Shizuoka City
📍 Address: Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
Shizuoka City, located almost in the center of Japan, boasts excellent accessibility as a stop on the Tokaido Shinkansen. Known as ‘Sunpu,’ where the great shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu spent his later years, the city retains traces of the Edo period and the breath of history everywhere. Characterized by its dynamic landscape, facing Suruga Bay to the south and embraced by the Southern Alps to the north, it is also a gourmet city blessed with seafood and mountain delicacies.
Beyond being just a textbook tourist destination, Shizuoka City presents diverse and profound facets: ‘stunning views of World Heritage site Mt. Fuji,’ ‘Showa retro alley culture,’ and ‘the global holy land of plastic models.’ Even short-term visitors, with a little adjustment to their timing or areas visited, can deeply savor the local energy and unique atmosphere this city offers.
Don’t Miss It! The Optimal Way to Experience History and Scenic Beauty Connected to Tokugawa Ieyasu
While a classic, the historical sites associated with Tokugawa Ieyasu are an absolute must-see for Shizuoka City tourism. Among them, the national treasure ‘Kunozan Toshogu Shrine,’ which enshrines Ieyasu-ko, is a definite highlight. Built even earlier than Nikko Toshogu Shrine, its majestic main hall features beautifully vibrant carvings, allowing you to witness the pinnacle of craftsmanship from that era up close.
The best approach for travelers is to visit ‘early in the morning.’ When accessing the shrine by ropeway from Nihondaira, if the air is clear in the morning, you can most vividly enjoy the contrast between the expansive Suruga Bay below and the magnificent Mt. Fuji. Furthermore, ‘Miho no Matsubara (Miho Pine Grove),’ a component part of the Mt. Fuji World Cultural Heritage site, offers exceptional divinity when the morning mist clears. Precisely because these are classic spots, leveraging the weather and time of day can lead to an overwhelming sense of awe and wonder.
Time-Slip to Showa Retro! Experience a Deep Night in ‘Aoba Oden Street’
After sunset in Shizuoka City, the most vibrant local energy can be felt in ‘Aoba Oden Street’ and ‘Aoba Yokocho.’ Located within walking distance from Shizuoka Station and the City Hall area, these narrow alleys, lit by red lanterns, are packed with small, stall-sized shops, each with only a few seats.
The absolute must-try local dish here is ‘Shizuoka Oden.’ Cooked in a dark broth made from beef sinew and pork offal, the Shizuoka style is to generously sprinkle ‘dashiko’ (a mix of dried sardine flakes and green nori) over specialties like ‘kuro hanpen’ (black fish cakes) and beef sinew skewers. The flavor isn’t as strong as its appearance suggests; it’s a rich concentration of seafood umami. And the indispensable companion to oden is ‘Shizuoka-wari’ (shochu mixed with green tea). The refreshing tea flavor cuts through the richness of the oden, creating a golden combination that makes you want to drink endlessly.
Shops typically start opening from around 4 PM, but during peak hours from 7 PM to 9 PM, they are often packed with locals and tourists. We recommend either hitting one spot early or, conversely, visiting after 11 PM, close to the last train, to foster deeper interactions with regulars and friendly proprietresses.
Another Side: The Hidden Gem ‘Okushizu’ and the ‘City of Hobbies’
To truly understand the depth of Shizuoka City, pay attention to two different directions slightly further afield from the city center.
One is its aspect as the ‘City of Hobbies,’ known to every plastic model enthusiast. Shizuoka City is a mecca where world-renowned model manufacturers like Tamiya and Bandai are concentrated. Monuments such as public telephones and post boxes themed after plastic models are scattered throughout the city, making a stroll to find them an enjoyable activity.
The other is the northern mountainous area of Shizuoka City, commonly known as ‘Okushizu’ (Deep Shizuoka). Driving from the city center, you’ll find vast sky tea plantations on steep slopes, the secluded hot spring of Umegashima Onsen, and stunning natural landscapes. This beautiful mountainous scenery, sometimes called ‘Shizuoka’s Machu Picchu,’ is highly recommended for long-term visitors and repeat travelers who wish to escape the urban hustle and spend a leisurely time in a hidden retreat area.
