Shizuoka (静岡) is a beautiful prefecture in central Japan, boasting warm weather and home to the iconic tallest mountain in the country, Mt. Fuji (富士山). The southern peninsula, Izu (伊豆), is famous for its gorgeous beaches and hot spring resorts. Shizuoka is easily reachable from Tokyo (東京), and is popular among visitors for its breathtaking…

Mt. Fuji might be the most popular tourist destination in Shizuoka, Japan, but most people do not know that this prefecture has a lot more to offer. In this article, I will give you a visual tour of Shizuoka’s Ito City (伊東市), a city in the coastal area of Japan that is just two hours…

A trip to Japan is not complete without attending at least one festival. There are so many of these events taking place all year round, celebrating everything from the changing of seasons to ancient traditions, that it is likely you can be in Japan at the same time a festival is taking place. Whether it…

Fire symbolizes light, warmth, and purification. In the mountains of Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture, fires are lit, dances are performed, and prayers are offered. Check out these two fire festivals in the area this December 2017! 1. Kanzanji Fire Festival The Kanzanji Temple holds a fire festival annually on December 15. During the festival, prayers…

Music is sometimes called the universal language because of its ability to express and connect with our emotions even in the absence of words. Let us experience and understand music in Hamamatsu (浜松市), Japan’s City of Music! Hamamatsu is one of the 23 cities in Shizuoka Prefecture. Manufacturing companies of musical instruments are mostly based…

One of the common rules that a lot of people know about hot spring bathing is the “no tattoo” rule. Despite Japan’s advanced way of living, there seems to remain a stigma that accompanies people who have tattoos on their bodies. To many locals, tattoos still signify an association with notorious groups and organized crime…

Japan has a long-time issue of a declining birthrate, which has brought about the closing of around four hundred to five hundred schools in Japan per year. Osori Elementary School on the Izu Peninsula of Shizuoka Prefecture is one educational institution that was unfortunately closed. It was founded in 1892 and shut down in 1973…

Nestled on the outskirts of Hamamatsu, Shizuoka (静岡県浜松市) is a town that looks straight out of a fairy tale or a Ghibli movie. Nukumori no Mori (ぬくもりの森) is the kind of place where it’s impossible not to feel like you’ve been transported to another world. Check it out! Nukumori no Mori Author’s photo Nukumori no…

Summer is the season to climb Mt Fuji, the tallest mountain in Japan. The place is open to climbers and hikers from July to September as the weather conditions are mostly stable at these times. There are many popular plans on how to climb the mountain with some even suggesting taking a break at the…

Uji (宇治) is a small city in Kyoto (京都) highly popular for producing high-quality powdered green tea. It is one of the biggest tea producers in Japan. But did you know that there is another top tea-producing area closer to the capital city? Around 40% of Japan’s cultivated tea areas lie in the picturesque fields…