Shizuoka

Walk through terraced tea fields on Nihondaira Plateau, where farmers pick fresh leaves by hand each spring. Watch fishing boats unload their daily catch of cherry-red sakura shrimp at Shimizu Port, or soak in an ocean-view hot spring bath in Atami. Mount Fuji rises above Shizuoka Prefecture's Pacific coastline, while clear mountain streams flow down from its slopes, nurturing Japan's largest tea-growing region.

Getting to Shizuoka

The fastest Shinkansen trains connect Tokyo to Shizuoka City in one hour. Regular trains take about three hours and cost less. From Narita Airport, direct highway buses reach Shizuoka Station in five hours. Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport handles both domestic and international flights.

Tea Culture and Production

Tea plants grow in neat rows across Nihondaira Plateau's hillsides. Local farmers pick and process tea leaves here using methods passed down since the 12th century. The mountain water and mild climate help create sencha, deep-steamed sencha, and Japanese black tea. You can visit several working tea farms, pick tea leaves yourself during harvest season, and learn traditional processing methods from local growers.

Seafood from Suruga Bay

Suruga Bay plunges to depths of 2,500 meters, where fishermen catch maguro tuna and sakura shrimp in the cold waters. These tiny pink shrimp live almost exclusively in Suruga Bay. Head to Shimizu district's fish markets and restaurants to taste sakura shrimp raw, dried, or as tempura. Watch the morning fish auctions at Shimizu Port to see the day's catch being sold.

Mount Fuji Access

Climb Mount Fuji via the Fujinomiya Trail during the official season from July through early September. Buses run from Fujinomiya Station to the fifth station, where the climbing trail begins. For mountain views without the climb, head to Miho Pine Grove or Nihondaira Plateau on clear mornings, when Mount Fuji reflects in Suruga Bay's waters.

Hot Springs in Izu

Soak in mineral-rich hot springs throughout the Izu Peninsula. In Atami, traditional ryokan inns built into the hillside look out over the Pacific Ocean. Itō's baths sit among black volcanic rocks along the coast, while Shuzenji's hot springs bubble up in a quiet valley surrounded by bamboo forests. Most towns have public baths where you can try different types of thermal waters.

Local Transportation

JR trains link Shizuoka's major cities, while local buses connect to smaller towns and hiking trailheads. The Izu Peninsula has its own train network. Rent a car from companies at Shizuoka Station to reach tea plantations and mountain areas independently.