5 Photogenic Spectacular Spots in Shizuoka

Shizuoka Prefecture is a treasure trove with photogenic stages all in place: Mount Fuji, Suruga Bay, and the mountains of Amagi. This time, we have selected 5 spectacular spots that "make you want to take as many photos as you can." Let's head out on a photogenic journey, camera in hand!

1. Lake Tanuki (Fujinomiya City) | The Miraculous Morning When "Inverted Fuji" Floats on the Water

The greatest charm of Lake Tanuki is the inverted Fuji reflected on the lake surface. On a windless early morning, the spectacle of Mount Fuji reflected symmetrically on the mirror-like water surface is just like a painting.

Shooting Tips

• Best time: The 5 to 6 o'clock hour right after sunrise. The time slot when the lake surface is dead calm is the target
• Best season: Late April to May and October are especially recommended for clear skies
• Composition: Aim for a perfect symmetrical shot, being conscious of the horizon so that the lake surface and Mount Fuji are 1:1

Access: About 25 minutes by car from JR Fujinomiya Station

2. Tea Fields and Mount Fuji (around Fuji City and Fujinomiya City) | A Co-Starring of Green Gradation and Silver-White

The composition of vividly emerald-green tea fields in the foreground with snow-capped Mount Fuji standing solidly behind is unique to Shizuoka. You can crop the original scenery of Japan just as it is, without a filter.

Shooting Tips

• Best time: The soft light of the morning beautifully sets off the green of the tea fields
• Best season: April to May, the season of new tea, is the most vivid green
• Composition: Placing the lines of the tea-field ridges diagonally creates a sense of depth for a dramatic shot

Access: Obuchi Sasaba (Fuji City) is about 20 minutes by car from JR Fuji Station

3. Lovers' Cape (Izu City) | Monopolizing Suruga Bay Dyed in the Sunset

Lovers' Cape, located on the west coast of the Izu Peninsula, is enormously popular as a sunset spot where the sun sinks into Suruga Bay. The orange-and-blue gradation spreads across the whole sky, and silhouette photos come out perfectly too.

Shooting Tips

• Best time: Aim for the golden hour from 30 minutes before sunset
• Best season: Autumn to winter (November to February), when clear skies continue, has clear air and vivid colors
• Composition: Silhouetting the observation deck's railing or people, with the sunset in the background, gives MAX drama

Access: About 40 minutes by bus from Izuhakone Railway Shuzenji Station

4. Shiraito Falls (Fujinomiya City) | A Fantasy World Woven by Lace Curtains

Shiraito Falls, flowing down across a width of 200 meters, has delicate flows of water like white lace. In seasons overlapping with fresh greenery or autumn leaves, you can take a shot as if you have wandered into a fantasy world.

Shooting Tips

• Best time: From morning to before noon. Light shines into the falls and the sparkling sense increases
• Best season: The fresh greenery of May and the autumn leaves of October to November are especially dreamlike
• Composition: The trend is to express the flow of water silkily with a slow shutter (1/4 to 1 second)

Access: About 30 minutes by bus from JR Fujinomiya Station

5. Ryugu Cave (Minamiizu Town) | A Heart of Light Pouring Down from the Skylight

A natural "skylight" formed when the cave's ceiling collapsed. It is a spot that has become a topic because, when looked down from above, the inside of the cave appears heart-shaped. The co-starring of the blue-glowing sea and the pouring light is a one-of-a-kind photo experience.

Shooting Tips

• Best time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., when the sun is high, makes it easy for light to enter the cave
• Best season: Early summer to summer (June to August), when the sea's transparency increases
• Composition: A shot taken from the edge of the skylight, looking down over the whole heart, is very popular on social media!

Access: About 15 minutes by car from Izukyu Shimoda Station

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Best season and time of day: Shiraito Falls is most beautiful in the fresh-green and autumn-foliage seasons; plan your visit around the car park's hours of use (9:00-17:00, until 16:30 in winter). For the inverted reflection of Mt. Fuji on Lake Tanuki, aim for an early morning with no wind.
• Opening hours and periods: The Shiraito Falls car park is open 9:00-17:00 (entry until 30 minutes before closing; until 16:30 in winter), open all year round.
• Fees: No admission fee is required for Shiraito Falls itself. The Shiraito Falls car park costs 500 yen for cars, 200 yen for motorcycles, and 1,000 yen each for microbuses and large buses. For fees at Koibito Misaki (Lovers' Cape), Lake Tanuki and Ryugu Cave, check the official websites of the respective facilities and local authorities.
• Access: Shiraito Falls is about 30 minutes from JR Fujinomiya Station by Fujikyu Shizuoka Bus, or about 30 minutes by car from Fuji IC on the Tomei Expressway or Shin-Fuji IC on the Shin-Tomei Expressway. For Koibito Misaki, take a Tokai Bus (bound for Toi or Dogashima) from Shuzenji Station on the Izuhakone Railway (services are infrequent, so check the timetable). Ryugu Cave is located in Toji, Shimoda City.
• Parking: The Shiraito Falls car park has 105 spaces for cars, 10 for large buses, 5 for microbuses and 10 for motorcycles. There is a tourist information office and public toilets. There are also private car parks nearby.
• Photography rules: Shiraito Falls is a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument, as well as a component part of the "Mt. Fuji" World Cultural Heritage site. Do not enter restricted areas or go beyond the guide ropes. At Ryugu Cave, some sections are closed off because of the risk of collapse and falling rocks. Follow the on-site notices and the instructions of the site managers as to whether tripods and drones are permitted.
• Safety notes: There are about 100 steps down to the viewing area at the basin of Shiraito Falls, and the footing becomes slippery from the spray (the viewing area before the steps is wheelchair accessible). Ryugu Cave has poor footing, so wear non-slip shoes, and never enter the restricted areas where there is a risk of collapse. On coastal capes and rocky shores, watch out for waves and strong winds.

Note: Ryugu Cave is located in Toji, Shimoda City, Shizuoka Prefecture, not in "Minamiizu Town".

(Sources: Fujinomiya City Tourism Association (public interest incorporated association), "Shiraito Falls (Shiraito no Taki and Otodome no Taki)"; Shimoda City, Shizuoka Prefecture / Izu Shimoda Tourism Guide; Izu Peninsula Geopark)