Shizuoka Travel Guide: Tea Fields, Ocean Breezes, and Fuji’s Gentle Gaze

Shizuoka stretches from deep-green tea fields to lively fishing ports, all under the gentle watch of Mount Fuji. Here, Japan’s natural grandeur meets daily life — a place of simple pleasures, slow rhythms, and coastal calm.

Where Green and Blue Meet

• Fuji Skyline: Southern views of Mt. Fuji — especially magical at sunrise from Nihondaira or the tea terraces of Makinohara.
• Izu Peninsula: A coastal escape with rugged cliffs, hot springs, and ocean views — perfect for scenic train rides or road trips.
• Miho no Matsubara: Pine-lined beach with Fuji views — said to be a land where gods once descended.

Hot Springs & Historic Paths

• Atami & Shuzenji: Gentle onsen towns with nostalgic atmosphere — cobblestone lanes and ryokan warmth.
• Hakone Pass (Tōkaidō Trail): Step into the Edo period as you walk through cedar forests once trodden by travelers and samurai.
• Sumpu Castle Park: Tokugawa Ieyasu’s retirement retreat — peaceful gardens and echoes of power.

A Taste of the Land and Sea

• Shizuoka Green Tea: Japan’s top tea-producing region — enjoy fresh brews at tea houses or hillside farms.
• Sakura Shrimp & Whitebait: Local seafood specialties from Suruga Bay — small in size, rich in flavor.
• Wasabi: Grown in clean mountain streams — taste it fresh in soba or as wasabi-zuke (pickled wasabi stems).

Wabi-Sabi Moments in Shizuoka

• Brewing tea while gazing at Fuji from a quiet hillside farm
• Soaking in an open-air onsen with ocean waves echoing nearby
• Strolling through pine forests at Miho no Matsubara with Fuji floating in mist
• Watching fishermen return to port at sunset, boats bobbing gently in the bay

Shizuoka offers the rare harmony of mountain, ocean, and life. It’s a region where nature is present, but never overwhelming — where travelers feel welcome, not rushed. Whether sipping tea or walking ancient trails, time here flows just a little slower.

How to Get There

• To Shizuoka City: About 1 hour from Tokyo via Tokaido Shinkansen.
• To Izu Peninsula: Take the Odoriko limited express or Izu-Hakone train line (approx. 2–2.5 hours).
• To Mt. Fuji viewpoints: Nihondaira, Fujinomiya, and tea terraces are accessible by bus or car from city centers.