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This translation was generated by AI and may contain wording that differs from the facts. Please check the Japanese original or official sources for anything important. Japanese original
Quick facts
- Region: Chubu
- Capital: Shizuoka
- Population: 3.5 million
- Climate: Pacific side
- Cherry blossom (average): 24 March
- No. 1 in Japan: Japan's top producer of tea, pianos and plastic model kits — Shizuoka tea, Hamamatsu pianos (Yamaha, Kawai), Shizuoka City's model-kit industry
⭐ Top sights
Mount Fuji
Japan's highest peak at 3,776 m. Open to climbers only in July–September; over 200,000 people a year hike up to watch the sunrise from the summit.
Hamanako Eel
Birthplace of eel farming. Hamamatsu sits on the border where you can try both the steamed Kanto style and the directly grilled Kansai style.
Climbing Mount Fuji
Early July to early September only. Five to seven hours from the 5th station to the summit; the classic plan is a nap in a mountain hut and sunrise at the top. Since 2025: ¥4,000 fee and reservation.
Atami Onsen
A seaside spa city beloved even by Tokugawa Ieyasu. Fireworks shows a dozen or more times a year
🍲 Local food
Eel, Fujinomiya yakisoba, Shizuoka oden
Lake Hamana is the birthplace of eel farming. Shizuoka oden is served in a dark broth, dusted with green seaweed and dried-fish powder
🏮 Festivals & events
- Hamamatsu Festival — May 3–5. Kite battles celebrating first-born children by day, and ornate palace-style floats paraded by night
- Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival — Early February to early March. 850 early-blooming Kawazu cherry trees flower along the Kawazu River. The earliest cherry blossom festival on Honshu
🌸 Flowers & autumn leaves
- Kawazu cherry blossoms — Cherry blossom · Early February to early March. Early-blooming, large and deep pink. The flowers last about a month
🏨 Where to stay in Shizuoka
The area around Shizuoka, the capital, has the best transport links and the widest choice of hotels; a night at a hot-spring town is also worth it.
Other prefectures in the region
Niigata · Toyama · Ishikawa · Fukui · Yamanashi · Nagano · Gifu · Aichi · 47 prefectures
Frequently asked questions
What is Shizuoka famous for food-wise?
Shizuoka's best-known local dishes are Eel, Fujinomiya yakisoba, Shizuoka oden. Lake Hamana is the birthplace of eel farming. Shizuoka oden is served in a dark broth, dusted with green seaweed and dried-fish powder
What are the top sights in Shizuoka?
Top picks in Shizuoka include Mount Fuji, Hamanako Eel, Climbing Mount Fuji, Atami Onsen.
When do cherry blossoms bloom in Shizuoka?
In Shizuoka (Shizuoka), Somei-yoshino cherry trees usually start blooming around 24 March, reaching full bloom about a week later.
