From Wikitravel

Shizuoka (静岡) is the capital city of Shizuoka prefecture in Japan's Chubu region.

Contents 1 Get in 1.1 By plane 1.2 By train 1.3 By bus 2 Get around 3 See 4 Do 5 Buy 6 Eat 7 Drink 8 Sleep 8.1 Budget 8.2 Mid-range 9 Get out

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

Shizuoka does not have its own airport. The nearest major airports are Chubu International Airport in Nagoya, and Haneda Airport in Tokyo. It takes approximately two hours to reach Shizuoka from both locations on the fastest train services.

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, at the same prices.

• The Wide View Tokai limited express runs twice daily from Tokyo to Shizuoka on the conventional Tokaido Main Line. The ride, in train cars with larger windows, takes about 2 1/4 hours and costs ¥5670. 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, with the same large windows as the Wide View Tokai, make several daily round-trips to Shizuoka from Kofu on the Chuo Line. The ride 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). Buses not terminating in Shizuoka will only stop at the Shizuoka interchange of the expressway.

Get around

See

Do

• Granship, East Shizuoka Station (東静岡駅) on the JR Tokaido Line, +81-54-203-5710 (FAX: +81-54-203-5716), [1]. Daily 9AM-10PM. You may catch a glimpse of this nautically designed building as you zip by on the Shinkansen. Although of little interest to the general traveler, on alternate years Granship is the site of the national conference of the Japan Association for Language Teaching. This conference regularly brings up to 2,000 teachers from all over Japan and the world to this corner of Kanto.

• Sumpu Castle is 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.

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Budget

• Shizuoka Orange Hotel, 0120-19-5100, 054-283-5100 (orangehotel@ny.tokai.or.jp, FAX 054284-3308). This is a barebones, but reasonable business hotel near the station. Breakfast is available in the restaurant on the ground floor. $55-$100 (single/twin rooms).

Mid-range

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

• Hotel Dorf, 2-23-6 Takajyo, Shizuoka-shi (7 minutes on foot from Shizuoka Station), 054 251-5000 (yoyaku@dorf.co.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. $70-$200 (single to triple room).

• Sun Palace Hotel - 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.

Get out

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