Miho no Matsubara, Shizuoka

About 5km of pine forest with Mount Fuji across the sea, part of the Fujisan World Heritage Site, and the beach of the legend of the celestial maiden.

Twisted pine trees on sandy ground inside the Miho no Matsubara pine forest — Photo: Σ64, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Dark sand beach at Miho facing the blue water of Suruga Bay with distant mountains — Photo: alonfloc, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A seaside pine forest in Mount Fuji's World Heritage Site

Miho no Matsubara is a pine forest stretching for about 5km along the coast of the Miho Peninsula in Shimizu Ward, Shizuoka City. According to Shizuoka City, around 30,000 pines stand here, with Suruga Bay and Mount Fuji beyond them. The forest lies about 45km south-west of the summit of Mount Fuji.

In 1922 it became Japan's very first meisho, a place of scenic beauty designated by the national government. In 2013 it was registered as a component part (one of the places that together make up a World Heritage Site) of the World Cultural Heritage Site "Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration". A seaside spot so far from the mountain is included because this view has appeared in countless works of art, starting with the ukiyo-e woodblock prints of Utagawa Hiroshige.

The legend of the feather robe and the "Path of the Gods"

Miho no Matsubara is known as the setting of the Hagoromo legend, the story of a celestial maiden who comes down from heaven and meets a local fisherman. The Hagoromo no Matsu (Pine of the Feather Robe), about halfway along the forest, is the pine linked to the legend. The present tree is the third generation, with a trunk about 3.5m around and a height of about 15m.

From the Hagoromo no Matsu to Miho Shrine, a boardwalk of about 500m called Kami no Michi (the Path of the Gods) runs through an avenue of pines. It is said to be the path the deity takes to the shrine after descending to earth, using the Hagoromo no Matsu as a landmark. The pines along it are said to be 200 to 300 years old. Miho Shrine is an ancient shrine whose name already appears in the Engishiki, a 10th-century book.

Mihoshirube and getting there

Mihoshirube (the Shizuoka City Miho no Matsubara Cultural Centre), which opened in 2019, uses films and exhibits to explain how the Miho Peninsula was formed and why Miho no Matsubara became part of the World Heritage Site. Entry is free, and you can see Mount Fuji from the roof.

From JR Shimizu Station, take the local bus (Miho Yamanote Line) for about 25 minutes, get off at Miho Matsubara Iriguchi and walk for about 15 minutes. If you are driving, there is a car park.

Tips

Whether Mount Fuji shows up clearly depends on the weather. Pick a sunny day with clear air for your visit.
The Hagoromo no Matsu and Miho Shrine are connected by the Kami no Michi boardwalk, so you can walk between the two in one go.
Stop at Mihoshirube first to learn the background, and the scenery will look different when you walk through the pine forest.