Four nights in Shizuoka: how should you split the two cities?

Day 1 · Shizuoka Station → Nihondaira and Kunozan Toshogu → Shizuoka hotel

This itinerary starts from Shizuoka Station in the morning so you can visit Nihondaira and Kunozan Toshogu on day one. If you arrive late in the afternoon, omit the shrine round trip or move it to another sightseeing day.

1. In front of Shizuoka Station → Nihondaira Ropeway bus terminus

   Choose a bus that continues to the Nihondaira Ropeway terminus. Check both the outbound service and your return to Shizuoka Station in the weekday or weekend/public-holiday timetable for your date. After reaching the summit, leave time for the ropeway, shrine, and observation facilities.

   Weekday outbound timetable2026-10-08Weekday return timetable2026-10-08Nihondaira Ropeway — one-way ride duration2026-10-09

2. Nihondaira Ropeway Station → Kunozan Station and Toshogu

   Prepare a round-trip ropeway ticket and ride down to Kunozan Station. After the roughly five-minute one-way ride, climb about 80 steps to the shrine buildings. Ticketing, waiting, and stairs are additional to the ride time. If stairs are difficult or wind suspends the ropeway, omit the shrine and focus on the terrace views.

   Shizutetsu Nihondaira Ropeway — visitor information2026-10-09Nihondaira Ropeway — one-way ride duration2026-10-09

3. Kunozan Toshogu → Paid shrine worship area

   Use a shrine admission ticket to see the architecture and paid worship area. Admission is ¥700 for high school students and older; the museum is extra. Hours are 9 a.m.–5 p.m., with admission requests until 4:50 p.m., but finish your visit in time for the return bus.

   Kunozan Toshogu — admission fees2026-10-09Shizutetsu — December Nihondaira Ropeway suspension2026-10-08

4. Toshogu and Kunozan Station → Nihondaira Yume Terrace

   Descend the steps to Kunozan Station and take the ropeway back to Nihondaira. There is no connecting footpath between the two mountains. Have lunch and rest at the summit, then follow terrace signs along the roughly three-minute connecting walk. The outdoor corridor is free; regular building admission is ¥100. Building hours are 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday–Friday and 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Saturday. It closes on the second Tuesday, or the next weekday if that Tuesday is a public holiday. Mount Fuji visibility depends on the weather.

   Shizutetsu Nihondaira Ropeway — visitor information2026-10-09Nihondaira Yume Terrace — visitor information2026-10-08Nihondaira Yume Terrace — facility information2026-10-08

5. Nihondaira Ropeway bus terminus → In front of Shizuoka Station

   Reach the stop in time for the service to Shizuoka Station you chose from the return timetable. If sightseeing runs late, shorten the remaining viewpoint visit and rest to catch the bus. Have dinner after returning to Shizuoka Station, then continue to your hotel. The return fare is excluded from this itinerary’s partial total.

   Weekday return timetable2026-10-08Weekday outbound timetable2026-10-08Shizutetsu — section fare search (outbound verified; return unconfirmed)2026-10-08

Day 2 · Shizuoka Station → Kodama → Kiunkaku in Atami → Atami hotel

1. Shizuoka Station → Kodama and Atami Station

   Use JR Central’s date-specific search to choose a Kodama service that stops at Atami. The verified ordinary-car unreserved price is ¥3,100: ¥1,340 base fare plus ¥1,760 limited express ticket. An unreserved ticket does not guarantee a seat. Allow for the walk from Atami Station to Kiunkaku and its 4:30 p.m. admission cutoff.

   JR Central basic eastbound timetable2026-10-08JR Central — date-specific Kodama route and fare search2026-10-08

2. Atami Station → Kiunkaku

   Have lunch near the station, then walk about 20 minutes to Kiunkaku. Explore the former residence’s Japanese and Western architecture and garden today. Allow time for hills and rest stops.

   Kiunkaku — admission and opening hours2026-10-08Kiunkaku official tourism guide — about a 20-minute station walk2026-10-08Japan Tourism Association — walking access to Kiunkaku2026-10-08

3. Kiunkaku → Buildings and garden

   It is open 9 a.m.–5 p.m., with last admission at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday closures have a public-holiday exception; it is also closed December 26–30. Confirm that it opens on your travel date before exploring the buildings and garden.

   Kiunkaku — admission and opening hours2026-10-08Atami Tourism Association — Kiunkaku holiday closure exceptions2026-10-08

4. Kiunkaku → Toward Atami Station

   After your visit, retrace the roughly 20-minute walk toward the station. Rest nearby before continuing to your hotel. Choose dinner based on whether your stay includes a meal.

   Kiunkaku — admission and opening hours2026-10-08Kiunkaku official tourism guide — about a 20-minute station walk2026-10-08

Day 3 · Atami Station stop 8 → MOA Museum of Art → Atami Station

1. Atami Station bus stop 8 → MOA Museum of Art bus terminus

   Take a bus bound for MOA Museum of Art and get off at the terminus after about seven minutes. Choose both your outbound museum service and return to Atami Station for your date. Services marked M in the timetable do not run when the museum is closed.

   MOA visitor information2026-10-08Tokai Bus timetables in both directions2026-10-08

2. Bus terminus → MOA main building

   Buy your ticket at the escalator entrance in front of the bus stop. Ride eight escalator sections for about 10 minutes to MOA Square, then continue to the main building entrance. Allow additional time for ticketing and waiting.

   MOA — official map of the escalator entrance and bus stop2026-10-08MOA — Art Street and escalator access2026-10-08

3. MOA main building → Art exhibition and lunch

   See the exhibition running on your date and allow separate time for lunch and rest. Standard hours are 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with admission until 4 p.m. Thursday closures have a public-holiday exception. Exhibition changeover closures also apply, so check the displayed works, exhibition dates, and opening calendar together.

   MOA visitor information2026-10-08Operating calendar2026-10-08MOA exhibition list2026-10-08

4. MOA Museum of Art → Atami Station

   Descend the escalators to the stop and take your chosen bus to Atami Station. Travel from the galleries to the stop and waiting are additional to the roughly seven-minute bus ride. Plan dinner or a rest near the station.

   MOA visitor information2026-10-08Tokai Bus timetables in both directions2026-10-08

Day 4 · Atami Station → Kinomiya Shrine → hotel near Atami Station

1. Atami Station → Kinomiya Shrine

   Walk from Atami Station to Kinomiya Shrine. Its official guide lists about 1.6 km, or 18 minutes on foot. Explore the grounds and large camphor tree and take a rest during the 9 a.m.–5 p.m. worship hours. Requests for a separate prayer service are accepted until 4:30 p.m. Follow on-site directions for worship routes during construction.

   Shrine official access and worship hours2026-10-08Atami Tourism Association — Kinomiya Shrine2026-10-08

2. Kinomiya Shrine → Toward Atami Station

   After worship, retrace your route toward the station and have lunch. The roughly 18 minutes refers to access from the station to the shrine; allow additional time for the grounds, rest stops on hills, and reaching your hotel. If taking a bus instead, check stops, services, and fares in both directions separately.

   Shrine official access and worship hours2026-10-08Atami Tourism Association — Kinomiya Shrine2026-10-08

Day 5 · Atami Station → Sun Beach coast → Atami Station

1. Atami Station → Sun Beach coast

   After breakfast, walk about 20 minutes from the station to Sun Beach. Explore the sand and seaside walking area, enjoying coastal views on a separate day from the architecture and art visits.

   Sun Beach — seasonal use and station access2026-10-08

2. Sun Beach coast → Atami Station

   Shorten the visit in heavy rain or strong wind. The return toward the station is uphill: add rest stops and time to reach your platform to the roughly 20-minute walk. Choose lunch on the way back or near the station. This is a coastal walk; summer swimming and waterpark admission are separate.

   Sun Beach — seasonal use and station access2026-10-08

Day 1 · Shizuoka Station → Nihondaira and Kunozan Toshogu → Shizuoka hotel

This itinerary starts from Shizuoka Station in the morning so you can visit Nihondaira and Kunozan Toshogu on day one. If you arrive late in the afternoon, omit the shrine round trip or move it to another sightseeing day.

1. In front of Shizuoka Station → Nihondaira Ropeway bus terminus

   Choose a bus that continues to the Nihondaira Ropeway terminus. Check both the outbound service and your return to Shizuoka Station in the weekday or weekend/public-holiday timetable for your date. After reaching the summit, leave time for the ropeway, shrine, and observation facilities.

   Weekday outbound timetable2026-10-08Weekday return timetable2026-10-08Nihondaira Ropeway — one-way ride duration2026-10-09

2. Nihondaira Ropeway Station → Kunozan Station and Toshogu

   Prepare a round-trip ropeway ticket and ride down to Kunozan Station. After the roughly five-minute one-way ride, climb about 80 steps to the shrine buildings. Ticketing, waiting, and stairs are additional to the ride time. If stairs are difficult or wind suspends the ropeway, omit the shrine and focus on the terrace views.

   Shizutetsu Nihondaira Ropeway — visitor information2026-10-09Nihondaira Ropeway — one-way ride duration2026-10-09

3. Kunozan Toshogu → Paid shrine worship area

   Use a shrine admission ticket to see the architecture and paid worship area. Admission is ¥700 for high school students and older; the museum is extra. Hours are 9 a.m.–5 p.m., with admission requests until 4:50 p.m., but finish your visit in time for the return bus.

   Kunozan Toshogu — admission fees2026-10-09Shizutetsu — December Nihondaira Ropeway suspension2026-10-08

4. Toshogu and Kunozan Station → Nihondaira Yume Terrace

   Descend the steps to Kunozan Station and take the ropeway back to Nihondaira. There is no connecting footpath between the two mountains. Have lunch and rest at the summit, then follow terrace signs along the roughly three-minute connecting walk. The outdoor corridor is free; regular building admission is ¥100. Building hours are 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday–Friday and 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Saturday. It closes on the second Tuesday, or the next weekday if that Tuesday is a public holiday. Mount Fuji visibility depends on the weather.

   Shizutetsu Nihondaira Ropeway — visitor information2026-10-09Nihondaira Yume Terrace — visitor information2026-10-08Nihondaira Yume Terrace — facility information2026-10-08

5. Nihondaira Ropeway bus terminus → In front of Shizuoka Station

   Reach the stop in time for the service to Shizuoka Station you chose from the return timetable. If sightseeing runs late, shorten the remaining viewpoint visit and rest to catch the bus. Have dinner after returning to Shizuoka Station, then continue to your hotel. The return fare is excluded from this itinerary’s partial total.

   Weekday return timetable2026-10-08Weekday outbound timetable2026-10-08Shizutetsu — section fare search (outbound verified; return unconfirmed)2026-10-08

Day 2 · Shizuoka Station → city art museum exhibition on your date → Shizuoka hotel

1. JR Shizuoka Station north exit → Shizuoka City Museum of Art

   Follow the underground passage to the third floor of Aoi Tower, about three minutes away. This is a different facility from the prefectural art museum. Check the hours and admission cutoff of the exhibition running on your date before visiting. Allow separate time for lunch and rest.

   Shizuoka City Museum of Art — Renoir exhibition fees2026-10-09Shizuoka City Museum of Art — opening calendar2026-10-08Shizuoka City Museum of Art — current exhibitions2026-10-09

2. City art museum exhibition entrance → JR Shizuoka Station

   It is open 10 a.m.–7 p.m., with gallery admission until 6:30 p.m. Monday closures have a public-holiday exception, with closure on the next weekday instead. After visiting, follow the underground passage back toward the station. For another exhibition period, recheck the exhibition, prices, and closure dates.

   Shizuoka City Museum of Art — station access2026-10-08Shizuoka City Museum of Art — opening calendar2026-10-08Shizuoka City Museum of Art — current exhibitions2026-10-09

Day 3 · Shizuoka Station → Kodama → Kiunkaku in Atami → Atami hotel

1. Shizuoka Station → Kodama and Atami Station

   Use JR Central’s date-specific search to choose a Kodama service that stops at Atami. The verified ordinary-car unreserved price is ¥3,100: ¥1,340 base fare plus ¥1,760 limited express ticket. An unreserved ticket does not guarantee a seat. Allow for the walk from Atami Station to Kiunkaku and its 4:30 p.m. admission cutoff.

   JR Central basic eastbound timetable2026-10-08JR Central — date-specific Kodama route and fare search2026-10-08

2. Atami Station → Kiunkaku

   Have lunch near the station, then walk about 20 minutes to Kiunkaku. Explore the former residence’s Japanese and Western architecture and garden today. Allow time for hills and rest stops.

   Kiunkaku — admission and opening hours2026-10-08Kiunkaku official tourism guide — about a 20-minute station walk2026-10-08Japan Tourism Association — walking access to Kiunkaku2026-10-08

3. Kiunkaku → Buildings and garden

   It is open 9 a.m.–5 p.m., with last admission at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday closures have a public-holiday exception; it is also closed December 26–30. Confirm that it opens on your travel date before exploring the buildings and garden.

   Kiunkaku — admission and opening hours2026-10-08Atami Tourism Association — Kiunkaku holiday closure exceptions2026-10-08

4. Kiunkaku → Toward Atami Station

   After your visit, retrace the roughly 20-minute walk toward the station. Rest nearby before continuing to your hotel. Choose dinner based on whether your stay includes a meal.

   Kiunkaku — admission and opening hours2026-10-08Kiunkaku official tourism guide — about a 20-minute station walk2026-10-08

Day 4 · Atami Station stop 8 → MOA Museum of Art → Atami Station

1. Atami Station bus stop 8 → MOA Museum of Art bus terminus

   Take a bus bound for MOA Museum of Art and get off at the terminus after about seven minutes. Choose both your outbound museum service and return to Atami Station for your date. Services marked M in the timetable do not run when the museum is closed.

   MOA visitor information2026-10-08Tokai Bus timetables in both directions2026-10-08

2. Bus terminus → MOA main building

   Buy your ticket at the escalator entrance in front of the bus stop. Ride eight escalator sections for about 10 minutes to MOA Square, then continue to the main building entrance. Allow additional time for ticketing and waiting.

   MOA — official map of the escalator entrance and bus stop2026-10-08MOA — Art Street and escalator access2026-10-08

3. MOA main building → Art exhibition and lunch

   See the exhibition running on your date and allow separate time for lunch and rest. Standard hours are 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with admission until 4 p.m. Thursday closures have a public-holiday exception. Exhibition changeover closures also apply, so check the displayed works, exhibition dates, and opening calendar together.

   MOA visitor information2026-10-08Operating calendar2026-10-08MOA exhibition list2026-10-08

4. MOA Museum of Art → Atami Station

   Descend the escalators to the stop and take your chosen bus to Atami Station. Travel from the galleries to the stop and waiting are additional to the roughly seven-minute bus ride. Plan dinner or a rest near the station.

   MOA visitor information2026-10-08Tokai Bus timetables in both directions2026-10-08

Day 5 · Atami Station → Sun Beach coast → Atami Station

1. Atami Station → Sun Beach coast

   After breakfast, walk about 20 minutes from the station to Sun Beach. Explore the sand and seaside walking area, enjoying coastal views on a separate day from the architecture and art visits.

   Sun Beach — seasonal use and station access2026-10-08

2. Sun Beach coast → Atami Station

   Shorten the visit in heavy rain or strong wind. The return toward the station is uphill: add rest stops and time to reach your platform to the roughly 20-minute walk. Choose lunch on the way back or near the station. This is a coastal walk; summer swimming and waterpark admission are separate.

   Sun Beach — seasonal use and station access2026-10-08