Miho-no-Matsubara Pine Grove 三保松原

Touted as one of the “three new views of Japan,” Miho-no-Matsubara Pine Grove is a seven-kilometer stretch of coastline lined with 54,000 pine trees.

Legend says an angel hung her hagoromo—a special celestial kimono—on one of the trees while she went for a swim. A local fisherman found the garment and held it for ransom, in the form of a dance.

The area is accessible via shinkansen and other JR trains from Tokyo and other major cities along the Tokaido Line. Miho-no-Matsubara Pine Grove and Miho Beach can be reached by bus or taxi from Shimizu Station, a station in the suburbs of Shizuoka City.

The Tokaido Shinkansen runs from Tokyo and other major cities to JR Shizuoka Station. From JR Shimizu Station, the beach and pine grove are about 25 minutes away on the Shizutetsu bus bound for the Tokai University Miho Aquarium. A taxi will take slightly less time.

Most visitors come to this beach for its stunning view of Mt. Fuji . Ukiyo-e master Utagawa Hiroshige used the expansive scene in his woodblock prints. You'll see why as you take a long stroll down the shoreline among the pines.

The Miho Peninsula is a popular spot for water sports, including windsurfing, kayaking, diving and fishing. The rest of the year the shores are calmer, and are always a great destination for a long, contemplative stroll.