Kuma, known for his slotted wooden beam structures that sit in harmony with the landscape. The stadium for the coming 2020 Tokyo Olympics is also a Kuma creation.

Our final stop of the day was the most delicious: a coastal strawberry farm. Upon arrving, the farmers led us into the maze of polytunnels to freely sample the sweet fruit to our hearts content, for thirty minutes. Japan prides itself on high quality fresh produce and these Akihime strawberries were no exception, exquisitely ripe for the picking. For those with an extra sweet-tooth, I would recommend dipping the berries into condensed milk for a sugary treat.

A small ajoining farmshop sold the biggest, most attractive strawberries to take home with you. Full of fruit and ready for an afternoon nap, we waddled back onto the tour bus to return to Nagoya.

Written by Chloe Etheridge