Shizuoka City brings together the history of Tokugawa Ieyasu at Sunpu Castle, cuisine shaped by rich natural surroundings, and renowned hot springs delivered by pipeline, making it a fitting destination for adults seeking refined experiences and deep relaxation away from everyday life. This year, September 19 (Saturday) marks the start of the first five-day holiday in 11 years, and to coincide with it, the National Treasure Kunozan Toshogu Shrine will hold a reservation-only nighttime special viewing, 光彩-IRODORI-.
From the elegant autumn colors of Momijiyama Garden, steeped in the history of Sunpu's old castle town, to the breathtaking sight of the National Treasure Kunozan Toshogu Shrine set against the blue waters of Suruga Bay, and the illuminated waterfalls of the deep mountains of Okushizu — Shizuoka City's many shades of autumn come together here. Easily reached from the city center by shinkansen yet far removed from the rush of a day trip, this refined 1-night, 2-day itinerary offers a graceful way to unwind the senses in Shizuoka this autumn.
The Journey Begins With a Garden Steeped in Edo-Era Elegance, and a Moment of Tea
Sunpu Castle Park still carries the atmosphere of the old castle town that once flourished here. Tucked within it is a dignified garden where a refined autumn journey for adults begins, with a taste of Shizuoka's rich tea culture and a moment that satisfies both curiosity and the senses.
Sunpu Castle Park: Momijiyama Garden
A beautiful strolling-style feudal lord's garden built around the historical setting of Sunpu Castle. It is composed of "four gardens" representing Suruga's famous sights, including an artificial hill modeled on Mount Fuji and a pond representing the Abe River, along with a vividly colored maple valley, all set within rich natural surroundings for a leisurely stroll. The grounds also include a modern-style tea house (a standing-style tea ceremony room), where visitors can enjoy tea and Japanese sweets in a tranquil setting.
Address: 1-1 Sunpu Castle Park, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City
Hours: 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM (last entry 4:00 PM)
Closed: Every Monday, and around the New Year holidays (if a Monday falls on a public holiday, the park stays open with no substitute closure)
Admission: Adults ¥150, children (elementary and junior high school students) ¥50
A combined ticket that also covers Higashi-gomon Gate/Tatsumi Yagura and Hitsujisaru Yagura is available: Adults ¥360, children (elementary and junior high school students) ¥120
URL: https://sumpu-castlepark.com/
Reservation Required: A Luxurious Lunch Where the Art of Tea Meets Culinary Craftsmanship
Held in the tea house at Sunpu Castle Park's Momijiyama Garden, this autumn-only special event lets guests experience the wisdom of Shizuoka's tea culture alongside the craftsmanship of a seasoned Japanese cuisine chef. The program includes a talk on the health benefits of tea by the director of Shizuoka University's tea research center, a lesson on brewing delicious tea from a local tea farmer, and a special Japanese meal from Tsubakitei, a noted Shizuoka restaurant, all in one setting.
Date and time: Saturday, October 24, 2026, 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Venue: Tea house, Momijiyama Garden, Sunpu Castle Park
Capacity and fee: 32 people, junior high school age and older (by lottery if oversubscribed) / ¥8,000
Registration period: September 1 (Tue) to October 9 (Fri), 2026 (applications must arrive by the deadline)
Details and applications: https://sumpu-castlepark.com/info/
A Short Trip to the Toro Area: Autumn Art at the Serizawa Keisuke Art Museum's 45th Anniversary
About a 10-minute drive from Sunpu Castle Park, the Shizuoka City Serizawa Keisuke Art Museum in the Toro area will hold a special exhibition marking its 45th anniversary starting October 10 (Saturday). Alongside the vividly colored stencil-dyed works of Living National Treasure Keisuke Serizawa, the exhibition introduces the many design projects whose influence can still be seen across Japan today. It is a special autumn exhibition well worth combining with a historical stroll through Sunpu.
The garden's fragrant olive trees bloom in October.
Address: 5-10-5 Toro, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka City
Hours: 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Admission: General ¥420, high school and university students ¥260, elementary and junior high school students ¥100 / free for preschool children
45th Anniversary Special Exhibition: Serizawa's Designs, Alive in the Streets
Period: October 10 (Sat) to December 13 (Sun), 2026
Content: The exhibition features around 300 of Serizawa's designs, from restaurant signs and menus to tea and sake labels, theater curtains, and stained glass.
Autumn Foliage at the National Treasure Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, Overlooking Suruga Bay
Kunozan is a majestic scenic spot overlooking Suruga Bay, with the Izu Peninsula to the east and Cape Omaezaki to the west. As autumn deepens, the forest surrounding the solemn shrine buildings turns red and gold all at once, creating a striking view found only here, where ocean and autumn leaves meet.
Kunozan Toshogu Shrine
Kunozan Toshogu is the founding shrine of all Toshogu shrines nationwide, enshrining Tokugawa Ieyasu. Its lavish main hall, built in the gongen-zukuri style with full lacquer coating and vivid coloring, is designated a National Treasure as a representative structure of the early Edo period. The shrine's intricate carvings and patterns, steeped in history, take on an even more sacred glow when wrapped in soft autumn sunlight filtering through the trees and vivid fall colors.
Address: 390 Nekoya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka City
Visiting hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Admission:
Shrine Hall: Adults ¥700, children ¥300 / Museum: Adults ¥600, children ¥300
Combined ticket: Adults ¥1,200, children ¥600 (Adults refers to high school age and above; children refers to elementary and junior high school students.)
URL: https://www.toshogu.or.jp/
National Treasure Kunozan Toshogu Shrine Special Nighttime Viewing: 光彩-IRODORI- (Reservations Required)
Inspired by the carving of the baku, a legendary creature and symbol of Ieyasu's wish for peace, on the shrine's tower gate, the art collective YouRuMaru transforms the grounds with a fantastical display of light for this special nighttime viewing.
Dates: September 19 (Sat) to November 29 (Sun), 2026
September and October: Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. November: Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays (closed October 17 and November 22–23 for shrine rituals).
Hours: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM (last entry 8:00 PM)
Tickets:
Advance tickets: available through Seven Ticket and EX旅先予約 (sold through the day before each event date).
Same-day tickets: sold at Nihondaira Station on the Nihondaira Ropeway.
Admission:
Same-day: Adults ¥2,700, junior high school students ¥2,200, elementary school students ¥1,600, children ages 4 and up ¥630 (free for ages 3 and under)
Advance: Adults ¥2,400, junior high school students ¥1,900, elementary school students ¥1,300 (free for ages 3 and under)
URL: https://www.toshogu-lightup.com/
Concluding the Journey With a Luxurious Moment of Rest
Enjoying exceptional Japanese cuisine with a view of Mount Fuji, far from the crowds. What completes the satisfaction of a 1-night, 2-day trip is the quality of time spent at the inn.
Japanese Restaurant Fukian
Located on the first floor of Nihondaira Hotel, this dining room for adults looks out past a beautiful reflecting pool to Mount Fuji and Suruga Bay. Guests can enjoy sushi skillfully hand-pressed with the chef's carefully selected seasonal seafood from Suruga Bay, along with refined Japanese cuisine that captures the changing seasons, all in a calm setting that engages every sense.
Address: 1500-2 Mabase, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka City
Hours:
Lunch: 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM (last order 2:30 PM)
Dinner: 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM (last order 8:30 PM); the sushi counter stays open until 9:30 PM (last order 9:00 PM)
URL: https://www.ndhl.jp/restaurant/fukian
Nihondaira Hotel
True to its reputation as a "landscape museum," this hotel commands a sweeping view of Mount Fuji across Suruga Bay. Rooms with panoramic windows offer a view that never grows tiring. Staying overnight brings a privilege reserved only for guests: a beautiful Mount Fuji lit by the sunrise in the clear autumn air.
Address: 1500-2 Mabase, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka City
TEL: 054-335-1131 (main line)
Tokugawa's Inner Chamber: Kuno-juku (LIBERTY RESORT)
Set in an area that recreates the beautiful streetscape of old Japan, this dignified hot-spring inn suits a private stay. Guests can fully set aside the busyness of daily life, soak in the fine hot spring water, and enjoy the luxury of doing nothing at all while unwinding body and mind.
Address: 294 Furujuku, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka City
URL: https://kunozan.jp/kuno-juku/
Okushizu's Autumn Colors, at Their Best From Late October to Early November
A little further from the city center, Okushizu (deep Shizuoka) is an adults' hideaway dotted with outstanding autumn foliage spots shaped by rich forests and gorges.
Umegashima Area
- Akaike Falls
A well-known waterfall with a 50-meter drop, framed by autumn leaves. In mid-November, a special nighttime illumination is held to coincide with the foliage season, when the falls and autumn colors emerging from the darkness make for a rare and beautiful sight found only during this time of year.
- Umegashima Konya no Sato
A quiet hot-spring area along the Abe River, which flows through the city. The road around the tennis courts turns a vivid red, its bright contrast with the blue sky coloring the mountainside.
Ikawa Area
- Hatanagi Suspension Bridge
A 181-meter-long suspension bridge marking the start of a mountain trail into the Southern Alps. One of the prefecture's leading foliage spots, it offers a thrilling view over a deeply carved gorge and the grand autumn colors of the Southern Alps spreading out below. (A 40-minute walk from Numadaira Gate; general vehicles cannot pass beyond Numadaira Gate.)
- Hatanagi No. 1 Dam
North of Lake Ikawa, toward the Southern Alps, lies Lake Hatanagi, a foliage spot known mainly to those in the know. The mountains ringing the lake all turn a blazing color at once, in harmony with the dam lake's grand scenery.
- Lake Ikawa
A spot known for both fresh greenery and autumn colors, where the dam lake's surface contrasts vividly with the surrounding foliage. The Lake Ikawa ferry runs across its calm waters, and the autumn leaves seen from the boat are especially beautiful.
- Former Railway Trail (Haisen Koji)
A walking course built along a disused section of the Oigawa Railway, with the tracks left in place. Visitors can pass through a tunnel and walk along the nostalgic rails while enjoying the beautiful autumn foliage around Lake Ikawa.
Okushizu Promotional Video Now Available
A promotional video touring Ikawa's autumn foliage spots is available on Instagram and YouTube below.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPQuT1NkaxQ/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGg69J2b6bI&list=PL6tjJSK4QTKsDzYJr1aiP1M8wq2B-nBge&index=9
