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What you’ll do
The shortest way into the region’s quiet side, and one of the few tours here that fits a tight call. A local guide collects you at Shimizu Port and takes you to Tesshu-ji, a temple tied to the Tokugawa family legacy. Inside you’ll sit zazen and hear a short sutra chanted before a 1,000-year-old Bodhisattva, ring a historic temple bell that survived the Second World War under Tokugawa protection, and then take matcha and traditional wagashi in the temple’s stillness.
Why it’s worth it
- Two hours, port pickup included — it works on afternoon arrivals and short calls where every other cultural tour is out of reach.
- Matcha in a working temple beats matcha in a tourist tearoom, and Shizuoka is the prefecture now betting its future on matcha.
- A genuinely calm hour or two — a useful antidote to a cruise schedule.
Good to know
- Zazen involves sitting still on the floor for a short period; tell the operator in advance about knees, backs or mobility.
- Pairs naturally with the tea story of this region — see Shizuoka tea from the cruise port.
- Booking and live pricing are on Viator.
Booking opens on Viator (a Tripadvisor company), where you'll see live prices and availability. If you book, we may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. We only list cruise-friendly operators with port pickup and an English guide.