Guardhouse at Sumpu Castle in Shizuoka

Shizuoka (静岡) is the capital city of Shizuoka prefecture in Japan's Chubu region. In 2005, Shizuoka absorbed the neighboring city of Shimizu (清水).

Get in

Shizuoka is a stop on the Tokaido Main Line and Tokaido Shinkansen Line between Tokyo and Osaka, and on the Tomei Expressway.

By plane

Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport (FSZ  ^IATA) opened in June 2009 between Makinohara and Shimada. Startup carrier Fuji Dream Airlines is based at the new airport. Flights are limited: there is no service to Tokyo, Nagoya or Kansai; only a few international flights to Seoul and Shanghai plus domestic connections to Kyushu.

Buses run from Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport to the Shizuoka train station in about an hour at a cost of ¥1000. Interestingly, the airport was built right over the Tokaido Shinkansen line, but there is no train station serving the airport.

The nearest major airports are Haneda and Narita Airports in Tokyo, and Chubu International Airport in Nagoya. It takes approximately two hours to reach Shizuoka from Haneda or Chubu on the fastest train services, a little longer from Narita.

By train

• The Tokaido Shinkansen runs one Hikari train per hour which stops at Shizuoka (and pauses for about 5 minutes while faster Nozomi trains barrel through the station). It is one hour from Tokyo, and 50 minutes from Nagoya (both costing ¥6180), 90 minutes from Kyoto (¥9950), and 1 3/4 hours from Shin-Osaka (¥10580) using this train.

• All-stopping Kodama trains take a bit longer, and the same prices are charged for normal reservations. However, you can take advantage of the Puratto Kodama Ticket (in Japanese), which offers a discount for Kodama services if you purchase at least one day in advance. You get a reserved seat and a free drink on board. With this ticket a trip to Shizuoka costs ¥4500 from Tokyo (90 minutes), ¥4500 from Nagoya (80 minutes), ¥7400 from Kyoto (2 1/4 hours) and ¥7900 from Shin-Osaka (2 1/2 hours). Kodama trains run once an hour from Shin-Osaka and Kyoto; twice per hour from the other cities. A few early-morning Kodama trains cannot be used with this ticket.

• Standard local trains from Tokyo take about 3 1/4 hours at a cost of ¥3260, requiring at least one change of trains at Atami.

• Wide View Fujikawa limited express trains make several daily round-trips to Shizuoka from Kofu on the Chuo Line. The ride, in train cars with larger windows, costs ¥4300 and takes about 2 1/4 hours.

• Hamamatsu can be reached by either Shinkansen (30 minutes) or regular JR (1 1/2 hours).

You can ride all of these trains for free with the Japan Rail Pass.

By bus

JR Kanto Bus and JR Tokai Bus run frequent daytime services to Shizuoka on the Tomei Expressway between Tokyo and Nagoya. Shizuoka-bound Tokkyū buses from Tokyo reach the Shizuoka train station in about 3 hours, at a cost of ¥2850 one way (¥4500 round-trip). JR/Shizutetsu Sunpu Liner buses run several times per day from Shinjuku Station; this service also takes 3 hours and also costs ¥2850, but makes fewer stops.

Buses not terminating in Shizuoka will only stop at the Shizuoka interchange of the expressway. Local buses run frequently to Shizuoka station from another bus stop close to the interchange (15 minutes, ¥180).

See

• 1 Miho no Matsubara (三保の松原). A spot on the Miho peninsula with pine trees and views of Mount Fuji on a clear day. One of Japan's New Three Views.  
• 2 Nihondaira (日本平) (35 min by Nihondaira Line bus from Shizuoka Station; also accessible by ropeway from the Kunozan Toshogu Shrine). A 308-meter hill in central Shizuoka, with good views of Mt. Fuji, the Izu Peninsula, Shimizu Bay and more. (updated Sep 2015)

• 3 Kunōzan Tōshō-gū (久能山東照宮). The original burial place of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Dynasty. (His remains are now entombed at Nikko.) Most structures here date from 1617. 

• 4 Sunpu Castle (駿府城 sunpu-jō) (a few blocks up the main street from the north exit of the subway station, with several arrow signs pointing the way). The castle itself has not been restored, but the restored guard house is very interesting. The original castle was started in 1585 by Ieyasu Tokugawa, one of the founders of the Edo government. In 1607 Lord Ieyasu retired as shogun and started repairing and expanding the original castle. The tower and other buildings that now exist were constructed following blueprints from the 1630's. There is a lifelike statue of Tokugawa and many small replicas of the castles and surrounding buildings, as well as a small but beautiful display of dolls. Nearby is a children's park and a garden with a tea ceremony available. Certainly a place to explore if you have a couple of hours or more to spare. Admission 200 yen. (updated Sep 2015)

Do

There is a rotemburo (unisex communal bath) for those brave enough to try it in beautiful surrounds on the coast called Fujiyoshi Onsen.

Buy

Each Saturday there is a flea market at the shrine in central Shizuoka. The vendors sell mainly Japanese knick knacks such as tea sets, lacquerware and the like. You can haggle about 30% off their asking prices without working too hard, or try for more if you`re especially stingy.

Eat

Near the port, we can eat fresh fish, such as sushi.

Drink

• Freakyshow Bar, near the Gohuku-cho area it is easily accessible from Shizuoka station in 10 minutes on foot, . (Japanese only) One of the finest local places to drink in downtown Shizuoka. The bar often features local live entertainment on weekends but has limited seating so arrive early. The menu is not typical of most Japanese izakaya instead focusing on a more eclectic mix of western and European fare. All menu items and drinks are reasonably priced with no tax or cover charge. Recommended are the Godzilla Burger and White Russian. The proprietor, Toshiyuki Kosaka, is also reasonably fluent in English so foreigners visiting the area will have little trouble communicating with the staff.

• Hippy Shake bar, a short walk from either JR Shimizu or Shin-Shimizu, caters to foreigners, giving them discounts or sometimes free food. It's got great atmosphere and an inventive menu of original cocktails, all for 500 yen for foreigners.

Sleep

Budget

• Shizuoka Orange Hotel, ☏ 0120-19-5100NOCC, 054-283-5100NOCC, fax: 054-284-3308NOCC, orangehotel@star.ocn.ne.jp. This is a barebones, but reasonable business hotel near the station. Breakfast is available in the restaurant on the ground floor. Singles ¥5250-5500, twins ¥8500. 

• yasouya-furyu. Backpackers hostel 6km from the city centre ¥2500 

Mid-range

• Associa Shizuoka Terminal, 56 Kurogane-cho (1 minute on foot from Shizuoka Station), ☏ 054 254-4141NOCC, fax: 054 255-3721NOCC. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. Non-smoking rooms available. Singles from ¥11200, Twins from ¥15600. Japan Rail Pass Holders receive a discounted rate. 

• Dorf, 2-23-6 Takajyo (7 minutes on foot from Shizuoka Station), 054 251-5000 (dorf@quartz.ocn.ne.jp, FAX: 054 253-3000), . Check in 4PM, Check out 11AM. In-room LAN, non-smoking rooms, and shuttle bus service to the station are available. Singles ¥7000-8300, doubles ¥11000-13000, twins ¥15000, triples ¥21000.

• Garden Square, 11-1 Koyamachi, Aoi-ku (3 minutes on foot from Shizuoka Station), 054 252-6500 (info@gardensquare.co.jp, FAX: 054-252-8411), . Check in 3 PM, Check out 11 AM. Modern hotel with minimal, well designed rooms. Free in-room internet access. Singles ¥6800-7800, doubles ¥9700-11000, twins ¥11700-12800.

• Sun Palace - Clean and nice mid-range business hotel. Take the train station's south exit and go down the main street two blocks, next to the Shizuoka bank. Sign in English. Laundromat.

Splurge

• Hotel Kona Besso, fax: +81-55-947-1225. 31, Kona, Izunokuni city(Fushimi Izunagaoka Station, Approx. 20 minute walk or 3 minute by taxi)+81 81-55-948-1225. A spa hotel with 8 independent cottages with a taste of traditional Japan. These guest rooms (tea-ceremony house style) are high valued architectural beauty, starting at ¥21,735 per person for five guests up to ¥48,300 per person for 2 guests.  

Go next

• Mount Fuji, the iconic Japanese volcano

Routes through Shizuoka

Nagoya ← Kakegawa ←	W  E	→ Shin-Fuji → Tokyo
Hamamatsu ← Kikugawa ←	W  E	→ Fuji → Tokyo
Hamamatsu ← Fujieda ←	W  E	→ Shin-Fuji → Gotemba
Hamamatsu ← Kikugawa ←	W  E	→ Fuji → Tokyo