Miho no Matsubara
About this viewpoint
Miho no Matsubara is a seven kilometer pine grove fringing Suruga Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage component of the Fujisan listing. The view across the bay shows Fuji rising behind the pines, an angle made famous by Edo era ukiyo-e prints.
Why UNESCO
Miho no Matsubara was inscribed in 2013 as one of 25 components of Fujisan, recognising the visual and cultural relationship between the pine grove, Suruga Bay and the mountain. The legend of the Hagoromo (feather robe) is set here.
Best light
Morning often has sea haze. Afternoon clears, and sunset paints the western face of Fuji in warm light reflected back across the bay.
Combine with
Nihondaira plateau (15 minutes drive) for a tea field foreground, Kunozan Toshogu shrine and the Shimizu sushi street for lunch.
Photographer tips
- The walk from the bus stop to the shore takes ten minutes through the pine forest.
- Combine with a sushi lunch in Shimizu, a five minute drive away.
- Sunset light catches the western face of Fuji for golden mountain photography.
Gear to bring
- Polarizer to deepen the bay blue
- ND grad to balance bright sky against dark sand
Getting there
Practical info
Free
Free parking near the Miho no Matsubara Cultural Center.
Boardwalks lead from the cultural center to the shore. The beach itself is loose black sand.
70 to 200 mm to compress the pines, bay and peak.
Where to eat nearby
- Shimizu Maguro Market
Tuna market with sushi counters, a 15 minute bus from Miho.
Best rail pass for Miho no Matsubara
These are the rail passes that actually reach Miho no Matsubara. Buy your pass before you fly, then collect it at any major Japanese airport or city station.
Japan Rail Pass (7 days)Recommended
Tokaido Shinkansen Kodama and Hikari to Mishima, Shin-Fuji and Shizuoka are fully covered, plus local JR Tokaido line trains along the Shizuoka coast.
Mt Fuji Shizuoka Pass
Local buses and trains around Shin-Fuji, Mishima and Shimizu. Lighter and cheaper than a national pass if Fuji is your only Shinkansen leg.
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