Shimizu Port

On a clear day, the view of Fuji rising above the bay from Shimizu Port is the kind of image that makes the whole trip worthwhile. Harbor cruises run regularly, lasting about 40 minutes and taking in the Nihondaira Plateau and Izu Peninsula coastline. The redeveloped waterfront has seafood restaurants, the S-Pulse Dream Plaza shopping complex, and a sushi museum celebrating Suruga Bay, the deepest bay in Japan. Fresh sakura shrimp and whitebait are the local specialties to seek out, and spring, from March through June, is prime season for both.