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Shizuoka prefecture (静岡県 Shizuoka-ken) is in the central Chubu region of the main Japanese island Honshu.

[edit] Understand

Western Shizuoka was once the province of Tōtōmi-no-kuni (遠江国), also known as Enshū (遠州), which you'll still see in many company names and placenames in the area today. The eastern part of the prefecture was once the province of Suruga-no-kuni (駿河国), while the Izu Peninsula was its own province, Izu-no-kuni (伊豆国) The famous mountains are Mt. Hakone（箱根山）, Mt. Amagi（天城山）, Mt. Fuji（富士山） and Mt. Akaishi（赤石山脈）.

[edit] Cities

• Shizuoka - the prefectural capital
• Atami - seaside hot spring resort a short hop from Tokyo
• Fujinomiya - famous for Yakisoba (Japanese stir-fried noodle)
• Hamamatsu - the largest city in the prefecture
• Izu - the home of famous hot springs of Shuzenji that is nicknamed "Small Kyoto in Izu Peninsula", and that has many tasteful Ryokans with Japanese gardens.
• Mishima - it is nicknamed city of water in Japan with fountain of meltwater from Mt. Fuji. It is also famous for its Mishima Taisha shrine.
• Izunokuni - the home of Izu-Nagaoka hotsprings and many historical spots in former Nirayama town (that has been merged into Izunokuni City)
• Shimoda - the southern city in Izu Peninsula.
• Gotemba - is located at the foot of Mt. Fuji and has summer resort because of the cool climate.

[edit] Other destinations

• The scenic Izu Peninsula

[edit] Talk

The dialect in Western Shizuoka is known as Enshū-ben (遠州弁).

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Although there are no major airports in Shizuoka prefecture, there is a direct bus from Chubu International Airport that runs through Hamamatsu to Iwata. Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport opened on June 4, 2009.[1] Flights to Kumamoto and Kagoshima by Fuji Dream Airlines; to Sapporo-Chitose and Fukuoka by JAL; to Naha, Okinawa by ANA; and to Seoul, South Korea by Asiana Airlines are all planned. [2]

[edit] By train

[edit] By bus

[edit] Get around

[edit][add listing] See

• Castles and castle ruins in Shizuoka, Hamamatsu, Kakegawa and other locations
• Izu Peninsula - A beautiful coastline full of resort towns.
• Mount Fuji - The iconic beauty rests near Gotemba and can be seen from many parts of the prefecture, as far away as Lake Hamana.
• Sand dunes in Hamamatsu and Omaezaki.
• Wildlife parks such as Fuji Safari Park near Gotemba or the Atagawa Tropical and Alligator Garden in Higashiizu.

[edit][add listing] Do

• Climb Mount Fuji. There are Fujinomiya Trail in Fujinomiya, Gotemba Trail in Gotemba, and Subashiri Trail in Oyama-cho.

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Local specialties include eel, turtle, and melons.
• In the place near the port, you can eat fresh fish.
• Sawayaka (さわやか), [3]. This Shizuoka-only chain has many locations all over the prefecture, specializing in beef dishes such as their famous genkotsu hamburger steaks the size of your fist.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

• Shizuoka is famous for its green tea.
• Decent nightlife can be found in Hamamatsu and Shizuoka.

[edit] Get out

• Yamanashi Prefecture
• Kanagawa Prefecture
• Aichi Prefecture
• Nagano Prefecture