Shizuoka City

Shizuoka (静岡市) is the capital city of Shizuoka Prefecture. It is located between Tokyo and Nagoya. The area is well known for the spectacular views of Mt Fuji. It is also the largest tea-producing area in Japan which accounts for 40% of total Japanese sencha production.

The Observatory Lobby on the 21st floor of “Shizuoka Prefectural Government Office, Annex” offers a 360 degrees panoramic view of the city. Unfortunately when we visited the cloudy weather didnt allow us to view Mt Fuji.

The Shizuoka Prefectural Government Office is located a ten-minute walk from JR Shizuoka Station on the grounds of the former Sumpu Castle, which was built in 1585 by the great Edo period shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu.  It was his“retirement castle” after he relinquished the shogunate to Hidetada.

Photos: Junko Nagata © Japanbyweb.com

Shizuoka is accessible by the JR Tokaido Shinkansen, JR trains and bus from Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya. There are also flights to Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport.

Official Shizuoka City Tourism Website