| Shizuoka Pop. 475 thousand |
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Explanation of Signs- Scenic tourist destination: the number
of star (from 1 to 4 ) corresponds
to the
degree of excellence of the location.- Tourist destination with historic heritages
and/or cultural assets: the number
of star
(from 1 to 4) corresponds to the importance
of respective location. - Grade of YH facility. 3-star is for the
standard grade, and 4-star is for the
highest
grade. |
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 Between the mid 14th and the 16th century,
Shizuoka had been the seat of Imagawa clan's
residential Sunpu Castle. The town prospered
especially during the time of Imagawa Yoshimoto
(mid 16th century), one of the feudal lords
of this particular clan. The shogun Tokugawa
Ieyasu, entered the Sunpu castle in 1582
after defeating the Imagawa clan, and though
he lived in Edo (present Tokyo) for a certain
period, he spent his last 15 years in Sunpu,
the former name for Shizuoka. The site where
the Castle used to stand, the Kunozan Toshogu
Shrine, both of which are deeply connected
with the shogun Ieyasu, and the ruins of
Toro are the places of tourist interests.[Access from major cities] Train / - Shin Osaka St. <Shinkansen, Hikari> 1hr55min.(372km)  Shizuoka St.- Nagoya St. <Hikari> 1hr (186km) Shizuoka St.- Tokyo St. <Hikari> 1hr. (180km) Shizuoka St.Long distance bus / - Nagoya St. <bus> 3hr30min. Shizuoka St.- Tokyo St. <bus> 3hr5min. Shizuoka St.[Festival]
[Tips on sightseeing] A half-day to one full day will be necessary for sightseeing in the town. There is a bus tour from Shizuoka station visiting Nihon-daira, the Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, and the Toro Ruins, operated on a regular basis. |
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| Main Route from Shizuoka to Tokyo | ||||
| Nihon- daira / Miho The area, which faces the bay of Suruga, is the perfect viewpoint to observe Mt. Fuji. The entire region had been the stronghold of the Tokugagwga clan who had dominated Japan between the 17th and the 19th century. The Toshogu Shrine, dedicated to Ieyasu, overlooks a splendid view of the sea. Strawberry picking in early spring is a well-known attraction for tourists. Miho, a scenic sandbank created by an ocean current, has a legend of a beautiful celestial nymph whom flew down on the sands. One full day will be necessary to visit interesting places in the locality. [Access] Shizuoka St. <bus> 35min. Nihontaira <walk> 20min. Kunozan-shita <bus> 5min. Miho-no-matsubara[YH in the area] Miho YH tel 0543-34-0826 Mt.Fuji The mountain, with an altitude of 3776m, is the symbol of Japan. As the temperature at the mountaintop sometimes goes down almost to zero even in the summer, the appropriate months for climbing are July and August, when the mountain huts are open. Professional techniques and equipments are required for those climbing in other seasons. There are three different roads from Fujinomiya, Gotenba and Kawaguchi-ko, respectively, to the 5th station of Mt. Fuji, which is on about halfway up the mountain. These roads provide convenient access up to the station all year round, except for winter. [Access] Shin Fuji St. <bus> 2hr20min. Shin Gogome (5th Station) <walk> 4hr
30min.(5.4km) the summit of Mt. FujiFuji- Goko Fuji-Goko (the Five Lakes of Mt. Fuji), namely, Yamanaka-ko, Kawaguchi-ko, Sai-ko, Shoji-ko and Motosu-ko, all of which located at the foot of Mt. Fuji, are the products of the mountain's volcanic eruption that had taken place many centuries ago. Sai-ko and Shoji-ko are well known for their beauty and tranquility, while Yamanaka-ko and Kawaguchi-ko are the popular lakeside resorts. Bus service links the five lakes. A view of Mt. Fuji, wherever you look at it from, is always magnif-icent. [Access] - Shin Fuji St. <bus> 1hr20min. Motosu-ko <bus> 5min. Shoji-ko <bus> 35min. Kawaguchi-ko St.- Shinjuku St.(Tokyo) <JR ltd.express> 1hr Otsuki St. <private Fuji-kyuko, local>
50min. Fuji-yoshida St. <bus> 30min. Asahigaoka (Yamanaka-ko). - Fuji-yoshida St. <bus> 35min. Sai-ko.[YH in the area] Yamanaka-ko Iizu YGH tel 0555-62-0020Kawaguchi-ko YH tel 0555-72-1431Fuji-yoshida YH tel 0555-22-0533Gotemba YH tel 0550-82-3045Fumotono-ie YH tel 0544-27-4314Nishi- Izu Nishi-Izu (west coast of the Izu peninsula) is a recommendable place of visit, not very far from Tokyo, where beautiful seacoasts can be observed. The southern coastline that stretches down from Dogashima is particularly superb. There, the waters are clear and the bluffs are rising tall. The Irozaki Cape on the southern tip of the peninsula commands a splendid view of the ocean and the silhouettes of the Izu Islands off the coast. Shimoda is an old seaport known as the historic gateway of Japan, which had been opened up to mark the end to the national seclusion, and as the port where the trade with America had begun. The town is a renowned spa resort, and is an ideal place either for a stay, or for an excursion. Two to three days will be necessary for visiting important places in this area. Sightseeing bus that makes a tour in the town of Shimoda leaves from Izukyu Shimoda St. [Access] - Mishima St. <private, Izu Hakone Tetsudo, local> 35min. Shuzenji St. <bus> 50min. Toi <bus> 50min.(via Dogashima) Matsuzaki <bus> 50min. Shimoda. - Matsuzaki <bus> 1hr15min. Irozaki <bus> 45min. Shimoda[YH in the area] Shuzenji YH tel 0558-72-1222YH Takasagoya-ryokan tel 0558-98-0200Sanyo-so YH tel 0558-42-0408Gensu YH tel 0558-62-0035YH Kiya-ryokan tel 0558-83-0146Amagi Harris Court YH tel 0558-35-7253Higashi- Izu
[Access] Atami St. <JR, local> 25min. Ito St. <private, ltd. express> 55min.
Izukyu Shimoda St.[YH in the area] Izu-kogen Aoikaze YH tel 0557-51-3785Hakone
[Access] - Shinjuku St.(Tokyo) <private, Odakyu, ltd.express> 1hr25min. Hakone-yumoto St. <private, Hakone Tozan
Tetsudo, local> 50min. Gora St. <cable car> 10min. So-unzan St. <cable car> 25min. Togendai (Ashino-ko)[YH in the area] Hakone Lake Villa YH tel 0460-3-1610Hakone Sengokuhara YH tel 0460-4-8966Enoshima Enoshima is one of the major beach resorts in Japan. In summer, the beach sometimes becomes over populated with hundreds and thousands of bathers. There is a bridge that connects the beach and the Islet of Enoshima, with an observatory and beautiful shore upon it. A day trip from Tokyo is feasible. A convenient Enoden One Day Pass is available at Yen 580. [Access] Shinjuku St.(Tokyo) <private Odakyu, ltd.express> 1hr10min. Katase Enoshima St.[YH in the area] Kamakura Kagetsuen YH tel 0467-25-1238Kamakura This is the town where the governmental headquarters had been set during the Kamakura period (end-12c `14c). The town surrounded by mountains and facing the sea on one side, is as small as 2 square kilometers. There are Hachiman-gu Shrine, dedicated to the guardian god of the Genji clan, the Great Buddha and the Great Kannon Goddess among the tourist interests in the town. Many of the temples in Kamakura belong to the Zen sect, and the seasonal flowers that bloom on their precincts attract many visitors. A day trip from Tokyo is feasible. Sightseeing buses for 7 different courses leave from Kamakura station. [Access] Tokyo St. <JR, local> 55min. Kamakura St.[YH in the area] Kamakura Kagetsuen YH tel 0467-25-1238Yokohama The city, with a population of 3.415 million, is the country's biggest international seaport where luxurious foreign passenger ships call upon. There are 'Yamashita Park' by the pier, fashionable and trendy Motomachi area, or the 'China Town', the largest in Japan, among the visitors' interests, all of which would be good for strolling. Bay cruising on a pleasure boat would also be a delightful experience. Museums, art galleries and aquarium are worth visiting. One to three days would be necessary for sightseeing in the city. Tour bus visiting important places departs from Yokohama station. A convenient, One-day Pass that gives access to all the lines on 'Yokohama Shin-toshi-kotsu' is available at Yen 650. [Access] Tokyo St. <JR, local> 35min. Yokohama St.[YH in the area] Kanagawa YH tel 045-241-6503 |
