FUN FACT… Shizuoka is Japan's highest producer of green tea! 

IN THE HEADLINES: 

• 14 Guest House Mt.Fuji hostel opens in Yoshiwara on the old Tokaido road 

• New hot spring hotel SOKI ATAMI set to open in November  

NEW EXCURSIONS:

• Walk in the footsteps of Samurai and explore the last remnants of the ancient Tokaido road

• Explore the natural beauty of Shizuoka by steam locomotive
• An authentic taste of Shizuoka with sake tasting experience and shinto shrine tour  

HOW TO EXPLORE SHIZUOKA 

• Some of the earliest cherry blossoms in Japan (Early February 2021)

IN THE HEADLINES

14 Guest House Mt.Fuji hostel opens in Yoshiwara on the old Tokaido road
Offering affordable hostel accommodation on the old Tokaido road with panoramic views of Mount Fuji, along with the opportunity to take part in traditional Japanese experiences and activities, 14 Guest House Mt.Fuji has opened in the town of Yoshiwara, Shizuoka. A perfect base for adventure seekers and hiking enthusiasts, the hostel offers private and shared rooms along with a communal kitchen, work space and rentable event space.  Meanwhile, guests have the opportunity to explore the local culture and traditions of Shizuoka through a variety of experiences including origami, calligraphy and sushi-making classes.
en.14guesthousemtfuji.jp/

Image credit: 14 Guest House Mt.Fuji

New hot spring hotel SOKI ATAMI set to open this November 
Located in the coastal resort town of Koarashicho, Atami on Shizuoka's popular Izu Peninsula, SOKI ATAMI is set to open this November offering guests panoramic views of the ocean. Consisting of reception, guest room and restaurant wings the property will also boast a central 'Village Garden' planted with citrus trees and local flora. Each of the hotel's 54 rooms will come complete with a personal hot spring whilst other facilities will include a larger public onsen bath and a top floor Tea Salon & Bar overlooking Atami Bay. Here guests will be able to enjoy local tea, seasonal Japanese meals and the region's impressive firework displays from an outdoor terrace.  

uds-hotels.com/en/ 

Image credit: SOKI ATAMI, USD Hotels 

NEW EXCURSIONS 

Walk in the footsteps of Samurai and explore the last remnants of the ancient Tokaido road
This new one-day excursion offers visitors the chance to travel along sections of the old Tokaido road, a route that has linked Japan's modern capital of Tokyo with the ancient capital of Kyoto for centuries. The guided small-group tour involves around 6 miles of hiking combined with train and bus travel and takes in a section of the route known as Hakone Hachiri, recently declared a Japan Heritage Area. Participants can expect to see towering 400 year-old trees in the region's famous Cedar Avenue, the Yamanaka Castle Ruins, Lake Ashinoko and the Genbegawa World Heritage Water Area. 

exploreshizuoka.com/shizuoka-post-type/hike-hakone-hachiri
Image credit: Tourism Shizuoka Japan

Explore the natural beauty of Shizuoka by steam locomotive
This new two-day excursion gives travellers the chance to take in the breathtaking natural beauty of rural Shizuoka by steam locomotive, complete with an overnight stay at a traditional farmer's house and tea picking experience to learn how one of the prefecture's most famous crops is harvested. The excursion operates year-round and costs 21,000 yen pp which includes train travel aboard the locomotive, accommodation for one night and meals.

exploreshizuoka.com/shizuoka-post-type/steam-locomotive-and-farmstay

Image credit: Tourism Shizuoka Japan

An authentic taste of Shizuoka with sake tasting experience and shinto shrine tour
Organised by Shizuoka's local Izakaya (Japanese Club) this new excursion in Gotemba, in the foothills of Mount Fuji, takes visitors on a guided tour through the city's Sengen Shinto Shrine before experiencing a traditional sake tasting with Japanese BBQ snacks at a local restaurant. The excursion operates year-round and costs 5,000 yen pp.

exploreshizuoka.com/shizuoka-post-type/shinto-shrine-and-sake-tasting
Image credit: Tourism Shizuoka Japan

HOW TO EXPLORE SHIZUOKA 

Some of the earliest cherry blossoms in Japan  (Early February 2021)
Shizuoka is home to some of the earliest and longest blooming cherry blossoms in Japan. The prefecture's Kawazuzakura blossoms, distinctively known for their large and deep pink petals, appear from early February and can last for up to a month. One of the best places to see them is The Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival (from mid-February to mid-March each year), where visitors can see almost 8,000 striking trees in full bloom lining the Kawazu River alongside stalls selling local crafts, cuisine and even cherry blossom seeds. 

For further information on Shizuoka, visit: exploreshizuoka.com 

ENDS

About Tourism Shizuoka Japan

Just one hour from Tokyo by bullet train, Shizuoka prefecture is home to the iconic Mount Fuji. It boasts a spectacular natural environment of coastline, mountains and lakes including the beautiful Izu Peninsula, which has been described as “Japan's Riviera” and was designated as a Global Geopark by UNESCO in April 2018. The region is steeped in history, has a huge choice of traditional ryokan inns and onsen hot springs, and is also a gourmet paradise. Its natural environment produces some of the country's best food and drink, from green tea and wasabi to fresh seafood. In fact, Shizuoka is Japan's biggest producer of green tea.