They say that all good things eventually come to an end, and sadly, this statement proved true for the incredibly affordable Japan Rail Pass. If you’ve been living under a rock and haven’t already heard the bad news, the price of the country-wide pass, as well as many of JR’s other regional ones, is going up by quite a large margin. In fact, the Japan Rail Pass itself is seeing a massive hike of around 70% for the standard one-week option. At the new price point of 50,000 yen, travelers would actually lose money on a standard Tokyo → Kyoto → Hiroshima → Tokyo route.
To make a Japan Rail Pass worth it now, travelers are going to need to make more concerted use of the bullet train. Rather than zipping from one end of the country to the other, those looking to make their pass a worthwhile purchase are going to need to get off at many more stops along the way. Thanks to this, an entirely different style of traversing Japan is going to become almost necessary for those who elect to purchase a Japan Rail Pass. Otherwise, normal tickets will just be the better buy.
Luckily, I’ve got you covered. Even for standard itineraries, there are plenty of easy-to-add-on allures along the way to the (now overly crowded) likes of Kyoto. Today, I’d like to introduce you to one such spot. Known as Mishima Skywalk, this magnificent archway is officially the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in all of Japan. What’s more, in addition to holding this title, Mishima Skywalk also affords epic views of Japan’s tallest mountain, Mt Fuji, as well as Japan’s deepest bay, Suruga Bay. Additionally, there are also plenty of options to get active here as well.
All in all, a side trip to Japan’s longest suspension bridge is a great way to get additional value out of whatever rail pass you happen to be holding without having to go on too much of a detour. As you’ll see later in the “Other Nearby Attractions” section, you can make an entire day trip out of a stop at Mishima, or you can just budget for a few hours at Mishima Skywalk. In either case, adding these options to your itinerary is a great way to have a little extra fun with friends and family while on the journey to (or from) Kyoto, Hiroshima, etc.
How to Get There
At the risk of sounding a bit like a broken record, know that Mishima Skywalk is located along the Tokaido Shinkansen line in Shizuoka Prefecture. The nearest point that you can hop off is the JR Mishima Station. From there, it is a relatively cheap taxi ride to Mishima Skywalk. Alternatively, the bridge can also be reached via a quick bus ride. You’ll find the stop for the Tokai Bus Orange Shuttle right outside of the south exit of Mishima Station. Just look for the one bound for Motohakone-ko and get off at Mishima Skywalk. From there, it is just a short walk from the bus stop to the ticket gate.
Once you’ve arrived at Mishima Skywalk, you’ll probably want to make a decision as to whether or not to get lunch first. There’s a cafe and a restaurant right by the parking lot where you can grab a bite to eat, as well as a few more joints up in the Sky Garden. Seeing as I suggest that you stay for sunset, you’d be wise to fill up first. While there is another place that does sell food over in Mishima Skywalk’s north area, it’s mostly sandwiches and “sky” flavored ice cream.
Note that admission fees for Mishima Skywalk are 1,000 yen per person for adults. If you happen to have high school, primary school students, or smaller children in tow, they can get a discount. Likewise, if you’re coming from Hakone and happen to have a Hakone Freepass, you can also save a few extra yen. This route isn’t one that is recommended regularly, but it does seem that you could take a quick bus ride over from Hakone to Mishima Skywalk and then make your way back to the JR Mishima Station after enjoying some various activities at Japan’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge.
Finally before moving on, a quick word to the wise: If you’re planning to go back by taxi, you’ll likely be out of luck if you try to call for one after Mishima Skywalk closes at 5 PM. When I went with my creator friends, we ended up getting stuck and had to wait at the nearby bus stop for about half an hour in the autumn cold. If you want to catch the sunset, you’re going to be faced with a similar situation, so plan accordingly and check a service like Jorudan for the bus schedules in advance.
Enjoy the Epic View
One of the best reasons to visit Mishima Skywalk is its truly epic views of Mt. Fuji. Thanks to its location up in the highlands of Mishima, the 400-meter-long suspension bridge offers unobstructed glimpses of Japan’s most iconic mountain. Though often hiding behind the clouds during the warmer months of the year, the view of Mt. Fuji is regularly crystal clear during autumn and winter. Especially when combined with the fall foliage, this creates the kind of artful masterpiece that only Mother Nature can create.
Personally, I find sunset to be the best time to view Mt. Fuji from Mishima Skywalk. As the sun slowly slips behind the mountain range in the west, the entirety of the grounds gets cast in a golden hue. Should this sound like something that you want to stick around to see, you’ll want to either arrive a bit later in the day (maybe after checking out some other nearby spots in Shizuoka Prefecture) or after a fun day enjoying the activities featured in the section below.
Should you elect to stay until closing at 5 PM, you’re going to want to double-check how you’re going to get back to Mishima Station. From my experiences, the taxis that normally run freely to and from the station are nowhere to be had after closing. Moreover, the buses are quite infrequent, meaning that you might be in for a very long wait. Though schedules are of course subject to change, I ended up having to kill upwards of 40 minutes in the early November cold until the next bus came by around 5:40 PM.
The Forest Adventure Course & Long ZIP Slide
While the jaw-dropping views of Mt. Fuji and Suruga Bay might be the main reason to visit Mishima Skywalk, there are also many thrilling activities to be had here too. For the braver readers out there, you’ll want to try the Long ZIP Slide. Broken into three sections, this zip-line course will take you over the deep valley that the suspension bridge spans. As you cross the basin far below, you’ll be able to marvel at the sights of Japan’s biggest mountain, longest suspension bridge, and deepest bay — well, that is assuming you can keep your eyes open.
Note that the Long ZIP Slide doesn’t operate on days where there is strong wind for safety reasons. Luckily, there are plenty more options to be had at Mishima Skywalk. Both times I’ve gone, I’ve ridden one of the Segways that they have on site to rent. These can be taken off-road in the forest area behind Mishima Skywalk, but just be careful that you don’t crash into a tree or something. All things considered, this was a great way for my creator friend group and I to have a few laughs before challenging the zip-line just before sunset.
Finally, if you’re an adrenaline junkie and a zip-line doesn’t do it for you, know that you can also try a different Forest Adventure course. Personally, I have yet to do any of these myself so I can’t really comment firsthand, but it seems like the company offers a dynamic and challenging playground that utilizes the unique features of the forest behind Mishima Skywalk. Here, you’ll find things like a Tarzan Swing that is sure to get your blood pumping. From what I can see online, there are also options for children too.
Other Nearby Attractions
If you’re going to get off at Mishima’s bullet train station, you might as well make a day out of it and see some of the other nearby allures too. Luckily, most of these are conveniently located within walking distance. Thus, you can swing by one or all of the following attractions before circling back to the station’s south exit where the aforementioned bus stop is located.
- Mishima Taisha
The exact dates that this ancient shrine was founded are lost to history. What we do know was that way back in the early mists of time, Mishima Taisha was founded as a place to pray for the prevention of volcanic eruptions from Mt. Fuji and the Izu Islands. Thereafter, it would rise to prominence after the founder of the Kamakura shogunate prayed here before starting out on his quest to best the Heikei clan at the start of the Genpei War. Later on, the shrine grew to be associated with the post town of Mishima-shuku and prospered as a popular pilgrimage stop along the Tokaido. Seeing as it’s close to the station, you’d be silly to pass on this magnificent shrine. - Mishima Rakuju-en Park
Situated just outside of the station, Rakuju-en is a richly green garden that was once home to an imperial villa. The space became a city-run public space in the 1950s and now boasts a lush and tranquil garden. In addition to this, there is also a place where you can play with animals such as capybara and alpaca. Moreover, the former imperial villa is also not to be missed. Known in Japanese as Rakuju-kan, this beautiful facility can be explored only six times a day on one of the daily guided tours. - Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha
I’ll be the first to say that Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha is a shrine that can’t be found within the city confines. That said, one of the easiest ways of accessing the principal shrine for Japan’s most well-known mountain is via the JR Mishima Station. Just take one of the local trains over to Fujinomiya Station. From there, Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha can be reached on foot in around 10 minutes but be sure to also budget enough time for Mt. Fuji World Heritage Center too.
Lastly, if you have a rental car or don’t mind moving around by bus, you can continue on from Mishima Skywalk to Hakone. Since this famous hot spring getaway really needs no further introduction, I’ll just opt to leave you with my in-depth Hakone area guide. This will tell you all you need to know to explore this amazing part of Kanagawa Prefecture.
Until next time travelers…
