Category Archives: Shizuoka City

Beer, Beer Brewery, Shizuoka Beer, Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Aoi Brewing-Australian Ale

June 27, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

At long last I can write my first tasting report of the newest craft beer brewery in Shizuoka City and Shizuoka Prefecture, namely Aoi Brewery!

I conducted it at Aoi Beer Stand where they serve all the brewery on the tap.
For the moment 4 of them are available and I started with the Australian Ale!

Served on tap
Barley, barley hops, live yeast
Unfiltered
Alcohol: ~5 degrees
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered)
Color: Yellowish orange
Bubbles: fine. Short head
Aroma: Assertive. Oranges, bread, dry
Taste: Dry with a fruity attack. Refreshing.
Complex. Oranges. Citruses. Bread.
Starts mildly on the tongue and palate before lingering on with welcome acidity.
Being drunk for the tap, it was not that chilled, and this is for the best as it tends to reveal hidden facets.
Changes little with food.
Stays relatively mild all the way.

Overall: A craft beer for all seasons.
Does not need to be over-chilled, a very good point indeed.
The kind of beer you take time to drink at ease.
I would suggest to drink it in late afternoon when you’re not ready for a meal yet but need a solid and reliable drink to refresh yourself!

AOI BREWING

Temporary address:
AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK

Aoi beer is also available at Aoi Brewery’s two more restaurants in Shizuoka City, namely

420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Koyamachi Naka Building, 5F
Tel.: 054-293-9331
Opening hours: 17:00~25:00 (Mon.~Thurs.), 17:00~27:00 (Fri & Sat.), 17:00~24:00 (Sun.)
Parties welcome (reserve!)
Credit Cards OK

and Mando:

Mando, Neo Japanesque Bar
420-0031, Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Gofuku Cho, 2-4-6, Mori Blg, 1F
Tel/Fax: 054-221-5103
Business hours: 17:00~26:00
Parties possible on 2F
Credit cards OK

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-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

Shinto Shrines, Shizuoka City

Sengen Shrine in Hattori Honcho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City

June 25, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

The other day I was looking for another Shinto Shrine in Hattori Honcho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City. along the Warashina River and actually lost my way. That is when I discovered this small but ancient Shinto Shrine!

The torii gate.

Fortunately I met an old lady cleaning the place who told me this Shirine was called Sengen for a good reason: it is actually the original location of the big Sengen Shrine which was moved a long time ago to the center of Shizuoka City!

The stone had washing basin!

A very old basin indeed!

I discovered an old stone lantern by an even older votive stone between two grand trees!

A deer!
Interestingly enough it was carved with the same patterns as the stone lanterns found found in Komagata Shrines in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

Clouds!

Mountains!

I was also told that some of the pine trees around are well above 500 years old!

Even their top broken some are really tall!

And really thick!

The shrine itself is of medium size and old, but very simple, although in good repair!!

“Sengen Shrine” above a well-maintained rice straw rope garland!

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Shinto Shrines, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Sumiyoshi Shinto Shrine (住吉神社) in Shizuoka City!

June 24, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

I found this small shinto shrine in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, not that far from the center of town.
It is old and partly derelict, but still interesting!

The old plaque on the torii gate proves it was of a certain importance in the past!

Not so old stone lanterns guard the entrance beyond the torii gate.

There is still another partly broken really ancient stone lantern!

An old stone hand washing basin is till there, too!

Unfortunately it is not in good repair!

But the locals still use it for their summer festival held June 19th~July 1st!

It is a pity that some people use its precincts as an ugly car park!

Small but beautiful figures on the roof!

More of them!

I’ve seen that money offerings box crest in many other shrines!

But this is what interests me most!

A dragon!

Interrogative eyes!

Long tendrils!

The guarding lions!

Very similar to the ones found in nearby Komagata Shrine!

Will come back end of June!

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Beer, Beer Brewery, Shizuoka City

Aoi Brewery: Opening Party!

June 23, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Yesterday afternoon saw the “official” opening party of Aoi Brewery which took place inside the brewery near Sengen Shrine in Aoi Ku, Shziuoka City (another party took place in the evening at Growstock, not to mention the beers on tap at Aoi Beer Stand, all in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!)

I came very early at 11:00-ish although the party started at 1:00 pm just to take a few pics!

The crest of Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu, the hollyhock/Tachi Aoi/たち葵!

I did well to come early as a truck was stuck in front of the closed entrance with well-wishers’ flowers to be delivered!

I actually helped the florist to locate Naoki Mando/満藤直樹さん who hurried to open the brewery!

More flowers from the Shizuoka Bank!

That allowed me plenty of time to take pictures inside the party room (it will become a pub in the Fall!), especially the brand new posters!

Poster 1!

Poster 2!

Poster 3!

Poster 4!

Poster 5!

After the poster collection there is also a collection of hollyhock/tachi aoi crests!

Black on white at the entrance!
There is another one on a sticker, white on black!

Blue on white!

Green on black!

Brown on white!

A lot of preparation was needed for the party, but Naoki having staff from his other establishments to help it was quickly done!

Preparing the beers on tap!

The first four beers of Aoi Brewery!
Summer Ale, Pale Ale, Slight Stout and Australian Ale!

Ready to start!

The complete team!

Plenty of yummy finger food!

Famous local chefs were seen among the very first guests!

TV crews on the ready!

Brewery visit allowed!

Busy interviews!

Summer Ale!

Pale Ale!

Slight Stout!

Australian Ale!

Talking beer!

Thank you, Naoki!

AOI BREWERY

Temporary address:
AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK

Aoi beer is also available at Aoi Brewery’s two more restaurants in Shizuoka City, namely

and Mando:

Mando, Neo Japanesque Bar
420-0031, Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Gofuku Cho, 2-4-6, Mori Blg, 1F
Tel/Fax: 054-221-5103
Business hours: 17:00~26:00
Parties possible on 2F
Cerdit cards OK

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Kikugawa City, Shizuoka City, Vegetables markets

Shizuoka Vegetables Street Market by Non Chan & Nana Chan of Taiki Farm in Shizuoka City!

June 20, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Shizuoka Vegetables Street Market by Non Chan & Nana Chan of Taiki Farm in Shizuoka City!

Some enterprising growers do not hesitate to travel to Shizuoka City to sell their fresh products directly to very happy consumers!

Non Chan and Nana Chan of Taiki Farm in Kikugawa City are two of them!
You will find them happily shouting their wares at Ogushi Shrines right across from Parco Department Store in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, only a few minutes’ walk from Shizuoka JR Station!
You can buy their vegetables on Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 am until they are sold out!
Beware that they sell fast and by 1 pm usually everything’s gone!

You cannot miss heir sign!

Now, what do they sell?
Kankanmusume Corn, considered as the best in Japan until beginning of July
Cucumber (sweet) until beginning of September. Note that cucumbers will be less than available in Japan this year!
Tomatoes: until ???
Lettuce, Sunny lettuce and Green Leaf Lettuce: from end of October to March

Fat kankanmusume corn ears! From Taiki Farm in Kikugawa City!

Beautiful sweet cucumbers! From Taiki Farm in Kikugawa City!

Momotarou Tomatoes! From Hatada farm in Kuno, Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City!

Place: Ogushi Shrine, across from Parco Store, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City
Behind Isetan Dept Store under the eaves of red-bricked Castle Hotel on flea market week ends.
Time 10:00 ~all sold out
Days: Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays

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Komagata Shrine, Shinto Shrines, Shizuoka City

Komagata Shrine (駒形神社) in Shizuoka City!

June 20, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

I’m cycling past this shrine at least once a week!
It is called Komagata Shrine/Komagata Jinja/駒形神社, of the same name of the area found in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

Like most Shinto Shrines of some importance it guarded by two lions, one”smiling”,…

and one “roaring”!

It is a very old shrine dating back to the Heian era, some 1200 years ago!
These very old stones may have been erected for some celebrated locals!

Of course you have to walk through a torii gate. This one is quite recent.

On the other hand the two large stone lanterns were a lot older!

They both bore identical carvings of a mountain,…

a cloud,…

and a deer!

There were two more smaller stone lanterns bearing the same carvings!

The deer!

The cloud!

And the mountains!

It also included a small basin for ritual hand washing!

With a small but beautiful Dragon spout!

Unusually long horns!

Surging forth out of nowhere!

Although very old it was rebuilt in its present form about 430 years ago!

An old votive stone!

The Shrine Building!

The money offerings box and its crest!

A traditional corded rice straw garland made of stone!

More guarding lions!

A flying monster over the garland!

Another Dragon!

Komagata Shrine!

Festival drum painted with the same crest!

Unusual Shrine altar inside!

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Gastronomy, Shizuoka City, Wine Bar

Shizuoka Wine Bar & Shop: A Votre Sante!

June 20, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Very friendly and attentive
Equipment & Facilities: Overall very clean. Computerized washroom. Entirely non-smoking
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Superb wine list. Shizuoka sake and shochu, foodstuffs, clothing, etc. Space usable for parties, etc.

On June 1st, Atsuyoshi Uchibori/内堀敦よしさん and Hirotaka Sato/佐藤大高さんentered in a collaboration ad opened A VOTRE SANTE, the latest wine bar in Shizuoka City!
But you will soon understand it is far more than a wine bar!

if you get a good look at the blackboards erected outside you will understand they sell all kinds of products including cakes and biscuits cooked by local confectioners!

You can also obtain coffee, tea and superb sake from Takashima Brewery (Numazu City) and Sugii Brewery (Fujieda City)!

Right at the entrance you will find Japanese sake, shochu and rare liqueurs and Japanese wagashi cakes!

Very rare yamamomo and loquat liqueurs standing beside superb shochu!

The place used to be a soy sauce shop closed for the last two years!. Great interior!

Some of the local wagashi cakes!

More than 200 wines, mostly organic on sale!

More shochu, mirin, wine, soy sauces, olive oil, and so on!

Standing bar where you can drink wine by the glass anytime of the day!

Purchases can be beautifully wrapped on order!

More great sake in the fridge!

Great cheese and cold meats that can either be bought and taken out or consumed onsite!

Of course, there is a special wine cellar!

The hoard of wines!

Even clothing, utensils, objets and what else are on sale!

Last but not least, the whole place can be rented for seminars and parties!

A VOTRE SANTE/ア・ヴォートル・サンテ

Shizuoka city, Aoi ku, Cha Machi, 1-25-9
Tel.: 054-255-6007
Opening hours: 11:00~20:00 (until later depending on remaining customers)
Closed on Tuesdays, 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month
Credit cards OK
FACEBOOK
Entirely non-smoking!

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Orthodox Church, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Abandoned Shizuoka: Haristos Greek Orthodox Church in Kasuga Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

June 18, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Some history is about to disappear in Shizuoka City.
Being agnostic, religion is not one of my priorities, but religious buildings have their artcistic and historical value.

The entrance whose gates have been taken away as the grounds are used for a car park.

Orhtodox greek Christianism was first preached in Shizuoka City in 1877 by Bauer Koyama who came from Tokyo.
A Greek Orthodox Congregation was consequently established in Hontoori Area in Aoi Ku in shizuoka City 6 years later in 1883.
It got official recognition under the name of Haristos Greek Orthodox Church by the City of Shizuoka in 1905.
The Chruch was built in 1911 in Hontouri, 5 Chome.
Due to the construction of a large avenue it was moved to the present address in kasuga Cho in 1936.
From 1959 it has included a convent.
It has been used as an event hall since 1992, but it is to be pulled down soon.

The Convent building which has been used as an event hall for the last years.

The building is completely locked.

I did check all the doors on the premises and they are all locked.
At least one door of the church has been walled.

What is left of the original fountain.

The main church.
Do hurry to visit it as there are still some good pictures to take!

The entrance.

The double (small) portal.

The “P” Cross.

The orthodox cross over the entrance eaves.

The silent bells are still there.

The dome and the cross.

From another angle.

The smaller dome and cross.

The side facade.

The head priest abode.

back view of the church.

back view of the roof and crosses.

The facade from another angle.

Facade windows.

The left facade.

Abandoned living quarters.

Abandoned living quarters roofing.

Derelict sheds.

Street view of the convent.

A side view of the whole church.

This sight will disappear soon!

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Fish, Fish Markets, Shizuoka City

Local Shizuoka Fish at Parche Fish Market in Shizuoka City! Bigfin Reef Squid & Mullet

June 17, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Due to work and trips away I hadn’t ad much time to check what local fish and seafood was available at the Parche market inside Shizuoka JR Station! A couple of weeks and a changing weather can make quite a difference!

Aoriika/あおりいか/Bigfin Reef squid at 238 ywn per 100g. Squid is never cheap, but this is expensive, even in Shizuoka!
Bora/ぼら/Mullet at 58 yen per 100g. Quite fish although their roe can easily fetch 20~30 times that price!
Mame aji/豆アジ/very young horse mackerel at 173 yen per 100 g. Not cheap either, but this is a seasonal delicacy!
All from the Suruga Bay!

Bora/ぼら/Mullet!

Mame aji/豆アジ/very young horse mackerel!

Aoriika/あおりいか/Bigfin Reef!

That was for the super fresh fish and seafood!
Let’s look at the other offerings!

Kuromutsu/黒むつ/Black gnomefish!

Kamasu/かます/Barracuda! Sorry for the fuzzy picture, I was banged into by another customer!

Urumeiwashi/うるめいわし/Round Herring!

Shindouika/シンドウイカ/Loliolus (Nipponololig) japonica Hoyle,1885! A Japanese squid variety!

Ebodai/えぼ鯛/Wart perch!

Shiromebaru/白メバル/White Japanese sea perch!

Tobiuo/とびうお/Flying fish!

Higetara/ひげたら/Snubnose brotula. A rare and succulent fish in japan! Still cheap in Shizuoka!

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Croquettes, Recipes, Shizuoka City, Wild boar

Wild Boar Croquettes at Kiyozawa no Sato Road Station in Shizuoka City!

June 9, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

Yesterday I was cycling along the Warashina River at already quite some altitude in search of Aihama Shirahige Shrine when I reached a place called Kiyozawa No Sato Road Station.
Sato means village, hometown, etc. and Kiyozawa is the name of the area.
Road Stations is a Japanese concept meaning local shops basically serving and selling products!

Cute sign!

The Station/eki/駅!

local (top class!) Honyama green tea!

Local vegetables!

I asked local ladies/farmers busy preparing vegetables (on a Sunday!) if I was on the right way.
They kindly answered me that I was on the right way (they forgot to mention it was from near!).

I was about to take my when I noticed that flag sign!

Wild boar croquettes!
I was tired and hungry!
I didn’t hesitate! I pulled the bicycle on the side and entered the place!

It might be a small diner but they are quite famous as they are recognized by the Shizuoka Prefecture Government!

All kinds of customers from local kids to tourists and real cyclists kept coming in!

Local potter!

Local Japanese cakes filled with sweetmeats!

The wild boar croquettes! Still hot and only a couple of packages left!
You can eat them on site and the lady in charge even prepared my green tea!

the local wild boar are a real nuisance and some of them end up in these croquettes! Purely local!

Really appetizing!

Crunchy outside and soft inside!

Not only yummy but very healthy with local vegetables!

There was another remarkable product on sale!

Wild boar curry!
Incredible souvenir to take back home!

KIYOZAWA NO SATO NO EKI
Tel: 054-295-3783
opening hours: 09:00~16:00
Closed on Mondays (on next day if Monday is a National Holiday)
HOMEPAGE(Japanese)

MAP

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Shinto Shrines, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Aihama Shirahige Shrine (相俣白髭神社)-Thunder Stone (雷石) in Aihama, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

June 9, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Yesterday I decided to cycle along a rout I hadn’t done for almost three years: Warashina River in Aoi ku, Shzuoka City!

I hadn’t found much of interest (I did on the way back, though!) until I reached Warabiko Rest Area which also includes a public bath.

Apart of some very useful amenities they also had a map of the area!

I noticed the name of a Shinto Shrine called Aihama Shirahige Jinjya/”Aihama” stands for the area, “Shirahige/White Beard is a very common name for shrines and “jinjya” for shrine.
They also mentioned the Thunder Stone/Kaminari Ishi/雷石. It looked pretty impressive on the map.
later i had to come to the conclusion of not trusting such maps too much when it came to size and importance! LOL

It didn’t look that far on the map but it took me a good one hour uphill to find it.
On the way I stopped at the Kiyosawa street Station to eat some succulent local wild boar croquettes where ladies were kind to tell me to just go straight ahead!
I cycled and cycled until I knew I must passed it.
I stopped to ask some local farmers as there are quite many around cultivating rice and a famous brand of green tea called “Honyama”!.
It took me time to explain rightly what I was looking for and found out I had just passed it!

Well, I challenge anyone, Japanese included to find that minuscule sign!
Lucky I was on a bicycle!

The sign, for its small size, was brand new so the shrine must have found some recognition of late.
I asked a few people people on the way back but nobody could tell me how old it was.
The fact there many shrine called “white beard” in the area didn’t help!

The stairs leading to the shrine were old, narrow and barely in repair!

Judging from the vegetation it must cleared only once a year for a local yearly matsuri/festival!

I finally reach the small torii/sacred bird gate that stands at the entrance of any shinto shrine!

Past the the torii I found two old stone lanterns with a moon and sun carved openings.

The pines trees on the steep slope looked very ancient indeed!

The shrine!
Big enough it was unfortunately completely locked up and even the coin offerings box seemed locked, too!
I might have been the first real visitor in a long time, although the wooden cover over the water stone basin was brand new!

I haven’t seen that design before although it looks like a pointed beard!

The Thunder Stone!
I did look all around the shrine to ascertain it was the real thing atop a kind of stone cairn!

Truth to tell it might be a lot smaller than I was made to believe but it was very unusual!

The stone looked natural enough to me as I didn’t see nay obvious signs of carving on it.
The color was unusual and I could find any stone of the same color!

I entertain the notion that someone a long time ago brought it there as an offering.
The small metal torii gate was added a lot later!

I didn’t feel disappointed at the small size of the Thunder Stone as there was plenty of interesting pictures to be taken on my way out!

The stone lanterns were really ancient!

The original hand washing stone basin?

A paved way out of history!

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Photography, Plane, Shizuoka City

Plane, but not a “Zero”, along the Warashina Riwer, Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tomizawa!

June 9, 2014 dragonlife 4 Comments

Cycling gives you the great advantage to be able to stop anywhere and take photographs for posterity!

Yesterday i was cycling along the Warashina River in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City when I found (for the second time actually. I had seen it there too many years ago) when Ifound this plane perched in front of a gasoline station in Tomizawa!

The owner had obviously tried to redecorate it to make it look like a “zero sen”, the famous WWII Japanese fighting plane!

The cockpit may make you think so, but the landing gear is far too modern!

At the very least it has become a useful landmark!

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sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka City

The Sign of the Sake Brewery that disappeared “Warausenryo” by Katsuyama Brewery in Shizuoka City!

June 9, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

I was cycling yesterday along the River Warashina in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, when I espied a sake ensign above me!

It has attracted my eyes because I knew the name of the skae brand: “”Warausenryou/笑千両/The laughng 1,000 Ryou”!
Ryou was a very high currency denomination or gold coin in old Japan!

it was fixed on the roof of a liquor shop called Mori Saketen, which seemed really old last in Kiyozawa area up in the mountains but was still on business!

“Warausenryou” used to be the main sake brand of Katsuyama brewery in Shizuoka City which definitely closed in 1994!
True sake history!

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Hagoromo, Shizuoka City, Tourism

The Legend of Hagoromo in Miho Beach Pine Forest, Shimizu Ku, Shziuoka City!

June 8, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

The Peninsula of Miho and the Beach of Matsubara have become a World Cultural Heritage in the company of Mount Fuji in recent times.
And the very Matsubara beach with all its pine trees as it name indicates is the home of a very ancient and famous legend all over Japan: The Legend of Hagoromo!

If you are not one of the visitors coming in one local bus or a crowded tourist coach take the time to enter the forest past the big shinto torii gate and walk along a wooden path!

The monument marking the entrance of the “Path of the Gods”!

Take your time and take a rest if need be!

The whole path is lined with venerable pine trees!

The place and its legend was already mentioned in the “Wagasode Journal” written in 1899!

Naturally the Legend of Hagoromo is also explained on the same type of traditional Japanese announcement board but I will be able to explain in detail with pictures soon!

An incredibly shaped pine tree!

The Legend of Hagoromo 1
“Hagoromo/羽衣” means veil or garment.
One day a local firsherman discovered a veil hanging on a low branch of a pine tree.

The Legend of Hagoromo 2
Just as the fisherman was going awa with the evil a lady deity appeared and told him it was her veil and to give it back to her.

The Legend of Hagoromo 3
The fisherman asked for a dance in exchange for her treasure without which she wouldn’t be able to go back to heaven.

The Legend of Hagoromo　4
Playing on her lute she performed the dance of the Moon.

The Legend of Hagoromo　%

But after the fisherman returned her veil she disappeared in the sky!

You will find a Hagoromo Hotel by the entrance of the pine Forest!

Naturally the hotel has a statue commemorating the legend!

There are also bilingual boards at the entrance of the pine forest!

Every year a Traditional Noh Theater play is performed inside the forest to relate the legend of the Celesial maiden and her veil.

Very good English explanations!

The legend says that the pine tree is 650 years old!

the very tree and its low branch!

More information but only in Japanese!

The Matsubara Pine Tree Forest!

The Noh play takes place there!

Don’t worry, there are plenty of shops for food and refreshements and facilities!

Visitors come from all over Japan!

The forest has it own minuscule shrine called “Haguruma”!

Many people of course visit the beach!

The Suruga Bay!

During the colder part of the year you can enjoy an incredible view of Mount Fuji, but that will be a report later in the year!

But it is still too early for the bathing season!

but of course you may play on the beach as much as you want!

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Shinto Shrines, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Miho Shrine (美保神社) at Miho (美保) in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

June 7, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

The other day when I finally reached Hagormo Pine Trees in Miho (美保), Shimizu Ku, I noticed this big shinto shrine just across the street from the entrance to the famous tourisitic spot!