I like AB Hotel just as much as APA Hotel, so I often stay there.
This time, I found a special deal for a discounted room, so we decided to go.
It was a trip to show my train-loving child the Shinkansen!
We drove from Tokyo — about 2 hours and 30 minutes by car.
Along the way, We came across a soba noodle shop operated by Yoshinoya, the well-known beef bowl chain.
We had the meal together with my child.
Instead of the local specialty, Fujinomiya Yakisoba, we chose to have 100% buckwheat soba noodles (juwari soba).
What is Shin-Fuji? | A Quiet Gateway to Mount Fuji Tourism in Shizuoka Prefecture
Shin-Fuji is a peaceful town where only the Kodama Shinkansen stops, while the faster Nozomi and Hikari trains bypass it. It is a hidden gem for Mount Fuji sightseeing, offering easy access from Tokyo and Nagoya. Away from the hustle and bustle of busy tourist spots, Shin-Fuji is gaining attention from international visitors as a place to quietly and leisurely enjoy the beauty of Mount Fuji.
Shin-Fuji
- A quiet and relaxing atmosphere.
- Convenient base for sightseeing, with easy access to places like Fujinomiya City.
- High chance of enjoying views of Mount Fuji.
You can see Mount Fuji from almost every corner of the town. The kids were really excited by the impressive, towering mountain!
Our Stay at AB Hotel Fuji
The hotel’s exterior isn’t shown in the photo, but we took a picture next to the hotel with Mount Fuji in the background.
This is the room. We stayed in a room booked at a discounted rate through a special couple’s plan.
AB Hotel Fuji
- About a 1-minute drive from the Tomei Expressway Fuji Interchange
- Free breakfast buffet
- Quiet location, away from the busy town
While shopping at a supermarket, I found apple-flavored alcoholic drinks. Since this is Shin-Fuji, I thought it might be related to the famous Fuji apple variety, but it turned out to be completely unrelated.
Here I am, drinking an apple chu-hai.
Meal
We were unsure where to have dinner. Since Suruga Bay is nearby, fresh seafood was tempting, but considering the family’s preferences, we decided to go to “Spaghetti Pancho,” a Napolitan spaghetti specialty restaurant close to the hotel.
Fujinokuni Tagonoura Minato Park
Shin-Fuji has several popular sightseeing spots like Fuji Safari Park, the large torii gate, and the sacred atmosphere of Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha Shrine, where you can deeply experience Japanese culture, as well as the famous Shiraito Falls. However, since our kids absolutely love being active, we decided to visit a park instead. Whether it’s a shrine or a sacred spot, our kids run around simply because that’s their nature.
The park is spacious with plenty of playground equipment and features a large structure that looks like a ship. There’s a big sandbox and you can see the sea. On the opposite side, Mount Fuji is visible.
The parking lot is also large and convenient.
A geezer catching some rest while the kids run around.
Dragon Tower
There was an observation deck, so we decided to climb it as a family.
You’re greeted with a stunning panoramic view.
| Opening Hours |
Open 24 hours Accessible area: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Location | Maeda, Fuji City, Shizuoka 416-0937, Japan |
| Map | |
| Parking | Free |
To a famous spot known for Mt. Fuji and the Shinkansen
Our next stop was a popular train photography spot where the Shinkansen zooms by with Mt. Fuji in the background.
Fujishi Council of Social Welfare – Tōbu Civic Plaza
There is no dedicated parking at the Mt. Fuji photo spot, so we parked at the Fujishi Council of Social Welfare, Tōbu Civic Plaza.
They kindly opened up an unpaved area at the back of the parking lot for visitors to use. We really appreciated it.
As for the kids, perhaps because they’ve seen Mt. Fuji many times back home, they didn’t seem all that impressed even when we arrived at the stunning viewpoint. Even at this dream spot for railway enthusiasts, their reactions were rather subdued.
Still, sharing that beautiful scene of nature and trains together as a family became another special memory unique to this trip.
I hope you enjoyed coming along for the ride—thanks for joining me on this journey!