The revered peak of Mount Fuji rises as a stately backdrop just northeast of Shimizu, one of Japan’s most beautiful ports. Take in iconic views of the mountain from the beach at Miho no Matsubara, lined by thousands of palm trees including the 200-year-old Hagoromo no Matsu tree that features in ancient legend. The entire area is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Fujisan that recognizes the sacred landscapes of Mount Fuji, a pilgrimage destination and source of artistic inspiration for centuries. Witness results of this inspiration in the ukiyo-e prints of renowned artist Utagawa Hiroshige at the Tokaido Hiroshige Museum, or head to the Shizuoka Prefectural Art Museum to see both Japanese and Western masterpieces. Get another perspective on Mount Fuji from the Nihondaira viewpoint, where an aerial cable car leads to the ornate Kunozan Toshogu Shrine. Other striking examples of the city’s Shinto architecture are found at the Shizuoka Shengen Shrine, a historic complex near the gardens of Sumpu Castle Park. If shopping is on your agenda, the S-Pulse Dream Plaza near the port features four stories of shops plus a Ferris wheel, a sushi museum and multiple sushi restaurants.