The best viewpoint of Mt. Fuji, one of the three most beautiful ports in Japan, and the modeling capital of the world... This little town at the foot of Mt. Fuji is also so much fun!

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🤗 01 Shizuoka City

When it comes to Shizuoka Prefecture in Japan, you are probably no stranger to it, whether you have been to the area or not. After all, Mt. Fuji is so famous, and with the hot springs and fireworks festivals in Atami in the past two years, Shizuoka has become one of the must-visit places for many on a trip to the Kanto region.

But if you ask about Shizuoka City, the prefectural capital of Shizuoka Prefecture, not many of you will be able to tell us a thing or two about it.

Two days ago, when we were writing about anime theme parks, a fan asked me:

Where is the city of Shimizu in Cherry Blossom? Why can't I find it on the map?

I can't find it, that's right.

Because Cherry Maruko's home city of Shimizu City, merged with the former Shizuoka City in 2003, Shimizu City is now Shimizu Ward of Shizuoka City. (Aoi Ward, Suruga Ward, Shimizu Ward)

And you can't talk about Shizuoka City without talking about one man - Tokugawa Ieyasu.

In ancient times, Shizuoka City (Aoi and Suruga districts) was actually a castle town, built around Suruga Castle.

Sumpu Castle was the former Imagawa Hall of the Imagawa clan, and Tokugawa Ieyasu lived here for a long time as a “hostage” before the Imagawa clan was destroyed by the Takeda and Tokugawa clans, and the area became the sphere of influence of the Tokugawa family.

In 1585, Tokugawa Ieyasu built a castle here, and the name Sumpu Castle was given to the castle after the construction of the Heavenly Guardian. (Current Sumpu Castle Park)

Later, Tokugawa Ieyasu was transferred to Edo by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and the “Edo Period” of Japan began. In 1615, Tokugawa Ieyasu, who had already destroyed the Toyotomi family, returned to this area to live in seclusion and died the following year.

Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of the three great warriors of the Warring States period, who made the greatest contribution to modern Japanese history, lived in Sumpu Castle for a long time. So, that's why there are a bunch of sculptures of Tokugawa Ieyasu in Shizuoka even though he's obviously from Aichi Prefecture.

Also, when you see that there's a Toshogu Shrine here as well, you'll probably understand the place's connection to Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Suruga district is separated from Shimizu district by “Nihondaira”, and Shimizu city, the predecessor of Shimizu district, does not have a particularly long history, and as a harbor city, Shimizu city is a product of the Great Seafaring Age.

Shimizu has a population of about 200,000 people. It is probably best known as the hometown of Cherry Blossom.

In 1984, Miki Miura (Sakurako) created the manga “Sakura Komaruko” based on her own childhood experiences, and the story of Sakura Komaruko takes place in Shimizu Ward (Shimizu City). If you go to the Shimizu City Walk, you will find a lot of Cherry Maruko elements and locations.

Nowadays, Shizuoka City, with a population of about 690,000, is the second largest city in Shizuoka Prefecture (the first is Hamamatsu) and has a CP with Hamamatsu - Shizuoka-Hamamatsu Metropolitan Area, but its influence is limited.

🤗 02 Neglected Shizuoka City

After talking about Shizuoka City in general, we're going to start talking about the tourist resources here.

Although the influence of this place is limited, there are really a lot of fun places to visit, and Suruga Castle, Toshogu Shrine, and Cherry Blossom are just a few of the things we mentioned above.

The mystery of Shizuoka is only revealed when you walk in and realize how magical it is~

“Model Capital of the World” - Shizuoka City

What is Shizuoka's most famous specialty?

Unlike other cities in Japan that move cantaloupe, apples, milk... Shizuoka's specialty is models.

Yes, it's model figures like the Gundam we put above. You may not look at Gundam, and you may not play with models, but I bet there are people around you who collect Gundam models.

And these models, a large part of the probability, come from the city of Shizuoka.

Shizuoka is home to some of the most famous modeling companies in Japan and the world, with the main factories of TAMIYA, Aoshima Bunka Gakkai, HASEGAWA, and BANDAI SPIRITS all located in Shizuoka City.

The model element has been thoroughly integrated into the cultural life of Shizuoka citizens. Walking around Shizuoka City, you can see dolls, models, shopping malls, model brand supermarkets, and so on, and a variety of new product releases and manufacturers' concepts are also gathered here.

If you're a modeler, you can start your own pilgrimage right out of Shizuoka Station!

Many people say that Tokyo is a secondary mecca and Osaka is a must-visit secondary mecca, so come and visit Shizuoka and don't just know Disney and Universal Studios.

You should know that Shizuoka City produces 90% of Japan's domestic shipments of plastic models, ranking first in the national market. You don't even have to come to the World Modeler's Show in May, but a visit to the city at any time of the year will give you a taste of what it means to be the capital of modeling!

Suruga House (the world's largest)

Surugaya is Japan's largest mid-century (second-hand) anime store, offering a wide range of second-hand and new anime peripherals, books, comics, video discs, game software, and homage merchandise. This one in Shizuoka, with four floors, is the largest in Japan and the world. There is a wide range of products from handmade items to models, to games to cards! Centered around anime figures, the amount of merchandise is extremely rich, covering all types of figure merchandise, so you can basically shop for a day!

1F: Character figures, blind box figures, candy and toys, anime and manga merchandise, outlet merchandise, Ichiban bounty, camping supplies, Japanese tableware, play space

2F: Plastic models, model railroads, railroad-related merchandise, miniature cars, radio-controlled devices, mini four-wheel-drive vehicles, toy guns, Self-Defense Force-related merchandise, HO&N specification giant dioramas, MINI-Z Experience Track, shooting games

3F: Game software, game hardware, strategy books, board games, special photography-related merchandise, toys, dolls, plush toys, fantasy groceries, gaming computers, home appliances, computer tablets, free game console area

4F: Collectible Cards

Shizuoka Hobby Square

It's run by the Model Hobbyist Association for the public good. It is located on the third floor of an office building near Shizuoka Station, and is accessible by following the station's signs. It is divided into an exhibition area and an experience area. The exhibition area mainly consists of daily exhibitions and event-themed exhibitions; the daily exhibitions show in detail the development of modeling in Shizuoka, and models from Bandai and Tamiya are displayed here; in addition, there are also events, and the themes change from month to month. Although the area is small, there are many exhibits, and there is also a model assembly experience area, where you can rent tools and start assembling directly in the experience area!

In addition to these two, of course, there are also a very large number of brand-name stores and brand-name supermarkets, which are irresistible to any model, hand puppet, or Japanese manga fan.

When you go to Shizuoka, all you need to worry about is whether your wallet is big enough, not whether there are enough products and new styles～.

Another thing is the Shizuoka Model Show, which is one of the most famous model exhibitions in Asia, held in May every year, with exhibitors and players from all over the world coming on an unprecedented scale, so you must remember to go there if you have the chance～.

The best view platform of Mt. Fuji - Nihondaira

Nihondaira is a place that those who have participated in some Japan tours may have visited, but basically it is a walk in the park.

The origin of the name Nihondaira is said to be due to the Japanese mythological hero, Nihonbutsu, who looked out over the four corners of the country after pacifying the rebels during his eastern expedition. The current Nihondaira is a hilly area with an elevation of 307 meters above sea level, and is designated as one of the top 100 tourist destinations in Japan, a national scenic spot and a prefectural natural park.

This place is famous for the fact that when you look out from here, you can see Mt. Fuji, Shimizu Harbor, and the Izu Peninsula as far as the eye can see, and you have the immediate feeling of wanting to fly up into the sky and be side by side with Mt. Fuji, which is why it has earned the reputation of being “the best viewing platform for Mt. Fuji.”

Of course, another reason is that the observation deck here, the Japanese Hirame Balcony, is also very impressive in design, so I'll put up a couple of pictures so you can take a look.

This style is familiar, hahaha, you read it right. The octagonal exterior is inspired by the architecture of temple halls, while the interior is made of cypress wood from Shizuoka Prefecture, an old traditional art that gives the space a unique geometric shape through hard lines, creating a complex visual experience like branches.

The Nihondaira Dream Balcony features an exhibition area on the first floor where you can learn about Nihondaira's history and culture, a café space on the second floor where you can take a break while enjoying the view, and an observation floor on the third floor where you can enjoy a 360-degree view of Mount Fuji, Suruga Bay, Miho, Matsubara, the Izu Peninsula, and other places. Fuji, Suruga Bay, Miho Matsubara, and the Izu Peninsula.

Mt. Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, the elder and younger brother of the World Heritage Site

Next to Nihondaira, there is Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, and you can go there directly by cable car.

We have talked about Nikko Toshogu Shrine, that is a World Heritage Site, is the main shrine of Toshogu Shrine. Kunozan this, although it is one of Japan's three major Toshogu Shrine, but the volume level is a little worse, is the Japanese government designated national treasure.

But don't look at its reputation, this is the “predecessor” of Nikko.

The main deity inside Toshogu Shrine is Toshogu Daigon present, also known as Tokugawa Ieyasu. This place, at the time, was designed as the initial mausoleum for Tokugawa Ieyasu after his death, but later went to Nikko only, as per Tokugawa Ieyasu's will.

But history is always fascinating inadvertently, and it was for the construction of this palace that the Tokugawa family enlisted a group of skilled craftsmen from all over Japan at that time, and the skills that these skilled craftsmen brought with them laid the groundwork for the development of Shizuoka's later modeling handicrafts. (Isn't it interesting～)

The construction of the main hall of Kunozan Toshogu Shrine began in 1617 and took a total of one year and seven months to complete. The style of the shrine is to connect the main hall and the worship hall with a stone wall, and this construction method is called “Gon-hon-zukuri”, which is a combination of the highest architectural technology and art of our time. This method of construction is called “Gonzen-zukuri,” and it was established by Kounosan Toshogu Shrine, and many other Toshogu Shrines throughout Japan, including Nikko Toshogu Shrine, were built on the model of Kounosan Toshogu Shrine.

It is worth seeing the carving art and lacquer, so don't miss it when you go to Nihondaira!

Japanese Aesthetics--Shizuoka City Museum of Art

The Shizuoka Prefectural Museum of Art is located in the foothills of Nihondaira, and its main collection consists of landscape paintings. Among them are “The Seine at Rouen,” which is said to have established the pattern of Monet's early paintings, and “The Rye Fields of Pontoise and the Hills of Marchelan” by Pissarro.

The museum also collects sculptures by sculptors such as Rodin, and in March 1994, the Rodin Museum opened, exhibiting many of Rodin's works such as “The Gates of Hell” and “The Reflector,” making it one of the few museums in Japan that exhibits sculptures.

The design of the museum is pure white and clean, giving me the impression that it has a very Japanese aesthetic, and the number of people is very small.

Shimizu Port, one of the three most beautiful ports in Japan

The ports of Shimizu, Kobe, and Nagasaki are known as Japan's three most beautiful ports! Unlike the other two, you can take pictures of Mount Fuji here!

Suruga Bay, where Shimizu Port is located, is one of the 36 Scenic Spots of Mt. Fuji, and the Suruga Bay Ferry, one of the 36 Scenic Spots of Toyakatake, is from here.

Suruga Bay is the deepest bay in Japan, and it is the area north of the line connecting Ishirasaki at the tip of the Izu Peninsula and Mimasaki in Mimasaki City, Shizuoka Prefecture.

We rather recommend taking a boat from Shimizu Port to Izu Toho Port for 2,000 yen/one way. The whole perspective is unique as you enjoy the harbor view and taste the freshest catch of the day while admiring the magnificent Mt. Fuji nearby.

Clearwater Fish Market

Shizuoka has the largest tuna production in Japan, especially at Shimizu Fishing Harbor in Shimizu City, which is the first fish market in Japan where tuna wholesalers sell directly to the general public and tourists. The market is divided into a market hall and a tuna hall, and a large number of fishing boats loaded with seafood and seafood are docked every day and shipped to all parts of Japan.

There is a special sashimi rice bowl, using Suruga Bay's specialties of small silverfish and cherry blossom shrimp, and three types of tuna caught in the western port of Shimizu, as well as seasonal seafood specialties caught in local fishing ports. So, if you like seafood and have been injured in Osaka, you can go here for a brainless rush!

Three Views of New Japan - Miho Matsubara

Miho Matsubara has been a famous scenic spot since the Heian Period and is often depicted in ukiyo-e art.

Miho Matsubara's seven-kilometer-long coastline is characterized by a pine forest with 54,000 pine trees, a beautiful landscape with Mount Fuji as a backdrop, black sandy beaches, white waves, and blue sea.

Nowadays, it is not only recognized as one of the three new scenic spots of Japan, but also registered as a World Heritage Site as part of Mount Fuji.

Shimizu Tour, Maruko's Hometown

As we just said, Shimizu City is the place where Maruko lives, so you can see very many Cherry Maruko locations in Shimizu district, which is a place that Maruko fans can't miss.

Cherry Maruko Land

There's a Cherry Maruko Land, located in a large shopping complex at Shimizu Fantasy Plaza. Inside, there are rows of small-screen TV walls, and as soon as a person stands in front of them, a member of Maruko's family will introduce himself.

Here the scene in the animation is completely restored, almost all of the scenes inside the Maruko, and simulate the movement and sound of real characters, it feels like walking into the Maruko side. Every place is full of memories and sweetness. Students who like to collect Maruko peripherals here can also buy enough at once ～ the entrance to the museum has a Maruko merchandise store, all Maruko peripherals are available.

Mariko attended Shimizu Irie Elementary School, an elementary school that existed in the 60's and is a bit run down today, but there are still many children who commute to it every day like Cherry Mariko.

Maruko's favorite chasing points goat soup point, just next to the school, this store is also very old, has been hundreds of years of history.

🤗 03 How do I get to Shizuoka?

Shizuoka is probably the most convenient area for transportation in our opinion, bar none.

If you go to Tokyo, Osaka, or Nagoya, you go directly to the Tokaido Shinkansen and get off at JR Shizuoka Station.

Finally, the city of Shizuoka, people really however, and not the day of the model show, tourists really super little, is the white moonlight in our hearts.

Basically, in addition to a few commercial districts, other places are very quiet, eat friends can go to Kure Kimono Town and Aoba Yokotei, the main one is not a lot of people, “ancient” color “ancient” incense, and Onomichi's shopping street is also a bit like ~!