If you are planning a 2-day trip in Shizuoka, it is highly recommended to combine Atami, where the sea and art create a perfect atmosphere, with Shizuoka City, where you can deeply enjoy both scenery and culture. On day one, you will visit MOA Museum of Art, Kinomiya Shrine, and ACAO FOREST, focusing on places that are especially “worth capturing in photos” among Shizuoka sightseeing spots. On day two, you can enjoy Shizuoka-like scenic views and experiences at Nihondaira Yume Terrace, the Kunozan area, and Sumpu Takumi Shuku. This is a 2-day Shizuoka sightseeing itinerary where you can feel the region’s current appeal beyond its image as just a hot spring destination.
Day 1: A Day to Update Atami’s Image Beyond a Hot Spring Town
Day one is designed to refresh your image of Atami from a “traditional hot spring town.” With a hilltop museum, a shrine surrounded by greenery, and a garden overlooking the sea, each place has its own unique scenery, so even among Shizuoka sightseeing spots, none of them feel repetitive.
10:00 Arrive at Atami Station
Atami is easily accessible from the Tokyo area, making it an excellent starting point for a 2-day trip. The atmosphere around the station already feels tourist-friendly, but this time, rather than spending too much time around the station, you will mainly visit spots where you can really appreciate Atami’s sense of “quality” and openness.
10:30 MOA Museum of Art
The first place you should visit is MOA Museum of Art, located on a hill in Atami. With a collection of around 3,500 works centered on East Asian art and spectacular views of Izu Oshima and Hatsushima from inside the museum, it is one of Atami’s most iconic cultural spots. The appeal lies not only in the exhibitions, but in the beauty of the entire experience, from the dramatic long escalator and the airy lobby to the way the sea comes into view when you step out into the plaza. It combines the quiet atmosphere of an art museum with the openness of a resort, making it an appealing place even for travelers in their 20s looking for Shizuoka cafes or Shizuoka sightseeing spots. Since you can take beautiful photos that make the most of both the architecture and the scenery, visiting first thing in the morning is a refreshing way to begin your trip.
13:00 Lunch
Kaikourakuzen Kamatsuru
For lunch, Kaikourakuzen Kamatsuru in the Atami Ginza area is highly recommended. This Japanese restaurant is run by Kamatsuru, a dried fish shop with 150 years of history, and offers set meals and traditional Japanese dishes featuring local sashimi and dried fish, allowing you to fully enjoy a seafood lunch that feels true to Atami. In particular, the lunch-only Kaikouzen is a popular menu item that lets you enjoy both traditional dried fish and fresh local sashimi at once. After enjoying the art at MOA Museum of Art, this is a great place to get that satisfying feeling of having truly tasted local specialties during your trip.
Atami Osakana Shokudo
If you want something with a little more visual impact, Atami Osakana Shokudo is another easy choice to consider. This seafood restaurant mainly uses ingredients from Atami and Izu, and at the main branch, you can find eye-catching seafood rice bowls such as the limited menu item Akafuji Teppendon, which can really lift your mood while traveling. It is especially recommended for those who want to shift from the cultural atmosphere of the morning and fully enjoy that feeling of “I’m really in Atami.”
14:30 Kinomiya Shrine
In the afternoon, head to Kinomiya Shrine, one of Atami’s most popular sightseeing spots. Known as a shrine for good fortune and blessings, it is home to a giant sacred camphor tree over 2,000 years old, with a trunk circumference of about 24 meters, giving it an overwhelming presence. Just by passing through the torii gate and walking a little further in, the atmosphere changes completely, and it is striking how calm and peaceful it feels despite being so close to the city. The sunlight filtering through the trees, the stone-paved paths, and the depth of the greenery all appear beautifully in photos, making it easy to capture not just a “record shot of a shrine,” but a photo with a real travel mood. Even among Atami sightseeing spots, it stands out as a memorable place without being overly flashy.
16:00 ACAO FOREST
Before evening, head to ACAO FOREST, a vast garden facility overlooking the sea. Spread across 200,000 tsubo of hilly land, it features 13 themed gardens where you can enjoy scenery layered with flowers, herbs, and the blue of the sea and sky. Inside the grounds, there is also COEDA HOUSE, designed by Kengo Kuma, which means you can enjoy both architecture and cafe time in one place. Its location, jutting out toward the sea, gives it one of the strongest resort-like atmospheres in Atami, making it a must-visit if you want to include a place that is truly photogenic in your 2-day Shizuoka sightseeing trip. Since the scenery changes as you walk, even the same person can capture many different expressions in photos.
18:30 Hotel Check-in
Spending the night in Atami is highly recommended. Since you will have already enjoyed plenty of scenery during the day, relaxing in a hot spring or taking a walk by the sea at night makes for a very satisfying finish. Not overpacking your schedule is surprisingly important on a 2-day trip.
Day 2: A Day to Enjoy Scenery, History, and Hands-on Experiences in Balance
Day two is all about enjoying a good balance of scenery, history, and hands-on experiences on the Shizuoka City side. While day one in Atami centers on the sea and art, day two adds a different kind of travel density, with panoramic views of Mt. Fuji, historic spots connected by ropeway, and craft experiences.
09:30 Depart Atami
In the morning, leave Atami and head toward Shizuoka City. There is some travel involved, but because the character of Shizuoka changes so much over the course of these two days, this flow tends to make the trip feel even more rewarding.
11:00 Nihondaira Yume Terrace
The first place to visit in the Shizuoka City area is Nihondaira Yume Terrace. This observation facility sits on a mountaintop about 300 meters above sea level, and from the third-floor observation floor and outdoor observation corridor, you can take in views of Mt. Fuji, Suruga Bay, Miho no Matsubara, and even the Izu Peninsula. What makes it special is not just the scenery itself, but the beauty of the architecture and the way the structure lets you frame the views as you walk around. On clear days, of course, the panorama is stunning, but even on slightly hazy days, the layers of sky and sea look beautiful, allowing you to take photos with the grand scale that Shizuoka sightseeing spots are known for. Since the observation terrace itself is stylish, it is also a perfect match for couples in their 20s or girls’ trips.
12:30 Lunch Around Nihondaira
All Day Dining The Terrace
For lunch, if you want to prioritize the scenery and enjoy a relaxed meal, All Day Dining The Terrace at Nippondaira Hotel is an excellent match. Nippondaira Hotel is located right next to the summit of Nihondaira, and the restaurant offers a lunch buffet. The space is designed so that the view spreading beyond the large windows becomes the main feature, making it especially appealing because you can enjoy your meal while still feeling the afterglow of the panorama you saw earlier at Nihondaira Yume Terrace. The food selection is also wide, ranging from appetizers and fish dishes to meat dishes and desserts, making it perfect for travelers who want to enjoy a calm, satisfying meal in the middle of sightseeing.
Nippondaira Hotel / Terrace Lounge
If you prefer something a little lighter and want to enjoy a cafe-style lunch along with sweets, the Terrace Lounge at Nippondaira Hotel is also highly recommended. This is a lovely place where you can enjoy hotel-pastry-chef-made sweets, pancakes, and afternoon tea together with spectacular views. Rather than having a full lunch, it feels more like enjoying a slightly late light meal and something sweet in a place with beautiful scenery, which makes it a great match for girls’ trips and couples as well.
14:00 Kunozan Toshogu Shrine
In the afternoon, take the Nihondaira Ropeway to Kunozan Toshogu Shrine. Although it is only about five minutes away from Nihondaira by ropeway, the atmosphere changes completely. The combination of the brilliantly decorated shrine buildings and the quietness of the mountain makes it especially memorable, and while it is a historical site, it does not feel too heavy or intimidating. Visiting a place rich in history after enjoying the panoramic views adds depth to your Shizuoka sightseeing experience. The stairs, vermilion colors, and contrast with the surrounding trees are all beautiful, making it an easy place to enjoy even if you are not especially knowledgeable about shrines and temples.
16:00 Sumpu Takumi Shuku
To end the trip, head to the renewed and revitalized Sumpu Takumi Shuku. What makes this place special is that you can not only “see” Shizuoka City’s traditional crafts, but also enjoy the fun of “experiencing” them yourself. Time spent making things like woodwork, crafts, or pottery while traveling tends to stay in your memory, and it creates a sense of souvenir value that goes beyond simply shopping. There are also cafes and shops inside the facility, which makes it even more appealing as a place where you can slow down a little at the end of your trip. For people searching for Shizuoka cafes or a Shizuoka model course, having this kind of spacious, relaxed spot toward the end of sightseeing can make the overall impression of the trip much better.
18:00 Head to Shizuoka Station
At the end, return to Shizuoka Station and begin your journey home. From the glamor of the seaside to panoramic views, history, and hands-on craft experiences, these two days let you enjoy the charms of Shizuoka in a compact but satisfying way.
Summary
A 2-day trip in Shizuoka is more than appealing even if you do not focus only on hot springs and seafood. Enjoy art and spectacular scenery in Atami, then on day two head to Shizuoka City for Mt. Fuji views, history, and craft experiences. Because each spot offers a different way to enjoy the region, even a short trip can leave you feeling that “Shizuoka is much broader and more interesting than I expected.” If you are unsure how to plan a 2-day Shizuoka sightseeing trip, give this course a try.