12 Exciting Things to Do in Shizuoka
Shizuoka is located between in Tokyo and Kyoto. Every day, tourists from China, Taiwan, and South Korea arrives at Mt. Fuji Airport which opened recently. The number of foreign tourists visiting Shizuoka Prefecture is increasing by leaps and bounds. The prefecture spreading in east and west has many attractive tourists’ spots such as Mt. Fuji which is a World Heritage Site, a village of Japan's best green tea, and hot springs with the view of sea.
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1．Let's Climb Mt. Fuji, World Heritage Site!
Climbing from the 5th station of Mt. Fuji with is the shortest route to its top of all 5 trails, so it has good access. If you are throughly prepared, you can climb to the top even if you are a beginner. The best season for climbing is from July 10 to the end of August, when the weather is nice. If you are a beginner, two-day course is recommended, because you can stay in the lodge at night. You will have a majestic landscape of Mt. Fuji skyline toward Fujinomiya point. There are also hiking trails near the 5th station, such as Hoei Nature Trail, where you can walk around for an hour or so. How about having a good time while feeling the nature of Mt. Fuji?
HP： www.shizuoka-guide.com/english/index.html
Address: 5th station, Mt. Fuji, Fujinomiya-shi (Google Map)
2．Tea-picking Experience at Greenpia Makinohara
Shizuoka is famous as the best tea-growing district in Japan. The tea fields spread in many places of the prefecture, and the best season for tea-picking is May, when new leaves start to sprout. Please come to Greenpia Makinohara and enjoy tea-picking in a large tea field. You can experience it from late April to early October. You can also bring home the shoots you picked. Good tea aroma is spreading from the tea field in Greenpia Makinohara. You can also learn how to serve delicious tea, and enjoy meals using tea. Next to Greenpia is a tea factory, where you can observe the process line of green tea. Why don't you learn the good things of green tea?
HP：grinpia.com/
Address: 1151, Nishihagima, Makinohara-shi (Google Map)
3．Holy Land of Plastic Models!
Plastic models made in Japan have a good reputation all over the world because they are made very elaborately. Hobby Center of Bandai, a famous toy manufacturer in the world, is a very unique spot. You can observe the production line of plastic models, including Gundam. If you hesitate to participate in the factory tour because you need to apply it and there is a lottery, you can go to Shizuoka Hobby Square. You can see a collection of plastic models made in various manufacturers for free of charge. Exhibitions are also held which are must-see for fans of plastic models. It has also an official shop, where you can buy your favorite plastic models.
Shizuoka Hobby Square
Address: Southpot Shizuoka 3F, 18-1, Minami-cho, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka-shi (Google Map)
Bandai Hobby Center
HP: http://www.bandai.co.jp/hobbycenter/
Address: 500-12, Naganuma, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka-shi (Google Map)
4．YAMAHA is Worldwide Famous as a Piano Factory. Let's Go to the Factory Tour of Grand Piano!
People in the world love the sound of YAMAHA's grand pianos, which are produced at Harmony Plaza in Kakegawa. You can observe the process of making piano, where the craftsmen make one by one using their skills, which were inherited from 100 years ago. In addition, a number of valuable pianos are on display, engraving the history. Even if you are not a pianist or a music lover, you can enjoy seeing them with interest. Seeing the work of craftsmen - beginning in the assembly of the piano mostly made of wood, stretching the strings, fine-tuning of the keyboard - will become a valuable experience. The commemorative souvenir given only here will make you happy.
HP: jp.yamaha.com/about_yamaha/factory_tour/ (Japanese Only)
Address: 1480, Ryoke, Kakegawa-shi (Google Map)
5．Gotemba Premium Outlets
Gotemba Premium Outlets is in a vast place of about 400,000 square meters, where Mt. Fuji is seen. There are 210 shops of famous domestic and foreign brands. It is very popular among foreign tourists because there are buses going there directly from Tokyo and Yokohama. There are services of lending baby carriage, automatic currency exchange machine, and free WiFi, allowing people with small children and foreign tourists to enjoy shopping. When you get tired of shopping, you can take a rest in cafes and restaurants. The nearby roads are congested on weekends. The recommended places in the neighborhood are a restaurant serving Gotemba Kogen(plateau) beer, and Gotemba Kogen Tokinosu, where you can enjoy watching a fantastic light festival.
HP: www.premiumoutlets.co.jp/en/gotemba/
HP: www.premiumoutlets.co.jp/cht/gotemba/ （中文）
Address: 1312, Fukasawa, Gotemba-shi (Google Map)
6．Hamamatsu Fruit Park Tokinosu
In a vast site which is 9 times as large as Tokyo Dome, there are various orchards of strawberry, plum, peach, blueberry, apple, mandarin orange, kiwi, and persimmon. You can enjoy picking seasonal fruits. It also brews wine, and there are various activities such as Tropical Cellars of wines in the world, and riding experience of interesting bikes and Segways. There is no doubt you can play there all day. How about enjoy picking and eating fresh fruit of each season?
HP: www.inhamamatsu.com/activity/fruit-park-tokinosumika.php
HP: www.tokinosumika.com/hamamatsufp/ (Japanese Only)
Address: 4263-1, Miyakoda-cho, Kita-ku, Hamamatsu-shi (Google Map)
7．National Treasure: Mt. Kunozan Toshogu
Mt. Kunozan Toshogu, where Ieyasu Tokugawa is enshrined, is the oldest and gorgeous temple among the Toshogu in various areas of Japan, such as Nikko Toshogu built after the death of Ieyasu. The appearance of the foundation of about 400 years ago still remains. The main hall, stone room and the worship hall, decorated with rich-colored sculptures and paintings, were designated as a national treasure. The shrine whose whole area is glittery-lacquered is worth seeing. You should also visit Nihondaira which is connected to Mt. Kunozan with ropeway because you can overlook Mt. Fuji, Suruga Bay and Izu Peninsula, and it is famous for Nihondaira Zoo.
HP: http://www.toshogu.or.jp/english/index.html
Address: 390, Negoya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka-shi (Google Map)
8．Both Adults and Children Can Enjoy Playing in S-Pulse Dream Plaza!
S-Pulse Dream Plaza is a large complex facility of combining shopping mall and amusement park. It has theme parks of anime "Chibi Maruko-chan" and "Shimizu Sushi Museum" where you can learn the origins of sushi, a Ferris wheel "Dream Sky" where you can view Mt. Fuji, Shimizu Soccer Shop and a futsal court which footballs fan must go, a movie theater, and "Shimizu Sushi Alley" where eight sushi restaurants are lined up, allowing you to enjoy sushi with fresh toppings in Suruga Bay. Men and women of all ages must have a good time!
HP: http://www.dream-plaza.co.jp/about/en/
Address: 13-15, Irifune-cho, Shimizu-ku, Shizukoka-shi (Google Map)
9．Let's Take Hot Spring at the Seaside of Izu Peninsula and Enjoy the Superb View!!
There are a number of hot springs in the Izu Peninsula where you can enjoy viewing sea. Among them, Kuroneiwa Onsen is recommended. Taking a bath in the open-air bath with the craggy rocks while enjoying viewing the sea and listening the sound of the waves - What a luxurious time. In the mixed bath, women can use bath towels, and it is for women only at night. In the nearby areas there are many gourmet and sightseeing spots such as Inatori, which is famous for red bream, Kawazu which is famous for early-blooming Kawazu cherry trees. How about driving around by a rental car?
HP: http://www.hokkawa-onsen.com/kurone
Address: Kitagawa Onsen, Higashiizu-cho (Google Map)
10．This Is a Volcano! Let's Climb Mt. Omuro!
Mt. Omuro has a beautiful shape like a bowl placed upside down. It is a scoria cone which was made by an eruption of about 4000 years ago. It has been designated as a natural treasure as typical unisexual volcano. If you climb to the top by Omuro Lift, you can enjoy walking around the crater and archery. In summer it is covered with green grasses, such as Japanese nutmeg, and in fall it becomes silver with pampas grasses. There is a mountain-burning event in February. It shows a different facial expression depending on the seasons. In the nearby area, there are a lot of landforms made by nature, such as Jogasaki Beach and Izu Plateau, which were made by the eruption of Mt. Omuro.
Address: Omuroyama, Futo, Ito-shi (Google Map)
11．Let's Ride a Steam Locomotive! Oigawa Railway
Oigawa Railway is the only railway in Japan where SL is running throughout the year. It connects Shinkanaya with Senzu. How about enjoying a relaxed time while eating a lunch in the retrospect SL of Oigawa Railway running in idyllic landscapes? During the limited time of summer, Locomotive Thomas is running, so you can ride it with your child. His friends including Percy are waiting at Senzu Station. Ahead of Senzu Station, a rare Abt train is running, allowing you to enjoy the railway bridge of Okuoi and Kojo Station.
HP: http://oigawa-railway.co.jp/ (Japanese Only)
Address: Shinkanaya Station SL Center, 2-1112-2, Kanayahigashi, Shimada-shi (Google Map)
12．Dogashima Cave Excursion Boat
In the Nishiizu where rias coast forms a beautiful landscape, Dogashima is especially scenic - among them, it is recommended to watch famous scenic spots such as Tensodo (skylight sinus) and Sanshiro Island. The cruise operated by Dogashima Marin has several routes, so you can choose depending on your free time. Nishiizu has plenty of scenic areas such as Otako Coast, Lovers Point, and Travelers Point where you can view beautiful sunset and Mt. Fuji over Suruga Bay. How about driving around by a rental car?
HP: www.izudougasima-yuransen.com/en/index.html
HP: http://www.izudougasima-yuransen.com/ch/index.html
Address: 2060, Nishina, Nishiizu-cho (Google Map)
The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.
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