Home > Shizuoka  Shizuoka 静岡県  Mild climate and a variety of
natural features at the sweeping foot of Mt. Fuji, the highest
mountain in Japan.  Shizuoka is located in the southeast part of
central Japan and faces the Pacific Ocean. Lying halfway between
Tokyo and Osaka, it has long prospered, both culturally and
economically, as the meeting point of east and west. The Fuji
volcanic belt extends to the Izu-hanto Peninsula, embracing such
volcanoes as Mt. Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan, Mt.
Ashitaka-yama and Mt. Togasa-yama. Due to the volcanic nature of
the area, Shizuoka has an abundance of hot springs at such
locations as Atami, Ito, Shuzen-ji, and many other places, which
makes the prefecture one of major sightseeing and relaxation
spots in the country. Moreover, Shizuoka boasts of a variety of
natural features, including Suruga Bay, the Sea of Enshu, Lake
Hamana-ko, rivers such as the Tenryu-gawa and Oi-gawa, and the
plains area spreading to the mouths of those rivers. In
addition, the climate is quit