PORT OF JAPAN
Private Shizuoka Shore Excursion: Zen, Matcha and Calligraphy, ShimizuZen meditation with a local monk – Shizuoka shore excursion from Shimizu PortZen meditation with a local monk – Shizuoka shore excursion, ShimizuMindfulness practice during zazen at a historic temple in Shizuoka, ShimizuEnjoying Japanese matcha and sweets during a Shizuoka cultural tour, ShimizuSharing smiles over a bowl of matcha at a traditional tea room in Shizuoka, ShimizuCalligraphy class: write your own kanji – Japanese culture experience, ShimizuFamily enjoying Japanese calligraphy class during a half-day shore excursion, ShimizuLearning the art of Japanese calligraphy with local guidance, ShimizuGuests proudly showing their hand-drawn kanji calligraphy outside the temple, ShimizuGroup photo at a historic Zen temple with Mt. Fuji in Shizuoka, ShimizuHappy participants after a Zen and calligraphy experience at Temple, Shimizu1 / 12

Hands-on matcha tea ceremony with seasonal sweets – Shimizu Port experiencePhoto: tour operator, via Viator

Home / Shimizu / Guided days

2 hr 30 minneeds a 4.5-hour call · fits 100% of calls here5.0★ · 14 reviewsMeets at the pier

Private Shizuoka Shore Excursion: Zen, Matcha and Calligraphy

A private 2.5-hour Zen, matcha and calligraphy morning written for Shimizu cruise passengers: the guide meets you at the information counter outside the Hinode Pier security gate.

US$149 each · US$298 for two · Meets at the pier

Check dates →Why it is on this site ↓

Most listings let you reserve now and pay later, and cancel free up to 24 hours before. Your ship's berth or time can change; a reservation costs nothing to hold.

Duration
2 hr 30 min
From pickup or the meeting point and back
Your call needs
4.5+ hours
Incl. getting ashore and the hour before all-aboard
Price
From US$149 per person
Free cancellation 24h ahead · as of 29 Oct 2026
Group
Private · up to 10
Meets at the pier

Checked · price, reviews and availability from the operator’s Viator listing · Takumi Yamada

What the operator lists

The day, stop by stop

Zen meditation with a local monk – Shizuoka shore excursion from Shimizu PortZen meditation with a local monk – Shizuoka shore excursion, ShimizuMindfulness practice during zazen at a historic temple in Shizuoka, Shimizu
Photo: tour operator, via Viator
  1. 30 min
    Seiken-ji Temple
  2. 2 hr
    Zuiunin
Getting there from the ship

It starts by the cruise terminal — no transport needed

Meeting point
Information counter outside the security gate, Hinode Pier (Shimizu) →Walk off the ship and meet the guide there.The terminal in Google Maps
Why it is on this site
  • Zazen with a Zen monk, chairs available, then matcha with seasonal sweets and your own calligraphy on a hanging scroll to take home.
  • Seiken-ji, the temple where Tokugawa Ieyasu studied as a child, is the first stop and its admission is included.
  • It is private, the guide meets you with a name sign, and 14 reviews average 5.0.
Best for

A party of up to 10 on a Shimizu call who want a calm, hands-on cultural morning. From Omaezaki it is a 70-minute taxi each way to the start.

Think twice if

The guide waits at the information counter just outside the ship's security gate at Shimizu's Hinode Pier, so from the Omaezaki wharf it is about 62 km and 70 minutes by taxi each way. Taxi fares of about 2,000 JPY per vehicle each way between the stops are extra, and meals are not included. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.

Included
Premium matcha green tea and high-quality seasonal Japanese sweets.Private Zen meditation at a serene temple. Chairs are available for your comfort.Create your own masterpiece on a traditional hanging scroll (Kakejiku) to take home.All admission fees for the temple are included in the tour price.
Not included
Taxi fares (approx. 2,000 JPY per vehicle each way) are not included and should be paid directly to the driver. Your guide provides full navigation and escort.Meals are not included other than the matcha tea and Japanese sweet provided during the experience.Personal expenses (e.g. souvenirs, extra food or drinks)
Guide: EnglishFree cancellation 24h aheadRun by Authentic Cultural Experiences in Shimizu
Book it before you sail

Check dates and book

Private Shizuoka Shore Excursion: Zen, Matcha and Calligraphy5.0★ · 14 reviewsPrivate · up to 10Free cancellation 24h aheadFrom US$149 per personCheck dates →

Booked through Viator (a Tripadvisor company); there is rarely a tour desk at the pier. We may earn a small commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.

Against the ship's own excursions

What Princess Cruises charges for a day like this in Shimizu

This tourUS$149 per person · 2½ hPrivate Shizuoka Shore Excursion: Zen · Free cancellation 24h ahead
The ship’s closestUS$129.95 per person · 3½ hNihondaira Outlook & Kunozan Toshogu Shrine · strenuous, from price
The ship’s range hereUS$94.95 – US$214.959 day excursions on Princess Cruises’ Shimizu list, median US$124.95
Ship's excursion: the ship waits for its own busIndependent: be back an hour before all-aboard

Princess Cruises prices from its public Shimizu excursion page, 25 October 2026, per person. Tour prices here are the operator’s current from price.

Quick answers

Before you book

Is the Private Shizuoka Shore Excursion: Zen, Matcha and Calligraphy worth it from the Shimizu cruise port?

A private 2.5-hour Zen, matcha and calligraphy morning written for Shimizu cruise passengers: the guide meets you at the information counter outside the Hinode Pier security gate. Best for: A party of up to 10 on a Shimizu call who want a calm, hands-on cultural morning. From Omaezaki it is a 70-minute taxi each way to the start.

How long a port call do I need for this tour?

About 4.5 hours. The tour runs 2 hr 30 min; add half an hour to get off the ship and keep the hour before all-aboard free. Two and a half hours from the Shimizu pier, half an hour to get ashore and back on board 90 minutes before sailing: a call of about four and a half hours at Shimizu. From Omaezaki add about 70 minutes by taxi each way (about ¥22,000–27,100 each way on the meter).

Can I cancel if my ship skips the port?

The operator's policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What should I know before booking?

The guide waits at the information counter just outside the ship's security gate at Shimizu's Hinode Pier, so from the Omaezaki wharf it is about 62 km and 70 minutes by taxi each way. Taxi fares of about 2,000 JPY per vehicle each way between the stops are extra, and meals are not included. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.

Does this tour pick up at the cruise pier?

You meet the guide at Information counter outside the security gate, Hinode Pier (Shimizu), a walk from the gangway.

Will I be back on board before all-aboard?

The operator makes no written on-time promise, so the margin is yours to keep. This site only shows the tour as fitting a call of about 4.5 hours or more, which already includes half an hour to get ashore and the hour before all-aboard. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before means a reservation costs nothing to hold if your ship’s hours change.

Is the price per person or per vehicle?

Per person, from about US$149, on a private basis.

From the same berth

Other guided days in Shimizu

All of them
Half-day Tour to View Mt.Fuji at Various Angles from Shimizu Port5.0★ · 17 reviews

Half-day Tour to View Mt.Fuji at Various Angles from Shimizu Port

A four-hour shared car from Shimizu port to Mt. Fuji viewpoints that coaches cannot reach: a view people have painted for 400 years, Fuji with the bullet train, Fuji over tea fields, then Shiraito Falls or the World Heritage Centre.

Why it is herePrivate Sightseeing Tour from Shimizu Port /Small Bus5.0★ · 19 reviews

Private Sightseeing Tour from Shimizu Port /Small Bus

A private small-bus loop from the Shimizu pier to Nihondaira, Kunozan Toshogu by ropeway, and the Miho pine grove.

Why it is hereShimizu Shore Excursion: Lake Yamanaka and Oshino Hakkai (Small Group)4.3★ · 8 reviews

Shimizu Shore Excursion: Lake Yamanaka and Oshino Hakkai (Small Group)

A small shared van from the Shimizu pier to Mt Fuji's north side: Lake Yamanaka, the swan boat and the spring ponds of Oshino Hakkai, back on the ship's clock.

Why it is here