Shizuoka
Shizuoka sits at the foot of Japan’s soul — Mount Fuji, the perfectly conical 3,776-metre stratovolcano that has defined Japanese art, religion, and identity for millennia. The prefecture’s south-facing slopes, tempered by warm Suruga Bay breezes, also produce Japan’s finest green tea (Makinohara plateau), the world’s most prized wasabi (Izu mountains), and the freshest eel (unagi) from the rivers of Hamamatsu.
静岡は日本の魂・富士山の麓に広がる県。3,776mの富士山は日本人のアイデンティティそのものです。温暖な駿河湾からの潮風が育む牧之原台地のお茶・伊豆の清冽な水が生む山葵・浜松の鰻など、食の宝庫でもあります。
Shizuoka is where Japan’s two great identities converge — the majestic natural sublime of Mount Fuji and the pastoral abundance of one of the nation’s most productive agricultural regions. The Nihondaira plateau offers sweeping Fuji views while you look out over Suruga Bay. The Izu Peninsula to the east combines volcanic hot springs, deep blue Pacific bays, and the lush Kawazu valley whose early-blooming Kawazu-zakura cherry trees kick off Japan’s cherry blossom season in February. Shizuoka City itself is the headquarters of many of Japan’s most famous companies — Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawai — reflecting the prefecture’s industrial as well as agricultural vitality.
静岡は日本の二大アイデンティティ——富士山の雄大な自然美と豊かな農業地帯——が交わる場所です。日本平台地からは富士山と駿河湾の絶景を一望。伊豆半島は火山温泉・青い海・2月から咲き始める河津桜と見どころが満載。ヤマハ・スズキ・河合楽器など日本を代表する企業の本拠地でもある活気ある県です。
Recommended Omiyage
おすすめおみやげ 5選
Unagi Pie (Eel Pie)
One of Japan’s most beloved regional sweets — a crispy, flaky puff pastry infused with unagi (eel) extract and powder, baked to a golden caramel colour. Created by Spring-do of Hamamatsu in 1961, the pastry has become the most recognised souvenir of western Shizuoka. The ironic slogan ‘a nighttime treat for adults’ (夜のお菓子) made it famous nationally.
「夜のお菓子」のキャッチコピーで全国的に有名な浜松発のパイ菓子。うなぎのエキスを練り込んだサクサクのパイは、1961年にうなぎパイ専門工場で生まれた浜松みやげの代名詞。工場見学も人気です。
Shizuoka Green Tea
Shizuoka produces 38% of Japan’s green tea — the gently rolling Makinohara and Kanaya plateaus, with their optimal clay soils, sunny days, and misty mornings, are Japan’s largest single tea-producing area. Premium single-estate sencha and gyokuro from Shizuoka have delicate vegetal notes and a natural sweetness that mass-produced teas never achieve.
国産茶葉の38%を生産する日本最大のお茶産地・静岡。牧之原台地の丘陵に広がる茶畑は壮観で、上質な一番茶の煎茶・玉露は繊細な甘みと旨みが格別。農園直送のシングルエステート茶は茶好きへの最高の贈り物です。
Fresh Wasabi Products
Shizuoka’s Izu mountains — particularly Utogi and the Abe River valley — produce the world’s finest fresh wasabi, grown in crystal-clear glacial mountain streams. Real wasabi (Wasabia japonica) has a clean, fleeting heat that fades in seconds, completely different from the coloured horseradish served at most restaurants. Wasabi pickles, wasabi chocolate, and wasabi soy sauce make unusual and prized gifts.
伊豆山間部・安倍川沿いは日本有数の本わさびの産地。清冽な湧き水で育つ本物のわさびは、鼻に抜けるフレッシュな辛みが市販のチューブわさびとは別物。わさび漬け・わさびチョコ・わさびしょうゆは珍しくて喜ばれる土産です。
Fujisan Sablé
A delightful Shizuoka souvenir — butter shortbread cookies pressed into the unmistakable silhouette of Mount Fuji, often dusted with matcha or chocolate to recreate the snow cap. Simple and universally appealing, they’re the perfect gift for Fuji visitors and make for beautifully instagrammable unboxing moments.
富士山の形に型抜きしたバタークッキー。抹茶や白チョコで雪をかたどったものなど種類も豊富で、シンプルでありながら誰もが喜ぶ富士山みやげの定番です。開けた瞬間の見た目のインパクトも◎。
Hamamatsu Eel (Unagi)
Hamamatsu — on the shores of Lake Hamana — is Japan’s premier unagi (freshwater eel) production area. The local eel, raised in the lake’s brackish water, has a superior flavour and texture. Vacuum-packed kabayaki (grilled eel in sweet soy glaze) sets are a premium souvenir that can be enjoyed nationwide after refrigerating or gently reheating.
汽水湖・浜名湖で育てた鰻は、日本一の生産量を誇る浜松の名産。真空パックの蒲焼きセットは冷蔵または電子レンジで温めるだけで本格的な鰻が楽しめる高品質なお土産です。
Must-Visit Spots
おすすめスポット 5選
Mount Fuji (Fujisan)
Japan’s highest peak (3,776 m) and most recognisable symbol — an almost perfectly symmetrical dormant stratovolcano last active in 1707. UNESCO-listed as a Cultural Heritage site in 2013. The official climbing season runs from early July to early September (trails otherwise closed due to snow), with the iconic Gotemba and Fujinomiya fifth-station routes. Sunrise from the summit is a life-changing experience.
日本の最高峰（3,776m）でありユネスコ文化遺産の富士山は、日本人の魂の山。登山シーズンは7月上旬〜9月上旬で、ご来光を見るために多くの登山者が深夜から歩き始めます。山梨・静岡いずれからもアクセス可能です。
Miho no Matsubara
One of Japan’s three great views (Nihon Sankei) — a crescent-shaped pine grove stretching 7 km along the Shizuoka coastline, with framed views of Mount Fuji across Suruga Bay. The ‘Hagoromo Pine’ at the grove’s northern end is said to be where a celestial maiden (tennyo) hung her feather robe, a legend that inspired Noh theatre.
日本三景のひとつ・三保の松原は、7kmに渡る白砂青松の海岸線越しに富士山を望む絶景スポット。「天女の羽衣伝説」で知られる羽衣の松は能の演目「羽衣」の舞台でもあります。世界遺産の構成資産にも含まれています。
Atami Onsen
Japan’s most historically beloved hot spring resort — Atami’s scalding high-alkalinity waters and dramatic seaside setting drew Japanese aristocrats and later corporate retreatants for over a century. The old-fashioned resort town has undergone a striking revival, attracting younger visitors to its retro cafés, MOA Museum of Art, and sunset views from the hillside Ajiro ryokan district.
昭和の一大リゾートから若者に再発見された熱海温泉は、海を見下ろす急斜面に旅館・ホテルが立ち並ぶ温泉地。MOA美術館・熱海城・サンビーチなど見どころも多く、昔ながらの温泉情緒と新感覚カフェが共存するユニークな街です。
Izu Peninsula
A volcanic finger reaching south into the Pacific — the Izu Peninsula combines dramatic Pacific coastlines, deep mountain valleys, lush bamboo forests, and over 2,000 hot springs. Shimoda (the first American consulate in Japan, 1856) offers history and beautiful black-sand beaches. Kawazu’s early cherry blossoms (February) are Japan’s most famous winter cherry event.
太平洋に突き出した伊豆半島は、断崖絶壁の海岸・温泉・竹林・黒砂ビーチと多彩な魅力が凝縮。2月に咲く河津桜（カワヅザクラ）は日本最大級の早咲き桜イベントとして全国から観光客が訪れます。下田は1856年日米通商条約が結ばれた歴史の地でもあります。
Nihondaira Plateau
A broad plateau southwest of Shizuoka City offering panoramic views that sweep from Mount Fuji across Suruga Bay to the Izu Peninsula. The Nihondaira Ropeway descends to Kunozan Toshogu — a lavishly decorated Shinto shrine predating the more famous Nikko Toshogu — where Tokugawa Ieyasu was initially enshrined in 1616.
静岡市西郊の日本平は、富士山・駿河湾・伊豆半島を一望できる展望台として人気。ロープウェイで降りた久能山東照宮は、徳川家康が最初に祀られた場所で、日光東照宮より古い荘厳な社殿が残ります。
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see Mount Fuji clearly from Shizuoka?
The best views are from the Miho no Matsubara beach, the Nihondaira plateau, and the Gotemba area in clear weather (typically October–April mornings). Summer afternoons are often obscured by cloud. Check the Fujisan webcam (fujisan-net.gr.jp) before heading out.
最も視界が開けるのは三保の松原・日本平・御殿場エリア。晴天の10〜4月の午前中が見ごろで、夏の午後は雲で隠れることが多いです。出発前に富士山ライブカメラで確認するのがおすすめです。
Is it safe to climb Mount Fuji?
The official trail season (July–early September) is designed for non-specialist hikers. The main hazard is altitude sickness — ascend slowly, stay hydrated, and don’t rush. Start the climb from the 5th Station (2,300m), not the base. Many climbers choose a night ascent to reach the summit for sunrise (goraiko).
公式登山シーズン（7月〜9月上旬）は一般の登山者向けに整備されています。主なリスクは高山病。ゆっくり登り、水分補給を怠らず、急がないことが大切。5合目（2,300m）からのスタートが基本で、ご来光を見るための夜間登山も人気です。
What is the best base for Mount Fuji?
Kawaguchiko (Yamanashi side) has the most accommodation, transport options, and classic Fuji views. Fujinomiya (Shizuoka side) has the second-highest 5th Station (2,400m) and a less crowded trail. Gotemba (Shizuoka side) has the longest trail but the most dramatic descent via the Osunabashiri volcanic sand run.
山梨側の河口湖は宿泊施設・交通・眺望すべて充実。静岡側の富士宮口は5合目が最も高く（2,400m）登山道も比較的空いています。御殿場口は最長ルートですが「大砂走り」という砂の急斜面を一気に駆け下りる体験が人気です。
💡 Pro Tip: Visit Mount Fuji’s Fujinomiya 5th Station at sunset for spectacular evening alpenglow on the summit — no climbing required. The view from the car park on a clear October evening is one of Japan’s most magical free experiences.
💡 旅のヒント：富士宮口5合目で夕方に富士山の夕照（アーベントロート）を眺めるのは、登山なしで体験できる最高の富士山ビュー。10月の晴れた夕方は特に感動的で、駐車場から見られる無料の絶景です。
