Byuo Observation Water Gate

The gate itself

Byuo is a very large tsunami floodgate, completed in 2004 as part of Numazu's preparations for a possible Tokai earthquake tsunami. Its door is 40 m wide, 9.3 m high and weighs 406 tons, which the city's tourism portal describes as among the largest in Japan. The control system is linked to seismographs and is designed to close the gate fully about 5 minutes after an earthquake.

The structure is lit up at night, and in December 2025 it was certified as a Japan Night View Heritage site, according to the city.

What you can see from the deck

The observation level sits 30 m above ground. On a clear day it looks out over Mt. Fuji, the Hakone mountains, the Numazu Alps and Cape Osezaki, which juts into Suruga Bay. Visitors can also watch the fish market, boats coming and going, and the hoisting machinery that operates the gate.

Hours, admission and getting there

The deck is open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., except Thursdays, when it closes at 2:00 p.m. Admission is about 300 yen for adults and about 150 yen for elementary and junior high school students. It may close temporarily for maintenance or shorten its hours during weather warnings, so check the operator's page before you go.

From JR Numazu Station it is roughly 10 minutes by bus to the Numazu Port stop. A parking lot for about 30 cars is available, but there is no dedicated lot for large buses. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, volunteer guides give short explanations on site, though some days have no guide.