hkskyline's 2025/6 SHIZUOKA adventure

hkskyline · #1 Posted **May 31, 2026, 8:53 AM**

Japan has seen a tourism boom in recent years thanks to its rock-bottom exchange rate. It's a sign of more significant economic decline that has been ongoing since the late 1980s when their economic bubble bursted. There isn't much the Japanese central bank can do about it, with interest rates kept low amidst low growth.

So with the main cities choked with foreigners and the problems associated with overtourism brewing resentment among locals, I decided to spend most of my vacation out in Shizuoka, an area between Tokyo and Nagoya with Fuji and sea views. There is a train pass specific to this region that made getting around affordable. Japan actually has many regional passes worth buying to explore beyond Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. I've been trying them out for a number of years and these are great alternatives while not compromising the main bullet points like sakura, fall colours, and fresh seafood.

Let's start with Numazu, my main base this trip. It's a small quiet town but Fuji is fully visible from the super cheap observation deck (100 yen only) and the port area was busy!

This region is also a huge green tea producer. So if you find Uji near Kyoto too busy, come here instead.

You can also watch live auctions at the fish market if you are an early riser. I'm not one of those, so by the time I got here at breakfast time, it was all done for the day.

More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/shizuoka.htm

hkskyline · #2 Posted **Jun 3, 2026, 3:17 PM**

Japanese supermarkets and souvenir stores offer eye-catching scale model displays and a variety of neatly-packed products to arouse your consumerist sentiments. I took some time to browse around Shizuoka station to grab some breakfast and foods to bring home.

Around dinner time, department store supermarkets start discounting their raw fish items so it is a good place to pick up a meal at a lower price.

This part of Japan is famous for green tea, and is now the largest tea producer in the country at about 40% of total production. It is believed it all started when a Zen monk brought tea seeds from China and planted them in this area in the 13th century.

With New Year's holidays, many local independent stores are closed or have drastically shorter hours. So I ended up grabbing dinner at the train station where shops and restaurants are generally open.

More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/shizuoka.htm

MolsonExport · #3 Posted **Jun 3, 2026, 5:18 PM**

Great stuff. I can't get enough of Japan. I had a wonderful time on my two visits (2009, 2019). I will be back next summer, with the whole family.

hkskyline · #4 Posted **Jun 4, 2026, 8:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Great stuff. I can't get enough of Japan. I had a wonderful time on my two visits (2009, 2019). I will be back next summer, with the whole family.

I used to visit Japan 3x a year at least when I was based in HK. The exchange rate is still super good so you can start accumulating some yen!

hkskyline · #5 Posted **Jun 7, 2026, 8:29 AM**

The Mount Fuji - Shizuoka Area Tourist Pass includes a ride on the harbour cruise from Shimizu just outside S-Pulse Dream Plaza, a huge shopping mall south of Shimizu's train station.

You get to see a working port in action, including military ships, as well as Mount Fuji. Many children were busy buying feed for the hungry seagulls that will follow the boat from start to finish. They know the drill well, and won't hesitate to fly low and grab the food out of your hands.

More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/shizuoka.htm