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The wonders of Shizuoka Prefecture, west of Tokyo: Part 1

The stunning green undulating tea fields and plantations of Shizuoka Prefecture, just west of Tokyo

This post is Part 1 of my coverage of Shizuoka Prefecture, just west of Tokyo. Most foreign travelers miss this zone, known as the Japanese Riviera (a name shared by 2-3 areas of Japan with special micro climates including Ise and east coast of the Kii Peninsula). I have been sending custom Japan private tour clients to Shizuoka for its amazing range of destinations, historical authenticity, and deep natural landscapes since the early 1990s. And the first part of getting there is the reliable and super fast bullet train, so many of these attractions can also be day trips from Tokyo. One of my first Shizuoka clients, a father and son, were avid scuba divers. Their trip covered a big section of Japan and I faxed all of their daily programming to their hotel or ryokan. Shizuoka for them was all about diving with sharks and sharks are plentiful off the east coast of the Izu Peninsula (also part of Shizuoka). In fact you can take a ferry from the southern end of the Izu Peninsula and cross over to Chiba Prefecture, a little SE of Tokyo Station. Learn more!

Content by Ian Martin Ropke, owner of Your Japan Private Tours (est. 1990). I have been planning, designing, and making custom Japan private tours on all five Japanese islands since the early 1990s. I work closely with Japan private tour clients and have worked for all kinds of families, companies, and individuals since 1990. Clients find me mostly via organic search, and I advertise my custom Japan private tours & travel services on www.japan-guide.com, which has the best all-Japan English content & maps in Japan! If you are going to Japan and you understand the advantages of private travel, consider my services for your next trip. And thank you for reading my content. I, Ian Martin Ropke (unique on Google Search), am also a serious nonfiction and fiction writer, a startup founder (NexussPlus.com), and a spiritual wood sculptor. Learn more!

Japanese farmhouse overnight in tea plantation land

Take a nightlong stay at a traditional Japanese farmhouse located in one of the most significant regions for the production of green tea: In the event that you are looking to unwind in the Japanese countryside and participate in green tea activities alongside the locals, Shizuoka is an excellent destination for you. Additionally, if you have an interest in Japanese history, you can go see some of the remains of historic Japan that are located in the adjacent area. All of these things can be found at Kakegawa, which is located in Shizuoka Prefecture and is around two hours distant from Tokyo by bullet train. Tabinoya is located in one of the several regions that are responsible for the production of green tea. The Tabinoya is a Japanese inn that has been renovated and is seventy years old. It was formerly a green tea farmhouse. Located in a small post town along the Tokaido Highway, which dates back hundreds of years, this establishment provides a laid-back stay that includes opportunities to engage in green tea experiences with locals. If you choose to stay in Tabinoya, you will have the opportunity to observe the way of life of the farmers who originally resided there, in addition to other Japanese people who live in the surrounding area.

Ancestors who have resided at the farmhouse have passed on their knowledge to the current owner, who has inherited it. The worth of dealing without money and the means by which to obtain sustenance from nature are also examples of this understanding. The plum and bamboo trees that are located in the vicinity of Tabinoya are utilized in the preparation of bamboo shoot tempura and plum wine. In other words, the fundamental approach to eating has been to prepare what you consume. The residents of the area also provide their food to other members of the community. You will be able to enjoy home-cooked meals in Tabinoya that are made with products that are sourced locally. Some of this knowledge will be imparted to you if you assist in the preparation of meals. There are two bedrooms in Tabinoya. One is a tatami room designed in the Japanese style, and the other is a bedroom designed in the western style. It is stated that the goemon-buro bathtub, which is a massive iron bathtub in the shape of a cauldron and is said to have gained popularity during the feudal era, is included in the property.

Tea has a significant place in the lives of the people who live in Tabinoya because the town was formerly owned by a tea farmer and is situated in a region that is known for producing green tea. In order for tourists to gain a deeper understanding of local culture, the green tea experience is essential. Depending on the season, Tabinoya provides customers with a variety of green tea experiences to choose from. For instance, gathering tea leaves, going to a tea factory, or cutting grass in order to get ready for the following planting season are all examples of activities.

The cultivation method that is utilized in Kakegawa is what sets it apart from other places, in addition to the fact that it is one of the most significant regions in terms of green tea production. A significant number of the farmers make use of the traditional tea-grass integrated system, which has been designated by the United Nations as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System. Specifically, it makes use of "Chagusaba" (semi-natural grasslands). After cutting the grasses, the farmers spread them out on the tea farms so that they might act as a natural fertilizer and moisturizer for the Chagusaba.

Mr. Sugimoto, a local tea farmer who has been producing high-quality green tea utilizing the Chagusaba farming method, is one of the partners of Tabinoya. He is a third-generation tea farmer for the surrounding area. Because wild broadleaf bamboo surrounds his crops, it is necessary to cut them down. His farms are surrounded by bamboo.

Cutting the broadleaf bamboo, chopping it into little pieces, and then spreading it to the bottom of the green tea roots is a laborious process that requires a lot of effort. On the other hand, I continue to protect the things that I have inherited from my ancestors," Mr. Sugimoto stated.

Wandering along the Tokaido highway in Shizuoka Pref

There is a significant distance that separates the east and west of Shizuoka Prefecture. Believe it or not, Shizuoka Prefecture is home to 22 of the 53 stations that make up the Tokaido Highway, which ends in Kyoto.

The so-called Sunshu part of the Tokaido highway or road is located in the middle of the road or highway, and it encompasses the region that is located west of Numazu and east of the Oi River. It is considered that the Sunshu part of the Tokaido highway or road is the most beautiful spot to view Mount Fuji. This is shown in the series of ukiyo-e titled The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido, which was created by Utagawa Hiroshige. Beginning at the old Kambara post station, you can walk along the coast, passing past the post stations of Yui and Shimizu. This is possible from that location. After there, you will continue to move west until you reach Shizuoka City, which was known as Sumpu town during the Edo period. From there, you will cross a difficult pass to reach the post stations of Okabe and Fujieda.

Some of the most notable Tokaido highway post towns in Shizuoka Prefecture:

Kambara-shuku post town: Kambara-shuku was the fifteenth post station on the Tokaido Road, and its town layout has stayed the same ever since it was relocated to its current location in 1701 in order to escape strong seas. The fifty-three stations that make up the Tokaido System: The ukiyo-e masterpiece that is Evening Snow at Kambara, which was created by Utagawa Hiroshige, provides us with a snowy environment that is enigmatic when we are in this area of warm climate. In addition to being the only region in Shizuoka Prefecture to be designated as a "historic national highway," the right-angled curve in the narrow road, the namako wall patterns, and the typical folk dwellings are all powerful memories of the Edo period, which lasted from 1603 to 1868.

Yui-shuku post town: Yui-shuku, which was the sixteenth post station on the Tokaido Road and was the smallest of the post stations that are currently in Shizuoka Prefecture, was situated near the eastern foot of Satta Pass. Today, Yui Honjin Park, which was developed on the site of the honjin, which was an inn for traveling feudal lords, is home to the Shizuoka City Tokaido Hiroshige Museum of Art. This museum is the first museum in Japan to bear the name of the ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Hiroshige, and it is a place where visitors can experience the art and culture of the Edo Period (1603 - 1868). In the present day, the fresh sakura shrimp that comes from Yui Fishing Port is considered to be the local delicacy, and a great number of eateries in the area provide dishes that emphasize sakura shrimp.

Aino-shuku post town: Beginning during the Edo period (1603 - 1868), Satta Pass has been a popular destination for tourists. It is often considered to be the most picturesque location along the Tokaido Road. Mount Fuji in all of its majesty and the captivating blue of Suruga Bay are described in The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido: Yui (Satta Pass), the ukiyo-e by Utagawa Hiroshige. Even today, visitors are able to experience the beauty in the same manner that it is depicted in the ukiyo-e. Aino-shuku Nishikurasawa is located at the base of the pass. It was the site of a tea house where travelers would stop to relax, and remnants of the past can be found all over the area.

Okitsu-shuku post town: Okitsu-shuku was the seventeenth post station on the Tokaido. It was a spot where travelers from the east could take a respite after crossing the Satta Pass, and it was also a place where passengers from the west could get ready to cross the Satta Pass. As a result of its location at the intersection of the Minobu Road, which connected Suruga Province (now known as Shizuoka Prefecture) and Kai Province (now known as Yamanashi Prefecture), and the Tokaido Road, which traveled from east to west, it flourished as a strategic hub of transit during the Edo period (1603 - 1868). Among the many unique cultural treasures that can be found within the Seikenji Temple is the room in which Tokugawa Ieyasu studied while he was a boy. Additionally, the temple contains materials that are associated with Korean envoys who journeyed down the Tokaido Road.

Ejiri-shuku post town: Ejiri-shuku was a castle town that was constructed by the Koshu Takeda Clan. It flourished as a center of trade and industry, and it was the 18th post station on the Tokaido Road. As a result of the Tomoe River, which runs through the town, being used to carry supplies for the construction of Sumpu Castle, and Shimizu Port, which is located on the mouth of the river, being an important hub for shipping to Edo, Ejiri-shuku also became a thriving port town.

Fuchu-shuku post town: Fuchu-shuku was the largest post station on the Tokaido Road, and it prospered as the castle town of Sumpu. Around the year 1609, while Tokugawa Ieyasu was in power, he designed the outlines of this castle town. The town was organized into blocks that were put out in a grid pattern, and each block was assigned a specific function. These blocks had vocations and functions that were similar to one another. The original plan of this castle town eventually became known as Sumpu Kyujurokka-machi, and approximately thirty of the district names that were used during that time period are still in use today.

Mariko-shuku post town: Mariko-shuku, the twenty-first post station on the Tokaido Road, is situated near the eastern foot of the Utsunoya Pass. Tororo jiru grated yam soup is a regional specialty due to the exceptional quality of the local mountain yams. In the ukiyo-e titled "The Famous Tea House at Mariko," which was created by Utagawa Hiroshige, the tea house Chojiya is depicted. To this day, tororo jiru is still served as the hallmark dish at this tea house.

Utsunoya Pass: Utsunoya Pass, which is situated on the boundary between Shizuoka City and Fujieda City, is rumored to have been constructed during the Sengoku period, which spans from the 15th to the 16th century, in preparation for Toyotomi Hideyoshi's assault on Odawara. It has been chosen as one of the hundred best historical routes. It was originally a main road that was traveled by processions of feudal lords, as represented in ukiyo-e, but it used to be a gloomy mountain pass that was stalked by robbers and brigands, and as a result, it became the location for ghost stories and legends of demons who ate people. Six major highways and four tunnels that were constructed from ancient times to the present day are still in existence, allowing you to witness how the pass has changed over the course of time. Today, it serves as a crucial point of transportation for a large number of people and commodities.

Okabe-shuku post town: Okabe-shuku was roughly the same size as Mariko-shuku, but it was more prosperous and was frequented by a large number of passengers, officials of the shogunate, and feudal lords. The old Kashibaya Ryokan, which dates to the Edo Period (1603 - 1868), is still there on the Tokaido Road.

Fujieda-shuku: Fujieda-shuku was the 22nd post station on the Tokaido Road. It flourished around Tanaka Castle, which Tokugawa Ieyasu regularly visited for falconry. At its peak the streets were lined with shops that catered to tourists and locals alike, as well as shops that catered to warriors, including shops that specialized in sword making. This post town has long been famous for trade in tea and shiitake mushrooms from the mountains, rice from the plains, and seafood from the ocean. It is situated at the point where the Akaishi Mountains, the Shida Plain, and the Pacific Ocean all meet.

The fresh & saltwater charms of Lake Hamana

Lake Hamana, located in Shizuoka, is a big brackish lake that extends inland from the coast. It is home to a distinctive environment that is host to a broad variety of experiences and activities. The earthquake that occurred in 1498 connected Lake Hamana to the Pacific Ocean. Prior to that, Lake Hamana was a freshwater lake. Because of this, the lake that was created after 1498 is technically a lagoon. Lake Hamana has water that has a salty taste to it. It indicates that the water is a combination of fresh water that flows down from the Japanese Southern alps and salt water that comes from the Pacific Ocean. In light of this, the salt concentration of the water in lakes is significantly lower than that of the water in the ocean. The total circumference of Lake Hamana is 114 kilometers, making it the second biggest brackish lake in Japan. The hot spring swimming, the deep nature experiences, and the culinary offers around the lake make it a "secret gem" destination for those who long for the past or the present tinged with nature & the past.

The lake has three "faces": The Oku-Hamana, Central and Eastern Lake Area, and the Southern Coastal Area.

Oku-Hamana is the name that is used to designate the hilly region that is located to the north and west of the Tenryu Hamanako Line. Some of the most notable attractions in this region are the Ryotanji Temple, which dates back 1,300 years, the mandarin orange picking, paragliding, and the Ryugashido Cavern. Oku-Hamana is comprised of the northern coastline of Lake Hamana as well as the predominantly wooded region that is located near the foothills of Japan's Southern Alps. There are many wonderful chances for adventurous travelers to enjoy lake sports, onsen hot spring bathing, and hiking.

The Central and Eastern Lake Area of Lake Hamnako is a portion of land located on the East Coast, in the middle of the lake. This region is home to the well-known hot spring resort town of Kanzanji, as well as the Hamamatsu Flower Park and the Hamanako Garden Park. The Kanzanji Hot Spring resort region features a number of hotels with hot springs, a major ancient temple, and a large number of excellent restaurants.

The Southern Coastal Area is located along the local JR Tokaido Line (with easy access from both Bentenjima and Araimachi stations) and is connected to beaches, historic structures, and breathtaking sunset locations. The area is also home to the historic Tokaido highway checkpoint and museum in Arai-cho. Bentenjima beach is perfect for spacing out or setting out on a night fishing trip with local fisherman using traditional spears. From Tokyo take the bullet train to Hamamatsu Station, and then transfer to the local JR line for another 12 minutes.

Izu Kogen: volcano heights and foodie terraces to the Jogasaki Coast

The gorgeous Izu Highland region is waiting to provide you with both pleasure and thrill when you visit there. There is a plethora of inns and museums in this breathtaking region, as well as lovely mountains that are brimming with flowers that are in full bloom. It is home to a multitude of museums that are both unique and fascinating. Known for being an excellent location to observe cherry blossoms. Izu-Kaiyo Park is well-known for the breathtaking hydrangeas that bloom while it is also known for its ocean activities.

The bowl-like appearance of Mt. Omuro, an extinct volcano that is located in Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture, is one of the most recognizable features of this mountain. Without a doubt, the view from the peak is breathtaking. Mount Fuji is visible from the summit, but on the day that I visited, she was obscured by dense clouds. I regret not being able to view her. There is no other way to get there besides by using a chair lift. There is a bus that departs directly from Ito Station. This extinct volcano is more than simply a geological marvel; it has nearly perfect symmetry and slopes that are covered in vegetation. You should, however, check the wind prediction before you leave, and you should try to find a day with clear skies in order to increase your chances of seeing the elusive Mount Fuji, which is located to the north. And inside the crater that looks like a bowl? An archery range is a startling twist in the story. Indeed, it is possible to harness your inner samurai even when you are standing in the middle of a volcano. When you reach the peak of Mount Omuro, you will experience the true magic. There are gift shops and cafes that are well planned and equipped. Notable examples of food include: Ice cream made from Hokkaido milk is exceptionally creamy and has a cone that is delightfully crisp. The mochi dango that has been dipped in miso is delicious, warm, and satisfyingly chewy. Comfort food that is substantial and fluffy: the meat bun. An excellent example of a traditional Japanese staple dish, yakisoba. Until a hawk made an attempt to grab it, the churrito (small churro) was delicious, crunchy, and unquestionably worth every yen. You did indeed read that correctly. It was obvious that the hawk or falcon was a native of the region because it made a daring attempt to steal my food item.

It is important to remember that the Izu Highland is not simply a rough wilderness, despite its name. Rather, it is the term given to a region that is located in the breathtaking Izu mountains and contains a variety of establishments including as hotels, resorts, stores, galleries, and museums. During the summer months, it draws city inhabitants from all over the world who are looking for a combination of wide-open skies and creature amenities. The foothills are home to a plethora of cafes and restaurants that provide a wide selection of foods and opportunities for refreshment. Additionally, galleries such as the Ikeda Museum of 20th Century Art bring famous artists such as Picasso and Renoir to the area. There are a lot of museums, both large and little, that compete with adventure activities like paragliding and scuba diving for people's money and attention. For those who live in the Izu Highland region, boredom is just not an option. The blossoming of over 550 Somei Yoshino cherry trees begins around the middle of March, resulting in the formation of a captivating three-kilometer tunnel that can be accessed from the station.

There is a breathtaking stretch of shoreline known as the Jogasaki Coast that runs along the eastern coast of the Izu Peninsula. At the easternmost point of the Izu Kogen region, approximately ten kilometers to the south of the center area of Ito, you will find it. Amazing views of the rocky cliffs and stone formations that border the shore can be achieved by hiking along this famously picturesque trail that follows the coast for about 10 kilometers. Walking shorter sections of the trail is another option that can be considered. In the vicinity of the Kadowakizaki Suspension Bridge, which is 23 meters in length and 48 meters in height, the most popular portion of the route can be found. An observation deck that is open to the public and provides breathtaking views of the coastline and Oshima Island can be found on the lighthouse that is located next to the bridge. To reach Izu Highland, take the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Atami Station. This will take you to the destination. After that, make your way to the JR Ito Station by taking the local Ito Line transport. Transfer to the Izu Kyuko Line, and Izu-Kogen Station is the stop where you should exit. The duration of the train travel is around one hundred thirty minutes. From the comfort of the train, you can take in the breathtaking scenery as you travel along the coast for a significant portion of the voyage. Due to the fact that the entire ride is along the coast, this is a really pleasurable route. It provides you with a wonderful opportunity to kick back and relax while you view the lovely changing landscape from the comfort of your train window.

Content by Japan travel specialist & designer Ian Martin Ropke, founder & owner of Your Japan Private Tours (YJPT, est. 1990). I have been planning, designing, and making custom Japan private tours on all five Japanese islands since the early 1990s. I work closely with all of YJPT's Japan private tour clients and have a great team behind me. I promote YJPT through this content and only advertise at www.japan-guide.com, which has the best all-Japan English content & maps! If you are going to Japan and you understand the advantages of private travel, consider my services for your next trip to save time & have a better time. Ian Martin Ropke (unique on Google Search) is also a serious nonfiction and fiction writer, a startup founder (NexussPlus.com), and a spiritual wood sculptor. Learn more!